[TenTec] Astron SS30 power supply leave on?

[Wade Staggs]

*Everything should be Fine Business at your shack. From what we have seen
so far the SS-30 is a very dependable power supply. I also missed the SS
part of the model number. Sorry about that ...... >>> Wade/KJ4WS <<< *

On Thu, Jun 25, 2015 at 2:31 PM, denton sprague <denton at oregontrail.net>
wrote:

> I should of stated my query is in regards to the Astron SS30…the switching
> power supply.
>
> A little followup… my SS30 is plugged into an commercial grade sine wave
> ups…the kind that is designed to feed servers.
>
> I will also be running a pair of isobar surge suppressors, one to feed the
> station from the ups and the second one to feed the satellite receiver
> power feed, internet, phone and other systems also from the ups.
>
> On Jun 25, 2015, at 11:10 AM, Mike Bryce <prosolar at sssnet.com> wrote:
>
> > The Astron power supplies use the 723 linear voltage regulator IC. It’s
> very durable, and there are millions of linear power supplies operating
> with that chip.
> >
> > One of the problems with the Astron’s is they used the data sheet from
> TI about the 723, then removed every single part that they could yet still
> have the circuit operate. It’s under designed.
> >
> > And like Stuart said, the first thing to go in the regulator IC,
> especially during electrical storms with the supply plugged in and turned
> on.
> >
> > Another ‘under design’ in the Astron supplies is the continued habit of
> the designer to use one of the emitter balancing resistors as the shunt for
> the current meter. The resistor needs to be there, so, they use it for a
> dual purpose. Because of this design, the current meter is far from
> accurate.
> >
> > Instead of using a full wave bridge, they use, as Stuart said, only two
> diodes in a bridge block. It must be cheaper that way instead of using two
> stud mount diodes.
> >
> > They also have a tendency to use two bridge rectifiers in parallel in
> their high current supplies.
> >
> > But with all the lumps and bumps, they are rather robust, many of them
> operate for decades without fail.
> >
> > yet, with that being said, I’d think hard about putting on in repeater
> service when it takes a 4X4 two hours to climb to the hill top to the
> repeater site.
> >
> > Google ‘repeater builder’ and you’ll find tons of information on making
> these supplies more robust, more reliable, and safer.
> >
> > I have a Astron SS-30 that had been on for 18 years none stop. It failed
> last spring,  the PWM chip when out. Replaced the chip and all the high
> zoot capacitors and I expect another 18+ years from it.
> >
> > I do leave my power supply on all the time. No matter how much it storms
> and how many lightening strikes are taking place. It’s built to take it— 36
> 6-volt 220 amp/hr batteries run the shack
> >
> >
> > Mike Bryce WB8VGE
> > prosolar at sssnet.com
> >
> >
> >
> >
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