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Reviews For: Astron SS-30/M

Category: Power Supplies

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Review Summary For : Astron SS-30/M
Reviews: 98MSRP: 120 to $160
Description:
30 Amp Switching Power Supply (SS-30M with meters) (SS-30 no meters)
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.astroncorp.com/switching-desktop
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00984
VE3LNY Rating: 2010-07-21
Excellent Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had one for years since I got my IC-746 and it has performed flawlessly. I do not get any RF noise and the fan is not too noisy. I'm into Cinch-Jones connectors so I installed a 4-pin socket on the back panel and a corresponding plug on the radio's cable. It has all worked fine for at least 10 years.
W2ZK Rating: 2010-07-15
Great power supply; quiet physically and electrically Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had my SS-30M for over 12 years and it has given me absolutely no problems that whole time. It has tolerated months of 24 X 7 service. I totally take it for granted. I chase DX down near the noise floor and any RF hash from the SS-30M would be immediately noticeable and there just is none that I've spotted. The fan comes on every now and then but it is quiet as fans go. The SS-30M can put out 25 amps continuously, is much more efficient than a linear supply, and comes in a small package. I would never go back to the iron packed linear supplies as long as supplies the quality of the SS-30M are around.
WB5VRC Rating: 2010-03-05
Great power supply!! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I purchased the Astron SS-30M at the recommendation of HRO to run my TS-2000. It has been rock solid ever since being placed in line. At the price I paid for the product I received I could not be happier.

It has tolerated being left on for days on end and driving both the TS-2000 as well as some home brew experiments that gave it a real run on the limits. Never did it sputter or hick-up. It just kept on ticking after taking the licking like the old add for a Timex watch.

I think Lambda could learn a trick or too from Astron.

73’s

Cliff
WF6L Rating: 2009-09-20
Just OK... Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I wanted a small efficient power supply with meters so I purchased the Astron SS-30M to power my Flex 5000A. The first thing I noticed was the poor quality connectors on the back. I had a hard time securing the power cables. Second, the fan, which comes on when the supply sits idle is loud.
N2DY Rating: 2009-09-08
Solid With No RF Noise Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had my SS-30M for many years now and have never detected any RF hash. Also, I have not found the fan to be particularly loud. I tend to use linear supplies in my main shack, but this one is great for travel when its light weight makes it easy to take on the road. It seems to handle a full load quite well and like all my other Astrons, it has never failed. If you need a light weight supply that can handle a medium-sized load like an HF radio, the SS-30M is all you need. If you have the room and weight does not matter, go with one of Astron's larger and heavier linear supplies.
WV1K Rating: 2009-08-22
WV1K Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I own SIX bought from 2004 to 2007. There is no noise emitting from any of my SIX. I use indoor and outdoor antennas. I cannot comment on one with back lighting yet, or if those are an actual RFI issue. I will now return to my FT-2000 which is also a "bomb".
K3DGR Rating: 2009-08-22
Loud Fan, RFI noise... Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Astron model SS-30M Switching Power Supply
specs:
ASTRON SWITCHING POWER SUPPLIES...
• HIGH EFFICIENCY SWITCHING TECHNOLOGY
SPECIFICALLY FILTERED FOR USE WITH
COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT, FOR ALL
FREQUENCIES INCLUDING HF
• HEAVY DUTY DESIGN
• LOW PROFILE, LIGHT WEIGHT PACKAGE
• EMI FILTER
• MEETS FCC CLASS B
My observations:
1. Switchers are electronic and rely on oscillators and radio frequency to operate in their design, and this one runs at a better efficiency but...
2. The SS-30m has a LOUD variable speed fan which cools the internal components..not good for the quiet QRP, weak signal or contest shack...
3. More importantly, this switcher puts out a narrow noise band (1Mhz width??) which drifts downward in frequency at a 1-2 sec rate which totally covers all received signals up for that period. I found this to be true on my two favorite bands which I operate most - 40m and 30m. This internal generated noise band is totally unacceptable!..
Conclusion: Switching power supplies don't belong in the ham shack period!. The linear supplies are much quietier and heavier and will outlast the "New and improved designs" every time. that's why I returned the supply and ordered my old standby linear RS-35M!
73's Dave, aa3ej
aa3ej@arrl.net
KB0HAE Rating: 2009-05-15
Great powetr supply Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
This is my second Astron SS-30 power supply. The first I purchased new, and used it for several years to power an Icom IC-706MKIIG. I had no problems with the supply, and no interference from it. I eventually had to sell the radio and power supply to pay the bills. The current supply was purchased used on eBay. The only problem that I had with the second supply was that the set screws were both broken. I replaced them with allen set screws from the local True Value. I also did the fan mod on this one, so the fan runs slowly all the time. No problems and no interference from this one either. I would not hesitate to buy another one.
N7BBX Rating: 2009-04-21
I forget it's there Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I purchased the SS-30 model. Powers my Yaesu FT-840 without a hitch. MOF it's so quiet - half the time I forget to shut it off. I have owned 3 or 4 Astron PS's and all have worked perfect. Time owned is collective for all the PW's.
K0KS Rating: 2009-01-06
Rugged Service ! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
My SS-30M is used to charge a 100AH battery on a timed cycle. The turn-on current is sometimes in the 30A range and drops to a few amps as the battery charges to 14.25V. This is not a recommended use but it's done very well for 7 years. The RFI hash problem is more severe under heavy loads and is easily seen on a good 'scope. A couple of caps and ferrites worked wonders. Astron must have shipped a couple of 'bad apples' from the reviews but when it works as well as mine, you forget to go back and write a review. Our county EOC just replaced several linear supplies with SS-30s... on my recommendation so I hope my luck holds.