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Reviews For: Astron

Category: Power Supplies

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Review Summary For : Astron
Reviews: 49MSRP: varies
Description:
Linear and switching DC power supplies
Product is in production
More Info: http://astroncorp.com/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00494.5
KG5BV Rating: 2000-08-02
Great power supply! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Over the years I have owned an RS-12A, an RS-20A, an RS-35A, an RS-35M, an RS-50M and the big brute, an RS-70M. Never had a problem with any of them. I gave the RS-20A to my son, and he finally blew it up (looked like the 4th of July!). I replaced three diodes, the regulator IC, and a handful of other components, but it never would regulate after that. I don't blame Astron, my son would run it until it was too hot to touch! Mine have been ultra-reliable and I highly recommend them.
WD8DBY Rating: 2000-07-16
RS20A...great long term performer! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have owned my RS20A for more than 10 years with never a fault experienced. Truly a reliable performer.
AB4KZ Rating: 2000-07-06
Good performer Time Owned: more than 12 months.
2 Astron power supplies have been in my shack since I began using 13.8V rigs, a 20 amp and now a 35 amp. The 35 amp model had its regulator go out, but the good news is that the replacement is available at Radio Shack. I bought two, taped the spare inside the power supply, and am ready again. Good regulation and protection; no real complaints.
VE7BGP Rating: 2000-06-11
Kudo's to their Engineers Time Owned: more than 12 months.
My RS20A is one of the first It was about 3 years old when I bought it used from a estate sale in April of '83. I have never had a minutes of trouble with the great power supply. A couple of weeks ago I had mine apart for the first time to replace the small electrolytic caps, as a preventive maintance measure. I also added the decoupling cap across the output Icom recommends. I have used the power supply with many radios I have owned over the years mostly Icoms starting with a IC 730 and old Kenwood TR7400A. I now use it on my Great IC 751A and new IC 706 mkiig. I was really impressed with the quality and construction. Another very positive thing is the Astron uses a center tap transforner with seperate high current and low current drive power paths. That design makes them the most efficient linear supplies around. The Astrons have great (very fast) over current and short current protection. You can put a screwdriver across the output and the power supply shuts down so fast there is no burn marks on the screwdriver. I also have a RS10A I picked up recently. I will team it up with the old TR7400a for packet soon. The only thing I ever plan on replacing these old work horses with is Astrons new SS35 one of these days to save weight for portable use. I think my 20 year old RS 20A and Great Icom 751A hf rig will be in my shack for many more years.
K7JDN Rating: 2000-06-11
No problems Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have owned my Astron RS-20M for five years and it has not ever given me any problems. It is so reliable that I've almost forgotten that it's there. I run three radios on it and it easily handles all of them.
N0LTM Rating: 2000-04-05
One of the Best Power supplies around! Time Owned: unknown months.
I've owned two Astron power supplies: One a RS-12 which I've had for about 5 years and never had a problem with it. Two: I've purchased a SS-30 powersupply for my Kenwood TS570D and I'm very impressed with it. Virtually noise free (RF & audio) and very light for a power supply for 30 amps (4 lbs). I've known several people who also have Astron supplies that performed flawlessly for them.
KL7DC Rating: 2000-04-04
Astron = Excellent P.S. Time Owned: unknown months.
Hello. I've owned two 13.8 Vdc power supplys over the last 15 years, both the RS-35A and the RS-35M metered model. Both supplies NEVER once gave me a problem. Both were faithful, truely tuff units. They've powered my TS-120S, TS-430S, FT-747, TS-850SAT, and the present FT-920. My ham career wouldn't be the same without them. Now that I think back, I don't know what posessed me to sell the 35A... Buy one. Use it, don't abuse it, and it'll run forever. 73. Steve KL7DC
KU4AB Rating: 2000-03-08
astron Time Owned: unknown months.
i hate to say it because lots of people have them.. but.. i've had to repair 6 or 7 astron
20amp supplys,. plus 2 35 amp supplys... all with regulator problems..
if i were building them i'd make em a little more rugged.. it seems every hamfest has
several inop ones sitting around.. that's not good customer relations.. if you buy one get one
lots larger than you think you might need.. give it a little breathing room .. a 100 watt hf
rig will put lots of load on a 20 amp supply.. happy hamming.. 73.s ku4ab
WX0B Rating: 1999-12-01
Great supply for DX-Peditions and shack. Time Owned: unknown months.
I purchased an Astron 30M, a 30amp continues switching power supply with voltage and amperage meters on the front. It weighs in at about 5 lbs. Perfect for slipping into a roll on suitcase with your DXpedition radio. I performes just like it should, lots of clean DC.
It has a temperature sensing fan that will turn on when heat is detected over a certain threshold, but it is very quiet. When no fan is on it makes no sound at all, in your ears or on the bands.

There is a pot inside that easily adjusts the regulated DC output to your favorite voltage. 13.8 VDC is no problem with the large front panel meters.

At $129.00 it's a bargain.