Pegasus Pocket Powerbox Advance with USB Hub - Gen2 - PPBADV

 Crafted of durable blue anodized aluminum, the Pegasus Astro Powerbox Advance is  suitable for the “grab and go” astronomer or astrophotographer.  This small and lightweight device can provide up to 12 Amps of electric power, has four 12V outputs, a quad port USB3 Hub, two dew heater channels, a variable voltage output and an external environmental sensor to constantly monitor humidity and ambient temperature. The Pocket Powerbox Advance Controller can adjust the dew heaters by consulting the sensor temperature / humidity values and calculating the dew point of the environment.

Check Out These Features:

• 4 x 12V DC Power outlets for your equipment (A single channel to switch all four outputs ON/OFF via software)

• 12 Amps of total distributed current

• Adjustable Output (3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 12Volt) / 3Amps (Can be switched ON/OFF) Power your DSLR / Mirrorless camera

• Embedded Powered USB3 Hub – 2 x USB2 Ports & 2 x USB3 Ports Available (USB3 ports are backwards compatible with USB2 devices)

• 1 x Power USB Port (up to 3Amps) – Suitable for Raspberry PI 3/4 power

• EXT Port (RJ12) for external accessories (E.g External Focus Controller)

• 2 Channels PWM Dew Heaters – RCA Outputs (Adjust power levels via software)
  

• Humidity and Temperature Sensor (included)

• Auto Tune Dew Heater Channels

• Reverse Polarity Protection

• USB / PC Controlled or Standalone Operation out of the box

• Lightweight and extremely compact aluminum enclosure

Let's Dive Into the Features of the Pocket Powerbox Advance!

Four 12V DC Power Outlets: 

A robust MOSFET transistor serves as the reliable power source for your valuable equipment. It provides electricity to four outputs, with the capability to switch on/off all 12V outputs simultaneously, offering a unified control over your power distribution.

This single channel can provide up to 10Amps of current to all ports.

Note:  Current is shared among the 4 x 12V ports

Built-In Voltmeter:  A high-precision voltmeter is integrated into the device, providing real-time measurement and display of your input voltage. In the event that the input voltage exceeds 14.5V, the system swiftly activates a power cutoff mechanism to safeguard your valuable equipment from potential damage.

Adjustable Regulated Output:  The Pocket Powerbox Advance features an adjustable output, designed to supply power to a range of devices, including DSLR and Mirrorless cameras, as well as Raspberry Pi 3/4/5. The voltage can be precisely tuned to various levels, including 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, and 12 Volts, ensuring compatibility with a variety of equipment. Additionally, Pegasus offers an extensive selection of battery couplers tailored to Canon, Nikon, Sony, FUJI cameras, and more for your convenience.

Built-In Amp Meter:  Amp-meter placement after the DC input allows for the reporting of the total electric current, providing a comprehensive overview of power usage. In addition, three additional amp-meters are integrated into the system. One is dedicated to the 12V outputs, while two are designated for the Dew Heater Channels. This arrangement offers the convenience of monitoring both detailed and overall power consumption for your equipment.

More than 12A of Total Electric Current:  The powerbox has been designed to deliver a substantial electric current output of up to 12 Amps. It’s worth noting that a typical backyard astrophotography setup typically demands a range of 5-7 Amps for efficient operation.

Embedded USB3 Hub: 

A powered USB3 Hub at the back of the device provides:

• 2 x USB3 SuperSpeed Ports
• 2 x USB2 High-Speed Ports

The new SuperSpeed hubs operate in parallel with the USB 2.0 controller, so 5 Gbps SuperSpeed data transfers are not affected by slower USB 2.0 traffic.

USB Port Configuration under PPBADV Gen2

• USB Port1 supports USB2 devices
• USB Port2 supports USB2 devices
• USB Port3 supports USB2 & USB3 devices
• USB Port4 supports USB2 & USB3 devices

USB Port 1 provides up to 3Amps of current. You can connect any device that requires 5V. E.g a Raspberry PI 3/4 or Intel Compute Stick M3/M5 can receive power from this specific port.

Expansion Port (EXT):  EXT (expansion) port is available for device expansion. This RJ12 socket allows the connectivity of current and future Pegasus Astro products. Plugged devices can be controlled from Pocket Powerbox Advance standalone software or dedicated ASCOM driver.

Stand Alone Operation Right "Out of the Box":  Pocket Powerbox Advance can work “out of the box” as a standalone device. Just plug the cables, setup the “autodew” functionality and every time you boot the device, it will retrieve your settings. So, If you don’t like to connect to a PC every time, you don’t have to. Simple as that!

Two Channel Duty Cycle PWM Outputs:  The Pocket Powerbox Advance boasts two Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) outlets, specially designed to supply power to your demanding Dew Heaters. This means an end to the woes of moisture interfering with your equipment and spoiling those precious clear nights. What’s more, you can conveniently control these outlets remotely from your laptop using the provided software.

Auto Adjustment of Dew Outputs:  The controller is equipped with an intelligent feature that allows it to autonomously adjust the power levels of your heaters by analyzing data from the environmental sensor, specifically the Dew Point reading. With a simple click on the “Auto” function, you can entrust the Pocket Powerbox Advance to determine the optimal time to activate and precisely fine-tune your dew heaters.

LED Indications for Power & Failure States:  The LED indicator is designed to emit distinctive blinking patterns, serving as a crucial alert system for important power-related issues, such as over or under voltage. Furthermore, for those who prefer not to have the LED illuminated, the software offers the option to deactivate it. Rest assured, our LED is intentionally designed to be very dim, ensuring it doesn’t cause any disturbance, but the choice to turn it off is available through the software interface.

Reverse Polarity Protection:  Device comes with reverse voltage polarity protection. This invaluable feature is your safeguard against any inadvertent connection of the main power supply in reverse polarity, ensuring that your night of stargazing is never compromised.

Hardware Watchdog:  A hardware watchdog mechanism is in place to automatically reset the device in the rare event that there is no response from the controller for two seconds. This ingenious feature provides an added layer of security, particularly in scenarios involving remote observatories, where it is paramount to ensure that all systems continue to function as intended, even in the unlikely case of a controller freeze.

Pegasus Astro Unity Platform

Pegasus Astro has designed their Unity Platform to support all of their current and future products in one interface.  Unity provides comprehensive, yet user-friendly control over all Pegasus devices.  Additionally, their REST JSON API gives third-party software developers the ability to interact with Pegasus products for enhanced versatility and compatibility.

The device is equipped with firmware upgradability, allowing for seamless updates to support forthcoming features and address any potential bug fixes, ensuring it remains at the cutting edge of functionality and performance.

ASCOM 6 & INDI Supported

Pocket Powerbox Advance fully supports ASCOM6. In combination with our main program which acts as a server you can use our latest ASCOM 6.5 supplied drivers to:

• Report environmental settings to supported software (e.g Sequence Generator Pro / MaximDL )  (ASCOM ObservingConditions)
• Switch ON / OFF 12V outputs, Adjustable Output, Tune Dew Heaters. (ASCOM Switches)

Pocket powerbox fully supports INDI, Bundle it with Stellarmate or any other device that can use INDILib.

What's in the Box?

• Pocket Powerbox Advance Controller
• Temperature/Humidity Sensor
• Two (2)  Power DC 2.1mm to 2.1mm male cables @ 1m Long
• Two (2) Power DC 2.1mm to 2.1mm male cables @ 0.5m Long
• USB3 Cable, Type B, 1.8m Long

Specifications...