Cable Management With The Pegasus Pocket Power Box - Best Thing Since Sliced Bread!

[@johnailshire966]

I stopped using zip ties and now use the plastic ties from coffee bags to create bundles. The wrap is sturdy and re-usable. I am still at entry level, so I am not ready but into your level of equipment. Kinda like turning a kid loose in a candy shop. Thanks for the video.

[@AstroQuest1]

John Ailshire Thanks for the comments. Plastic ties work well.

[@RobB_VK6ES]

Kurt, As a tip I would recommend strain relieving all the USB connections. USB has a terrible connector for exterior and moving installs and just plain PITA for the rest, Hence USB C. One small disconnect or glitch and the whole night is potential lost unless you constantly nurse the system. Aprime example of what I mean here is the bundle of USB cables you have rolled up shown in this video. That bundle, as can be seen is pulling on the plugs into the USB hub. As the mount moves throughout the night that load will change potentially causing such a glitch. I would cut a slot into the aluminium sub plate and simply bind the the cable ends to the plate, relieving any strain on the plugs. Another alternative would be to lose all the extra length in the area between scope and subplate. One last detail. It has been my experience that hubs with more than 4 ports typically have one primary USB hub IC with a second daisy chained from a single port of the primary hub IC. The makers of these hub IC's tend to limit themselves to a 1 into 4 fanout. You may have noticed these hubs come in 4 or 7 ports rather than 8, this is the reason. Why do I mention this? Common sense would dictate connect high bandwidth devices like the imaging and guide cameras to the "fast lanes" while the mount and focuser etc could happily exist on any of the 4 into 1 daisy chained "slow lanes". Generally the ports closest to the mater input USB connector are the faster ports

[@AstroQuest1]

Thanks Rob. Yeah, haven't had any issues yet but relieving stress on the USB is certainly good. I have everything velcroed in but I would not mind making it better. I did eliminate a couple of connections when I went to EQMOD direct.

[@RobB_VK6ES]

love Eqmod. Sadly off the agenda with the CGX Just went mad and ordered the yet to be released ASI2600MC Pro. Got tired of wasting hours trying to get results with the DSLR. Went OSC for the simplicity over mono and filters

[@AstroQuest1]

@@RobB_VK6ES Wow. That is a heck of camera. Good Luck with it!

[@KulkarniPrashant]

Love this video, Kurt. Learned so many things!

[@AstroQuest1]

Thanks Prashant, glad you enjoyed it! - Cheers Kurt

[@steveboone8185]

Great as always. I would love to see a tour of your shed and how it is constructed. Looking to do something soon.

[@AstroQuest1]

I constructed it 3 yrs ago. I may due a video tour on it soon. I have my construction plans on my website: astroquest1.blogspot.com/2016/08/backyard-observatory-using-skyshed-plans.html

[@steveboone8185]

Awesome, Thanks!

[@michaelfeigenbaum2415]

Excellent tutorial Kurt! I like that power supply and cable management is so important... Well done!!

[@AstroQuest1]

Thanks Michael. I am really happy with it so far. It worked well offsite when I was doing an observing session a couple of weeks ago as well.

[@RobB_VK6ES]

Trawl through ebay you may need to try a few variations on the search term but once found most of the sellers all use similar descriptions. You will find just about any interconnect cable made to various lengths. For example I found short panel mounting USB, ethernet and power cables to connect my PC and power supply mounted inside a weatherproof box. The box lives at the base of my pier.

[@rhettherring4846]

Looks great on that plate...

[@AstroQuest1]

Thanks Rhett. And it works really well.

[@Fat-totoro-cat]

This sells for about $400 USD in Australia, so I opted for a rigmrunner clone and a PC power supply. Added a powered USB hub and it works well for me.

[@AstroQuest1]

Yeah, little pricey there. If the rigrunner clone works well and it is less - my view is, use it! - Cheers

[@Safestassets]

Does your USB hub have to be DC powered to run off the pegasus?

[@AstroQuest1]

To run off the Pegasus it does. Fortunately Pegasus supplies the wire connection.

[@Safestassets]

@@AstroQuest1 Thanks for the quick response! That's a huge help!

[@hypersphereengineering6015]

On your fancy USB hub, what is the output current capability for each USB socket?

[@AstroQuest1]

Not exactly sure, it is 12v 5Gb per second. Here is a link: www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-Port-USB-3-0-Hub/dp/B00SCE4E0I/ref=pd_lpo_147_t_0/134-8752588-9300005?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00SCE4E0I&pd_rd_r=89fa86d1-0950-475b-9eef-b4a405f55f64&pd_rd_w=S7shM&pd_rd_wg=cQZZ9&pf_rd_p=a0d6e967-6561-454c-84f8-2ce2c92b79a6&pf_rd_r=V7T1SRHX7RBAC4JKY2J6&psc=1&refRID=V7T1SRHX7RBAC4JKY2J6.

[@jturie]

Love mine....people complain about the cost, but consider that you get two dew heaters out of it, so you don't need a 100 buck dewbuster controller, and suddenly it ain't so expensive.

[@AstroQuest1]

I could agree more. It well worth it!

[@KB2AT]

Great video. What size rings for your guidescope. Who makes? Thanks

[@AstroQuest1]

Thanks Chris. They were from Agena Astro. Agena 2-Ring 50mm Finder Bracket with Vixen/Synta Style Dovetail Base # DFB50

[@KB2AT]

@@AstroQuest1 thank u

[@PeterClarke55]

Living in the forest...I knew I had seen you before Bombadil, it's me Frodo. I have also modernised myself and do Astrophotography now. Since there are no more orcs or trolls what else is there to do nowadays. The good old days....

[@derekderek2570]

Wow your girlfriend is one lucky lady...

[@jeffmccaffrey6773]

I am about ready to pull the plug and buy one of these.....looks nice. With only 2 dew heater outputs, I am wondering what folks are doing with needing more than 2. I generally use 3....scope, guider, diagonal. Can you plug in a splitter in one of the dew heater ports?

[@AstroQuest1]

Not sure about the splitter. Good question for Pegasus. I only use two myself but was wondering what people do if they do use more. I believe the new Ultimate Power box has 4 dew heater ports but it is also more expensive. - Good Luck.

[@jeffmccaffrey6773]

@@AstroQuest1 Yeah, I saw that but hate to spend $400 more for a single extra dew heater port. I already have a power usb hub I use and I guess can can just plug it into the Pegasus. BTW...I really enjoyed your video and also checked out Trevor's and ready to get one of these.....many thanks! Oh, yeah...one more question, I currently use a Dew Buster controller. So The Pegasus will take it's place instead in controlling the dew heaters?

[@AstroQuest1]

@@jeffmccaffrey6773 Yes it will. There is a control box that appears on the computer. where you can control it and other things. I only use it to control the temp though.

[@jeffmccaffrey6773]

@@AstroQuest1 Got my PPB and hooked it up last night....I am really going to like it! Didn't think at the time but I ran a 12v cable from the PPB to power my 5v power usb hub....ZAP!...there goes my usb hub. How are you powering your usb hub with your PPB? I also e-mailed Pegasus today and he said they were coming out with a 12v usb hub in about 10 days that can be powered with the PPB. Any help appreciated.

[@AstroQuest1]

@@jeffmccaffrey6773 I connect the PPB to an outlet using a standard AC/DC power converter. The PPB has 4 power outputs. One of those is connected to the USB Hub. - Good Luck

[@DawgcityClev]

My guy. This is epic! Our Astro-minds stay on the go don’t they? 😂 Have to keep up with our wallets!

[@AstroQuest1]

They are on the go and my wallet is gone...

[@elmikol2443]

Nice video. Is the scope a AstroTech 92 trip? I have the same scope. How do you like it? Mike

[@AstroQuest1]

Hi Elmiko, thanks. Not quite, it is the AT 115 and I love it so far. I heard the AT 92 is awesome. - Cheers Kurt

[@elmikol2443]

@@AstroQuest1 yes, I realized it was the 115mm later in the video when you were holding it.

[@nelsonrivera6575]

Hi , just got my almost last accesory for my rig ,the PPB , but my question is ,can you do a video explaining where each cable goes , i don't want to start my telescope until im sure where everything goes ,thank you ,subs a while back

[@AstroQuest1]

Good idea Nelson, however, I can't promise when as I am a little a little overloaded right now...

[@M31glow]

great cable management!

[@BrokenPik]

Do you have a link to your work with the 115 MM F7 ? Im also using the industrial ( metal) Startech , only 5 Port Hub though... its a beast @ 189$ CAD

[@AstroQuest1]

Here is the link to the transcripts: astroquest1.blogspot.com/2019/06/the-pegasus-astro-pocket-power-box-best.html - Kurt

[@markbanes9190]

this is brilliant what a fantastic idea!

[@AstroQuest1]

Thanks Mark. So far it has been working well.

[@davidemancini7853]

Guys all my end cable are usb, but this one it look like have all 12v end, how can i use it? My mount end its a usb, camera is usb, polemaster is usb,eqmod is usb, guidecamera is usb, they all goes to my pc....

[@AstroQuest1]

Hi Davide, if I understand your question, I have a powered USB Hub which all of the stuff plugs into and that one cable connects to the computer. The PPB is also connected to the USB Hub. Some of the stuff may also need power along with the mount and that is connected to the PPB.

[@davidemancini7853]

AstroQuest1 yes that what i need then.

[@davidemancini7853]

AstroQuest1 Or maybe the Pegasus PowerBox V2? That one has got 6 usb port too,that will work right?

[@AstroQuest1]

@@davidemancini7853 Yes. I have the Pocket Power Box (PPB) so I had to get a Powered USB Hub. The Ultimate PowerBox 2 has the USB Hub built into it along with some other goodies. You might want to contact Highpoint Scientific or CCTS (U.S. sellers) to make sure it is what you need. - Good Luck.