Hi Hogarth, great video and detail - recently purchased one and this was a fantastic intro. I have a portable power supply - can you recommend a good cable/adapter for the car cigarette lighter port? FLO don’t have any in supply and I’m reckoning a good cable to carry 12v/10amps is needed. Cheers.
Great video, thank you. I bought the Powerbox Advance Gen 2, and I came across a quirk. After powering up the device, none of my USB2 cameras would work through the USB2 ports. I got messages on my computer saying "Not Enough Power on the USB Hub". What? According to the documentation, these ports should supply 3A at 5V! I reached out to PegasusAstro support, and a few hours later, they responded. (Great support turnaround!) They said the USB2 devices should be plugged into the USB2 ports BEFORE attaching the 12V power supply to the Powerbox Advance and powering up the device. I did that, and it works great.
Good to see different power options, I haven't gone done this route yet but this is very well explained. Certainly looks a neat tidy solution. Also took note of that usb issue my Zwo 120 mini sometimes appear to disconnet. Cheers 👍
Thanks for the comments, appreciate it. I did actually do some video of the powerbox powering my setup, but wasn’t happy with the video. I’ll try and fit something in next time I’m imaging,
I happen to have UPBv2. Currently I'm running my setup wirelessly and there is one cabel going from my power supply into UPBv2. Life became lost easier and pleasant. Unfortunately every good thing must come to its end one way or another. In next 4 weeks I'm getting two street lights installed right at both ends of my garden. Sucks!!!
Can you adjust the dew heater voltage? I have 5V USB dew heaters but I wanna replace ihr USB plug by an 12V DC plug. But if I plug it then into the 12V it will be too much. So I need to reduce down to 5V. So is this possible with this Powerbox? Thanks
Do the USB ports provide 5 V for USB powered devices, like my guider that have USB Inputs to charge there batteries or keep them running (as you said frigid temperatures kill Li_Ions fast)?
So according to the specs for this model USB Port 1 or USB Port2 can deliver up to 5Volts / 3Amps of current. RPI3/4 can directly receive power from these two USB ports. There is a new gen2 version of the box, which removes the usb3.0 only on port 1 as well just fyi
thanks for this video, this is really handy. I'm looking at buying one, and just have one question around amperage. I will be using a 2600MC, EQ6-R, Sesto Senso 2 and Intel mini PC (NUC). When cooling the camera, slewing the mount (including during meridian flip), powering the NUC, adding two dew heaters... I might go over 10A. Does this do anything to the unit? Have you ever gone over the 10 Amps and if so, what happened?
Hey thanks for the comment. i doub't you'll go over 10 amps, as I just about use the same equipment.. Intel NUC (12V version), 2600MC, SESTO 2, and a AZ-EQ6R Pro mount, 2 x lynx astro dew straps... max i've seen it peak at is 6amps If the draw does go above 10 amps, Whilst i'm no electrician, what will happen will be down to the device's handling of low amperage. it could crash, it could start loosing power, unfortunatly there is no black or white answer, but I don't think you'll go over 10Amps TBH
My Pegasus pocket advance says it can't find upb controller. I downloaded every file but it still doesn't work. Do you know where to find the UPB controller? Thank you
@@HogarthsAstrophotography can I be reallly pedantic and ask what length you bought? I am at the point of running some cable under the floor to a pier and am really tempted by one of these, but for the length of cable run I need (3M ish) I might be entering the realm of messing around with repeaters. Yours looked quite long in the video.. so to speak :D
@@VaguelyAmused Ah, so the cable i showed was for effect. I use the same brand, but its a lot shorter, literally 0.5m, as i have my NUC literally next to it on the losmandy plate.. Sorry.
Hello, I came back here to listen again to this well explained video, but I still have a question though where I don't find an answer for. You say that USB port 1 is USB3 only, so can't be used with a ZWO camera, so far so good. But which USB port is port1 ? And on the PBA manual and on the Pegasus website it says that the device has 2 USB2 and 2 USB3 ports, the manual says that the left ones are white and the right ones are blue, very strange because they are all blue, so all USB3 Do you have an explanation please for my questions, because I can't figure it out ?
On the Gen1 Pegasus Pocket PowerBox, Port1, as you look at the USB 3.0 ports in front of you, it is the bottom left one that is USB 3.0 only and won't work well with QHY/ZWO cameras as even though they are USB 3.0, they negotiate a USB 2.0 connection first before stepping to USB 3.0. When I recorded the video, The gen1 box was the only version available. As of recently Pegasus have released a Gen2 Pocket Powerbox which doesn't have the same limitation, but has less USB 3.0 ports now. Again as you look at the USB ports, the left hand side two are USB 2.0 only and the righthand side are USB 2.0 and 3.0) Summary: The Gen1 pocket powerbox all the ports are blue and are USB 3.0 (with the oddity of port1) The Gen2 pocket powerbox, only the two right handside USB ports are 3.0 and blue and the left two ports are 2.0 and are grey It sounds like you have a GEN1 box if all the ports are blue, but your looking at the GEN2 manual. This is the GEN1 manual. pegasusastro.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/PPBADV_quick_installation_guide.pdf Hope this helps
@@HogarthsAstrophotography Thank you for the explanation. Bit awkward that version 2 is a step back from version 1. As I see it, they just switched the manuals between version 1 and 2. That would make more sense not ? Because the version 1 of the PBA wasn't a blue aluminum box as it is now. But it really doesn't matter as long as it work ofcourse
@@siegfriednoet the gen1 pocket power box was blue aluminium, they basically look identical. The original power boxes were not blue, but the ‘Pocket’ range has only even been blue aluminium Confusing I know
@@HogarthsAstrophotography I know it's confusing, but why should they make a version 2 that has less USB 3 inputs ?? Why not make a version 2 that has 4 usb 3 ports and all backwards compatible ? Would make life very easy
I just bought a Pegasus Pocket Powerbox Advanced gen.2 (2 USB 2.0+2 USB 3.0 ports version), I installed the Unity Platform software and the "ASCOM Observing Conditions Driver v1.5 (Jun/20)", and I was able to connect all my equipment to SGP through the device...but I cannot make Sequence Generator PRO to connect the Powerbox as "enviromental device", even if it is present in the drop down menu: SGP quickly disconnects. If I click on the corrisponding wrench icon the message "The device is already connected" pops up. Can someone help me? I suspect I missed to set something up in ASCOM, but I still don't know where.
So I think i know what the issue is, the way Pegasus have changed to Unity has confused things. What you need to do is upgrade Unity to the latest version released a few days ago.. when done, Kill unity if its running..
@@HogarthsAstrophotography I have to give it a try asap, and I have to write Thank you very much, 'cause you spent your time trying to help me. Fingers crossed.
I have this and it has worked great till 2 weeks ago. My main imaging camera is a ZWO 294 and it keeps dropping out or really on and off , all I hear is the computer binging. I changed wires uninstalled and reinstalled PB and nothing. So I thought it was my power supply and got one right from Pegasus , still not working. So now I thought maybe it was my computer USB so I just hooked up my old 3.0 hub and everything works great so it must be the PB. Before I send it back I was wondering how to set the PB a=to new as if it came right out of the box ? Should I uninstall the programing ? But if the PB remembers settings then I am sure that would not do it. Any thoughts ? Thx
@@HogarthsAstrophotography No but found this out the other day so now I want to disconnect everything take the software off and want to reset the box like it was new
the the PPBA v1 it is, but they have new revision of it, called the Pocket Powerbox Advance (rev 2), which does not have the same limitation with port number 1 Most resellers i've seen, are indicating if its the new version they are selling
I've just ordered one of these last night as I'm getting fed up with cables everywhere in the observatory, hopefully this should neaten everything up.
Much better! Thank you for going through the effort I was really interested in this video.
Thanks for a great review Hogarth, I'm considering either a Pegasus or an Astrolink. Now I'm leaning more towards the Pegasus.
Hi Hogarth, great video and detail - recently purchased one and this was a fantastic intro. I have a portable power supply - can you recommend a good cable/adapter for the car cigarette lighter port? FLO don’t have any in supply and I’m reckoning a good cable to carry 12v/10amps is needed. Cheers.
Great video, thank you. I bought the Powerbox Advance Gen 2, and I came across a quirk. After powering up the device, none of my USB2 cameras would work through the USB2 ports. I got messages on my computer saying "Not Enough Power on the USB Hub". What? According to the documentation, these ports should supply 3A at 5V! I reached out to PegasusAstro support, and a few hours later, they responded. (Great support turnaround!) They said the USB2 devices should be plugged into the USB2 ports BEFORE attaching the 12V power supply to the Powerbox Advance and powering up the device. I did that, and it works great.
Thanks for the great review. I like the auto dew heater control, very nice.
Thanks for watching!
Good to see different power options, I haven't gone done this route yet but this is very well explained. Certainly looks a neat tidy solution. Also took note of that usb issue my Zwo 120 mini sometimes appear to disconnet. Cheers 👍
Great review, would be nice to see your complete cable management on the scope with the powerbox attached
Thanks for the comments, appreciate it. I did actually do some video of the powerbox powering my setup, but wasn’t happy with the video. I’ll try and fit something in next time I’m imaging,
I happen to have UPBv2. Currently I'm running my setup wirelessly and there is one cabel going from my power supply into UPBv2. Life became lost easier and pleasant. Unfortunately every good thing must come to its end one way or another. In next 4 weeks I'm getting two street lights installed right at both ends of my garden. Sucks!!!
Can you adjust the dew heater voltage? I have 5V USB dew heaters but I wanna replace ihr USB plug by an 12V DC plug. But if I plug it then into the 12V it will be too much. So I need to reduce down to 5V. So is this possible with this Powerbox? Thanks
Do the USB ports provide 5 V for USB powered devices, like my guider that have USB Inputs to charge there batteries or keep them running (as you said frigid temperatures kill Li_Ions fast)?
So according to the specs for this model
USB Port 1 or USB Port2 can deliver up to 5Volts / 3Amps of current. RPI3/4 can directly receive power from these two USB ports.
There is a new gen2 version of the box, which removes the usb3.0 only on port 1 as well just fyi
thanks for this video, this is really handy.
I'm looking at buying one, and just have one question around amperage. I will be using a 2600MC, EQ6-R, Sesto Senso 2 and Intel mini PC (NUC).
When cooling the camera, slewing the mount (including during meridian flip), powering the NUC, adding two dew heaters... I might go over 10A. Does this do anything to the unit? Have you ever gone over the 10 Amps and if so, what happened?
Hey thanks for the comment. i doub't you'll go over 10 amps, as I just about use the same equipment.. Intel NUC (12V version), 2600MC, SESTO 2, and a AZ-EQ6R Pro mount, 2 x lynx astro dew straps... max i've seen it peak at is 6amps
If the draw does go above 10 amps, Whilst i'm no electrician, what will happen will be down to the device's handling of low amperage. it could crash, it could start loosing power, unfortunatly there is no black or white answer, but I don't think you'll go over 10Amps TBH
@@HogarthsAstrophotography that's really great to hear, thanks very much. You put my mind at rest :)
I have a 12v 10.83amp DC adapter, can i use it for this device?
Great Depth Review !!
Much appreciated! Thanks for watching
My Pegasus pocket advance says it can't find upb controller. I downloaded every file but it still doesn't work. Do you know where to find the UPB controller? Thank you
Excellent demo. i have one on order
Very helpful. Which replacement usb 3 cable do you use? Thanks.
Hello I got one of these. Have used juicebitz cables before
www.juicebitz.co.uk/shielded-usb-3-0-type-a-to-type-b-male-cable-premium-series
@@HogarthsAstrophotography can I be reallly pedantic and ask what length you bought? I am at the point of running some cable under the floor to a pier and am really tempted by one of these, but for the length of cable run I need (3M ish) I might be entering the realm of messing around with repeaters. Yours looked quite long in the video.. so to speak :D
@@VaguelyAmused Ah, so the cable i showed was for effect. I use the same brand, but its a lot shorter, literally 0.5m, as i have my NUC literally next to it on the losmandy plate.. Sorry.
Hello, I came back here to listen again to this well explained video, but I still have a question though where I don't find an answer for.
You say that USB port 1 is USB3 only, so can't be used with a ZWO camera, so far so good. But which USB port is port1 ?
And on the PBA manual and on the Pegasus website it says that the device has 2 USB2 and 2 USB3 ports, the manual says that the left ones are white and the right ones are blue, very strange because they are all blue, so all USB3
Do you have an explanation please for my questions, because I can't figure it out ?
On the Gen1 Pegasus Pocket PowerBox, Port1, as you look at the USB 3.0 ports in front of you, it is the bottom left one that is USB 3.0 only and won't work well with QHY/ZWO cameras as even though they are USB 3.0, they negotiate a USB 2.0 connection first before stepping to USB 3.0.
When I recorded the video, The gen1 box was the only version available. As of recently Pegasus have released a Gen2 Pocket Powerbox which doesn't have the same limitation, but has less USB 3.0 ports now.
Again as you look at the USB ports, the left hand side two are USB 2.0 only and the righthand side are USB 2.0 and 3.0)
Summary:
The Gen1 pocket powerbox all the ports are blue and are USB 3.0 (with the oddity of port1)
The Gen2 pocket powerbox, only the two right handside USB ports are 3.0 and blue and the left two ports are 2.0 and are grey
It sounds like you have a GEN1 box if all the ports are blue, but your looking at the GEN2 manual.
This is the GEN1 manual.
pegasusastro.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/PPBADV_quick_installation_guide.pdf
Hope this helps
@@HogarthsAstrophotography Thank you for the explanation.
Bit awkward that version 2 is a step back from version 1.
As I see it, they just switched the manuals between version 1 and 2.
That would make more sense not ?
Because the version 1 of the PBA wasn't a blue aluminum box as it is now.
But it really doesn't matter as long as it work ofcourse
@@siegfriednoet the gen1 pocket power box was blue aluminium, they basically look identical.
The original power boxes were not blue, but the ‘Pocket’ range has only even been blue aluminium
Confusing I know
@@HogarthsAstrophotography I know it's confusing, but why should they make a version 2 that has less USB 3 inputs ??
Why not make a version 2 that has 4 usb 3 ports and all backwards compatible ?
Would make life very easy
I just bought a Pegasus Pocket Powerbox Advanced gen.2 (2 USB 2.0+2 USB 3.0 ports version), I installed the Unity Platform software and the "ASCOM Observing Conditions Driver v1.5 (Jun/20)", and I was able to connect all my equipment to SGP through the device...but I cannot make Sequence Generator PRO to connect the Powerbox as "enviromental device", even if it is present in the drop down menu: SGP quickly disconnects. If I click on the corrisponding wrench icon the message "The device is already connected" pops up. Can someone help me? I suspect I missed to set something up in ASCOM, but I still don't know where.
So I think i know what the issue is, the way Pegasus have changed to Unity has confused things. What you need to do is upgrade Unity to the latest version released a few days ago.. when done, Kill unity if its running..
@@HogarthsAstrophotography I have to give it a try asap, and I have to write Thank you very much, 'cause you spent your time trying to help me. Fingers crossed.
nice video, Thank you
Thanks. Appreciate you watching and taking time to feedback
Does the software use Mac?
I have this and it has worked great till 2 weeks ago. My main imaging camera is a ZWO 294 and it keeps dropping out or really on and off , all I hear is the computer binging. I changed wires uninstalled and reinstalled PB and nothing. So I thought it was my power supply and got one right from Pegasus , still not working. So now I thought maybe it was my computer USB so I just hooked up my old 3.0 hub and everything works great so it must be the PB. Before I send it back I was wondering how to set the PB a=to new as if it came right out of the box ? Should I uninstall the programing ? But if the PB remembers settings then I am sure that would not do it. Any thoughts ? Thx
Are you avoiding port 1 on the PBB
@@HogarthsAstrophotography No but found this out the other day so now I want to disconnect everything take the software off and want to reset the box like it was new
In the process of reding everything from scratch. If it does not work then the only conclusion would be the pegasus itself from what I can see
@@nigelarnold9416 well still not seeing camera at all now , just dont get it
Is the ZWO Camera still a bug with port 1?
the the PPBA v1 it is, but they have new revision of it, called the Pocket Powerbox Advance (rev 2), which does not have the same limitation with port number 1
Most resellers i've seen, are indicating if its the new version they are selling
@@HogarthsAstrophotographyI'm guessing I have the v2 then since I just bought it. Although, it doesn't specifically say which it is.
My God he's from Liverpool
??? I’m not from Liverpool