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Reviews For: Astron RS-35M

Category: Power Supplies

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Review Summary For : Astron RS-35M
Reviews: 174MSRP: 169.95
Description:
Astron 35 amp (ICS), 25 amp (continuous) linear regulated power supply.
Product is in production
More Info: https://www.astroncorp.com/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
001744.6
WA8EBM Rating: 2004-09-25
Proven Performance Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Been running pretty much 24/7 for 20 years and never a problem. Great design and quality components. Just keeps on ticking.
KD1IN Rating: 2004-09-25
Workhorse Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had mine since 1991 and it still is going strong.

There is no noticable hum as others have described with theirs although there is the loud bang at turn on.

When I first got it the pass transistors saturated but that quickly went away when I moved on to a better ground.

Delivers smooth consistant power. All in all an excellent source.

-Dale
KG6OBC Rating: 2004-08-13
Awsome! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I bought the astron RS-35M from word of mouth and i will never regret it. i use it daily powering my icom IC-208H dualbander (tech for now). i bought this bag boy so when i upgrade later on to general and extra. i dont need to get a bigger PS to handel a HF set. ive also used it with my other hobby R/C vehicle Racing. i use it every now and then for my battery chargers. ive had 3 of my frinds 6.5 amp chargrs hookd to it. roughly 19 amps total and demoed ham radio at the same time running my 208 on hi power about 10-12 amps. got a little warm but kept going like that energizer bunny.

if asked if its a good PS id say Hell Yea!

73,
KG6OBC
Justin
KD4FUN Rating: 2004-07-16
Super Power Supply Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Bought mine to replace the failed matching unit to my HF radio. Did some serious research, Eham Reviews, Manuf specs, etc. Certainly did not want a noisy switching supply. Came to the conclusion that for the money you could not beat Astron. Purchased mine from a Amateur Radio outlet brand new with the meters. I have always liked the idea of monitering voltage and current. Guess I am one of the lucky ones as my supply does not make any noise when switched on and does not hum at all.
The supply powers my HF rig and VHF/UHF rig plus a KAM PLUS TNC without breaking a sweat. Would I buy another one??
Without the slightest bit of hesitation.
73 De KD4FUN
KA4KOE Rating: 2004-06-18
Old friend Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Had this bad boy almost 20 years. This is a one meter job with the rocker switch. Only problem was the switch was intermittent and never bothered to fix it.

I personally like the loud bang as the transformer inrush current does its magic. To me, that sound means, we're all business, gimme all you got!!!

Never missed a beat, and the crowbar circuit worked fine when I DID miss one myself.

PHILIP
WA1MIK Rating: 2004-06-18
Weighs a ton, but does the job Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've owned one since 1988 and it hasn't missed a beat. Draws an awful lot of surge current when first turned on, but the simple cure is to leave it on all the time. Very slight hum that can be eliminated with some adjustment of the cover. Bought a second one in early 2002 for a repeater with an external 100w amplifier. Everything on draws 24 amps and the supply just laughs at it and maybe reaches body temperature. These things are "practically" indestructible. Nothing else compares to it, as long as you don't mind the back-ache while moving it!
W2NSF Rating: 2004-04-16
Just made for us "100 watters" Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
This is the perfect supply for the ham running that 100W rig and assorted peripherals. I wanted to wait at least six months before making a review and the news I have to report is boring...which is good, by the way. I turned it on the first day I got it, and besides that one "hellatious" thunderstorm that shut the whole town down, it's been running continuously, quietly doing it's job without a whimper. This is in spite of my attempts to blow it up by occasionally shorting out one thing or another that's connected to it. I bought it because of the high ratings I saw on this site and now I add my highest rating to this unit. And if you don't think the meters are cool (which I do) then you can always buy the RS35 without 'em.
KA6SGT Rating: 2004-01-27
Built like a rock! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
For me, this is the power supply of choice based on the solid reviews in this column and the quality of construction in the unit. I wanted a solid power supply that I could use and forget for years to come and this is it. The main complaint with this unit as read from the previous reviews is the loud bang in the cabinet as the current in-rush "kicks" in when powered up. I had the exact same experience when I got the unit home. This was easily solved by taking the cover off and applying a piece of cotton bicycle tape to the underside of the cover that meets the face of the cabinet. I put it back together and no more loud bang! Not only does this PS run my 100W HF rig, it also powers my VHF unit at the same time without getting too warm. For the price, it's a great value.
K8AC Rating: 2003-12-23
LOUD Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Recently bought a new RS35M after having owned several other Astron supplies. This one is simply too loud to have near the operating position. When you turn on the supply, you're always greeted with a "bang" as the very thin cabinet top makes contact with the front and rear of the bottom cabinet half. Stacking a couple of heavy books on top makes a big difference, but you can still hear the cabinet vibrate from the transformer leakage flux. The physical design of the cabinet makes it just about impossible to tame the vibration. Astron really needs to think about using a toroid transformer in this supply.
N1DZ Rating: 2003-10-26
Just great Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Solid for over 7 years. Just a great PS. Switch it on and forget about it.