Pegasus Astro Pocket Powerbox Advance Gen3 - PPBADV-GEN3 COMING SOON!
| Article number: | PPBADV-GEN3 |
| Availability: | Out of stock |
| Delivery time: | Preorder Now to reserve one! |
The Powerbox Advance Gen3 is ready to support your imaging sessions and more. With up to 14 amps of total current distribution, this durable and lightweight power management device is the perfect portable control center for all your imaging equipment! It works with your PC or as a standalone device, allowing you the fine grained control needed to meet the power demands of a wide range of equipment. Read on to learn why the Pocket PowerBox will make a solid addition to your astro-imaging toolkit!
The third generation Pocket PowerBox Advance includes multiple improvements to help streamline your portable astrophotography set up! Featuring (4) 12V DC power outlets, (2) PWM dew heater channels, (1) RJ12 port, (2) USB 2.0 ports, and (4) Superspeed USB 3.0 ports, the Gen3 is a one-stop power and connectivity solution. Now offering Wi-Fi connectivity and control with a built-in web dashboard, and full ASCOM 7 and ASCOM Alpaca compatibility. The Gen3 has an increased 14A total current output, as well as stepper motor focus controller that provides up to 1.5A per coil. The included external environment sensor further enhances this already feature-packed device, giving you access to precise temperature, humidity, and dew point feedback from the surrounding environment. To access the full range of control, simply plug the Gen3 into a Windows PC and boot up the free Pegasus Astro Unity platform! This powerful software easily accommodates numerous Pegasus Astro products, as well as future products, and can even be integrated with other imaging and control software, like MaximDL or Sequence Generator Pro.
The main differences between the Pegasus Astro Pocket Powerbox Advance Gen3 and the Gen2 is that the Gen3 adds built-in Wi-Fi and ASCOM Alpaca support, an integrated bipolar stepper motor controller, six individually switchable power and USB ports, and a higher total current capacity.
Here are more details:
Key Comparisons
Control and Connectivity:
Gen2: Requires a USB cable tether to a PC or basic standalone mode.
Gen3: Features built-in Wi-Fi, a web dashboard, and ASCOM Alpaca support for wireless and browser-based control.
Power Output and Capacity:
Gen2: Delivers 12A of total current across five outputs (four shared-switch 12V ports and one adjustable 3–12V port).
Gen3: Delivers an upgraded 14A total current across six outputs (four individually switchable 12V ports, one always-on port, and an expanded 3–19V adjustable port).
USB Hub:
Gen2: Includes 4 USB ports (2x USB 3.0 and 2x USB 2.0) with no individual software switching.
Gen3: Includes 6 ports (4x USB 3.0 Type-A and 2x USB 2.0 Type-C with Power Delivery) featuring individual per-port on/off switching.
Motor Control:
Gen2: Lacks a built-in focuser controller, requiring an external device attached to the expansion port.
Gen3: Includes a built-in bipolar stepper motor driver (1.5A/coil) to run an electronic focuser directly without an external controller.
Dew Heaters:
Gen2: Features two RCA dew heater channels rated at 5A each.
Gen3: Features two RCA dew heater channels upgraded to 6A each
MAIN FEATURES AT A GLANCE
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The Pocket Powerbox Advance Gen3 is a secure and reliable power management solution that will provide fine-grained control over your astrophotography equipment for years to come. With numerous power outlets, environmental sensors, and a deeply customizable functionality, this compact power management device will bring your imaging capabilities to the next level! Check out the features below for an in-dept look into the Powerbox advance Gen3!
Four 12V DC Power & Two Dew Heater Outlets
The Pocket Powerbox Advance Gen3 has a total of (4) 5.5x2.1 mm 12V DC power outlets, with offer up to 10A total output. Each of the 12V outlets can be independently controlled via the Pegasus Unity Platform. It also has (2) pulse width modulation (PWM) dew heater (RCA) outlets which can be used in tandem with the external environmental sensor to provide automatic output adjustments, meaning your dew heaters are always working at optimal efficiency. When used with a PC and the Unity software, the power output of the Pocket PowerBox Advance Gen3 is easily calibrated to meet the needs of a variety of equipment, and with an adjustable 3-19V (3V by default) power output, the Powerbox Advance Gen3 is perfect for powering Mini PCs and other external devices.
SuperSpeed Data Transfer Up to 5 Gbps
The Pocket Powerbox Advance Gen3 has a total of (6) USB ports, (4) USB 3.0 (Type-A) ports with 5 Gbps Superspeed data transfer and (2) USB 2.0 (Type-C), one of which provides up to 3A PD to compatible devices. This advanced USB hub is suitable for connecting and powering cameras, filter wheels, focusers, or even mini PCs like the Raspberry Pi. Each USB port can be independently enabled or disabled through a compatible control program, such as the Pegasus Astro Unity Platform, and all USB ports include surge and ESD protection. For devices that require more complex data transmission, such as an external environmental sensor, there is a (1) RJ12 port.
Built-in Voltmeter and Ammeters
To ensure your devices are both power and protected, the Pegasus Astro PowerBox advance Gen3 features a built-in voltmeter that is designed monitor power input and cut output should the total input reach more than 14V. When used with the Pegasus Astro Unity Software, you'll be able to keep track of the total input voltage in real time. Beyond the voltmeter there are four (4) ammeters built into Powerbox Advance. This allows you to supervise the total current consumed by each connected device, the total current consumed by any devices attached to the 12V outputs, and total current consumed by each of the two dew heater channels.
External Environmental Sensor
The Pocket PowerBox Advance Gen3 includes an external environmental sensor for real-time measurements from your local environment. This sensor is perfect for fine-tuned control over dew heaters and external focus controllers. It will even provide temperature, humidity, and dew point measurements, all of which can be monitored in real-time via the Pegasus Astro Unity Platform. From the Unity platform, many devices can be controlled and the dew heaters can be set to automatic, allowing the sensor to decide when they need to be adjusted to maintain optimal efficacy and efficiency
Pegasus Astro Unity Software
The Pocket Powerbox Adance Gen3 will work with a variety of 3rd party software when used with the Pegasus Astro Unity Platform. This free software includes the latest ASCOM 7 supplied drivers, which can pass data received by the external environmental sensor to supported software like MaximDL or Sequence Generator Pro. It will also allow you to access fine-grained feedback from the various power outputs, and even switch any of the 12V outputs on or off. The Unity software also supports INDI, so you can easily buddle the Powerbox Advance Gen3 with Stellarmate or other devices that uses INDILib.