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Welcome to the DashBoardASCOMPowerBox wiki!

The DIY ASCOM connected power box

With environmental sensors, power monitoring and power supply switching and automation

Built with an Arduino Nano board

This project was started in January 2024, as a way to automate my astrophotography sessions through NINA Sequences. When a mount is powered on, current runs thorugh the stepper motors to hold their position in place. This is usefull while the mount is in use, but after a session is over, this only creates unnecessary heat and component wear and tear.

I wanted to automate the powering on and off of these components through a power box. There are already pre-built sollutions out there, like the DC jacks included in the astronomy computers like the ASIAIR, or PrimaLuce Eagle, as well as the PegasusAstro power boxes, but I wanted to build one myself. In doing so, it helped me build a custom solution that would cater to my needs, specifically. Now, I share my project with you.

Currently, this is a work in progress and the first version has its' shortcomings. There is no real input protection, no overcurrent protection, no way to automate the dew heaters and the switching is done via a relay, which is not the most efficient and long-lived way of doing the switching. There are improvements I am currently working on, but I invite you to check out the first version and build it for yourself, if you find it does enough for you.

All feedback and suggestions are welcome!