asiair power supply

jaygpoo

Hi out there, I have just taken my asiair out for its first field trip but while using it the symble with the battery / red flash is always flashing?? Is this normal. I have thried 3 different supplys with the same result. I have used a direct connection to the red power box from a 22amp/h tracer battery. I have connected all my mount gear to a 88amp/h leaisure battery. I have connect all gear to a main suoply converter from 240 to 13.8v at max 8 amps. Why does such a small box seem to demarnd such a big supply. Jay

w7ay

Jay,

What are you using to connect the USB Type A from the ZWO DC-DC converter to the micro USB power connector on the ASIAIR? Make sure the microUSB end is completely seated into the Raspberry Pi power jack.

You could also try a *short* USB to microUSB cable that are sold for charging phones and tablets; check that the power wires in the USB cable are in the 18g to 21g range (do not buy anything that says 24g). The thicker the wire gauge, the better. Again, make sure that the micro USB plug is completely seated into the ASIAIR.

If that still fails, find a 12 watt to 18 watt, 5 volt phone/tablet charger (do *not* use one of these "fast chargers" that can exceed 5.1V output). If you have an iPad, try the charger that came with the iPad.

If the phone charger works, then the little red DC-DC converter box (12V to 5V) is suspect. If the ASIAIR still shows low voltage with a good 5V supply,

then the ASIAIR is suspect.

But, before anything, be sure the microUSB cable is completely seated into the ASIAIR. Open the plastic ASIAIR box (lots of video on YouTube on how the Raspberry Pi pox comes apart) if needed, to make sure the hole in the plastic box is not obstructing the microUSB plug.

Chen

hussar_303

And so, what could be the ideal power supply for outdoors use? Right now, I live in a city so I don't often get the chance to see the moon and stars, but I'll soon get my hands on one of these houses in Greece where I'll be able to go to the hills and look at the undisturbed night sky. I could technically bring a power generator along with me, but if I can avoid it and use instead something I can carry in a backpack, I'd be glad!

w7ay

>> And so, what could be the ideal power supply for outdoors use?

Are you already powering your mount, dew heaters and the camera cooler from a 12V supply? If so, the same supply should also work for the ASIAIR.

From what I can tell, the 12V-5V converter uses a step-down "buck converter," so it should provide a constant 5V to the ASIAIR even when the battery voltage has fallen substantially (even down to about 9V). The ASIAIR, when used with the 12V-5V converter that comes with it, should be very forgiving of the power supply that you use.

Just connect the input (12V) end of the 12V-5V converter that comes with the ASIAIR to the common 12V source.

I have not measured how much the ASIAIR draws when it is autoguiding.

When the ASIAIR is idle, it draws an average of about 0.35A.

When the ASIAIR is constantly downloading images at a high rate in the Focus mode from an ASI071-Pro, the ASIAIR's power converter draws a peak of a little under 0.5A from a 12V source. If you are using a 20Ah battery, it would last over 40 hours if the battery is only used for providing power to the ASIAIR in focus mode.

Compare the ASIAIR power consumption with the cooler that is in the ASI071-Pro, which draws almost 0.9A when running at 70%.

Clear skies,

Chen