Pegasus Astro POCKET POWERBOX MICRO User manual

POCKET POWERBOX MICRO
PRODUCT MANUAL
BY PEGASUS ASTRO
[COMPANY ADDRESS]
VERSION 1.1
JANUARY 3, 2020

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INTRO
Thank you for purchasing our products. Pocket Powerbox Micro (in short PPBMicro) is suitable for the “grab and
go” astronomer / photographer. Device can provide up to 10 Amps of electric current, has four 12V outputs, two
dew heater channels, a variable voltage output and an external environmental sensor to constantly monitor relative
humidity and ambient temperature. Controller can adjust the dew heaters consulting the sensor temperature /
humidity values and calculating the dew point of the environment.
CONTROLLER CARE
•Controller is protected from moisture but it is not waterproof and it should be kept clean and dry.
•Excessive moisture for long periods of time can damage electronics and connectors.
•Do not allow solvents or chemicals to come into contact with the device.
•Store controller indoor in a dry room when not in use for long time.
•Do not touch the internal components as they may get hot when in use.

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DESIGN OVERVIEW
The images below show all views of the Pocket Powerbox Micro.

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What is
inside the box
Pocket Powerbox Micro
1 x DC Cable (2.1mm) to Cigarette Lighter (8A
fused)
4 x Power Cables (1 meter)
1 x USB2 Cable Type B (1.8m)
1 x Environmental Sensor (RJ12)
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
1. Plug the external environmental sensor into EXT port (RJ12 port).
2. Plug the USB2 cable to the controller’s USB port and to your computer.
3. Plug the power supply (battery or power pack) into the “12V DC IN” socket. We strongly advise to use our
certified power supply that provides DC 12V / 10 Amps.
4. Device will boot after three seconds and the LED will turn solid red. This means that firmware was loaded
successfully and the controller is now fully operational.
5. Default factory settings are set to standalone mode which means:
a. DC pass through voltage to all four outputs (All outputs are ON and deliver power)
b. Dew Heater outputs are configured to Auto-dew
c. Adjustable Output is enabled and configured to 8 Volts.
6. Download USB drivers (Windows 10 should already have installed the latest USB drivers), standalone software
or ASCOM drivers from pegasusastro.com/support in order to connect to the device.

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POWER INPUT
Controller accepts a voltage range from DC 11.0V –14.5V *
* Above 14.5V the Pocket Powerbox Micro will shut down all outputs to save your precious equipment from over-voltage.
•We strongly recommend you use our certified “Pegasus Astro 12V/10A power supply”
•A 13.8V lead (or calcium/lead) battery is also recommended.
•Please use a power supply that can provide at least 6 Amps of current. For your observatory needs you
might need up to 8 Amps of current.
Under no circumstance exceed DC 16.0V input as you might cause a severe damage to the electronic board
Controller has been designed with reverse polarity protection. If you accidentally reverse the power source polarity,
the unit will instantly cut the power. The controller is fitted with a 2.1mm DC power connection (centre positive pin)
which powers on the unit.
Insert the 2.1mm plug on the DC power cable. Controller will initialize and the status LED will turn solid red after 3
seconds. (The 3 seconds wait time duration is on purpose for a new firmware upload process).
DATA CONNECTIVITY
A USB2 Type B port at the side of the unit accepts the USB cable for PC connection. A 1.8m USB2 type B cable is
provided in the package.
12V POWER OUTPUTS
Pocket Powerbox Micro device has:
Four (4) 12V DC unregulated outputs. All outputs are driven by a single Smart Mosfet, capable to deliver up
to 10 Amps of current (in total). This mosfet incorporates a broad range of smart features like diagnose and
protection. The 12V Channel can be switched ON/OFF via software.
Each 12V power output has the following specification:
Voltage type
Output Port
12V-13.8V DC unregulated
2.1mm DC Power Jack / Center Positive
DEW HEATER OUTPUTS
Device has two (2) channel dew heater outputs. Like power outputs, each dew heater output includes a Smart
Mosfet type, capable to deliver up to 5 Amps of power per channel.
Auto-Dew: A smart function exists in the controller’s firmware: The controller consults the environmental readings
of the dew point and automatically adjust power of the Dew Heaters. This functionality can be switched on / off
from the software and the setting is stored in controller’s memory.

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Note 1: Auto Dew functionality is turned on by default
Note 2: Dew heater outputs are also suitable to light a flat panel or spin your telescope’s fans.
Voltage type
Output Port
12-13.8V DC, PWM - Duty Cycle %
RCA Female Jack / 5 Amps Each
BUILT IN POWER SENSORS
oA DC voltmeter exists after controller’s DC input. (Measures 5 –15 Volts).
oA current meter exists after controller’s DC input. (Measures 0 –20 Amps).
oMain output channel (4 x 12V) incorporates a current/amp meter. A Smart Mosfet is capable to diagnose
the power consumption of these 4 ports and provide protection against overload, over temperature and
short circuit.
oEach Dew Channel incorporates a current meter and provide protection against overload, over temperature
and short circuit.
oThe variable output does not have a dedicated current meter. Although its current consumption is
measured with the global / input current meter.
ADJUSTSTABLE OUTPUT
A 2.1mm output provides 3-12V and 3A of current (max).
•This regulated output is configured to 8Volts by default.
•The adjustable output can be switched ON and OFF via supplied software
•You can adjust the voltage of this output via the supplied software to 3, 5, 8, 9, 12 Volt levels.
•Setting is stored in controller’s memory and is automatically retrieved during boot.
You can use a wide range of our Battery Couplers (Nikon / Canon / Fuji / Sony) to provide constant power to your
DSLR / Mirrorless camera. If you use this output for battery couplers you must set it to 8 Volts.
Voltage type
Port
3-12V DC regulated
2.1mm DC Power Jack / Center Positive
IMPORTANT NOTE: Adjustable Output cannot accept the DC Input cable. Device will power on but this action might
cause a severe damage to device if accidentally operated under this configuration and the current draw is more
than 3Amps.
>> Please make sure that you will not accidentally plug DC input to the ADJ Output <<
ENVIRONMENTAL SENSOR
The stock probe is an external temperature / humidity sensor which is attached to the controller. It comes with
length of 50cm cable. Probe measures:

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•0 to 100% humidity readings with 2-5% accuracy
•-40 to 80°C temperature readings ±0.5°C accuracy
The unit automatically detects the presence of the probe and polls for temperature readings every 15 seconds.
A RJ12 socket connects the temperature/humidity sensor with the Pocket Powerbox Micro controller.
RESET WATCHDOG
A watchdog resets the device if for any reason there is no response from the controller after two (2) seconds. A neat
feature in the unlikely event of a microcontroller freeze –when have a remote observatory and you need to be sure
that everything works as expected.
AUTO-DEW
Controller can auto adjust the heater power levels by consulting the Dew Point readings of the environmental
sensor. Auto-Dew must be set to ON (ON by factory setting) from the supplied software.
As the dew point comes close to environmental temperature, both dew heater channels power are increased. The
algorithm consults the dew point and the current draw of the heaters and tunes the power levels every 10
seconds. The aggressiveness of the algorithm from can be tuned from the supplied software.
STATUS LED
A red colored LED is fitted on the right front side of the unit. The light pattern displayed by the led indicated the
status of the device. The led can be turned on / off from the software at your demand.
Permanently Light
Device is up and running
Flashing Light (4 times every 4 sec)
Device entered to firmware upload
Flashing Light (once per 0.5 seconds)
A power issue (overvoltage) exists and
controller had already shut down the ports.
Check diagnose message in software

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Permanently Off
Controller not operational or LED switched off
from software
MOUNTING
Device has two threaded holes (M3) at the bottom to allow mounting on a dovetail.
RECOMMENDATION
•It is advised to select and use good quality and short length USB cables.
•Do the same for power cables. Long and thin power cables will have an effect of voltage drops. This can
cause issues to your camera (CCD or CMOS) image quality or mount tracking.
•Make sure you use a good quality DC input socket with a thick power cable (1.5mm each pole). Verify there
are no gaps that can cause power disconnect
•Do not loop USB or power cables. This might cause issues in communication.
•Pay extra attention of you are using a “step up voltage converter” in the DC input. You need at least 6 Amps
to power all of your devices. (We don’t recommend step up converters – buy a good battery or a check our
certified 12V/10A power supply).

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DIMENSIONS
Size (Width, Depth, Height)
66mm x 66mm x 24mm
Weight
90 grams
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Question
Answer
What kind of power supply do I need?
We strongly suggest to use our certified 12V/10A
power supply. Cheap units might lead to voltage drops
on high load and ripple effect. This will cause issues
and artifacts to your precious CCD / CMOS Camera.
What type of cable do I need to use for input?
If you are going to make a custom input cable notice
that you need at least a AWG 17 cable. Make also sure
that you do not exceed 2meters (6feet) to reduce
voltage drops.
I would like to use the Pocket Powerbox to my remote
observatory. What if the device freezes for some
reason?
We have good news for you. The device has a
hardware watchdog and resets itself if the
microcontroller is not responsive after 2 seconds
My observatory is in a very cold place. Is there any
issue with the electronics of the device?
Electronic components were selected to support
temperature ranges from -40 to +80 °C.
What if I accidentally reverse polarity?
Pocket Powerbox has an input reverse polarity
protection. Device will not power on and of course will
not allow any voltage to flow to outputs.
Can I upgrade the firmware?
Yes, device has been designed to support firmware
upgrade for future features or bug fixes. When it is
time the software will pop up a notification.

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Optional Accessories
Battery Couplers for DSLR /Mirrorless
Cameras (Wide range of types for
NIKON/Canon/Sony/Fuji cameras
Power cable for Skywatcher EQ8
or
Power cable for Skywatcher
EQ6R / EQ6-AZ
Power Supply Unit
12v/10A 2.1mm Plug
External Motor Controller
Device is covered by two (2) years warranty
Designed and Assembled in Greece