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Reviews For: Astron RS-35A

Category: Power Supplies

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Review Summary For : Astron RS-35A
Reviews: 103MSRP: 150.00
Description:
13.8 volt 25 amp continuous 35 amp peak rated DC Power Supply
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.astroncorp.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
121034.8
N2MDV Rating: 2019-04-29
The perfect supply for 100W HF rigs! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This supply is not mine, but my brother-in-law's. As I've written about the Astron's RS-20M, that supply is not quite enough for a wide open 100W HF rig. The RS-35A is, and my bro-in-law has let me borrow his for a time. Nice supply that powers wide open HF 100W rigs and more, and doesn't flex a muscle. And, this supply is very self repairable. I'm still an old school believer in big transformered, linear, power supplies. And, if you want less noise to work and power rigs on Field Day, this is the supply to have. No RF hash. Just too bad that I'll have to give this supply back.
N8FVJ Rating: 2019-04-16
Quieter than Switchers Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The RS-35A if excellent. I had an old RS-20 and I could draw a peak of 22 amps and it would still stay in regulation despite being rated at 20 amps maximum.

I decided to upgrade to the RS-35A rated 25 amps continuous and 35 amps intermittent. Likely never draw more than 22-23 amps, but it is more heavy duty. Paid $179 shipped from HRO on 4-15-2019.

These linear type produce less than 5mv AC ripple at full load and do not make any noise on the HF receiver like some switching power supplies. Play it safe and get a linear type Astron power supply.
W4KPA Rating: 2018-02-04
Reliable for decades Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have two of these that date from the early 1990s, so they're both well over 25 years old. Last year I finally had to replace the power switch on one of them (even though I don't turn them off and on that often). I made a quick call to Astron and had the part in a couple of days for minimal cost. It took about 15 minutes to change it out. Most of that was removing and replacing the case. So, they're reliable. They don't hum. I have them out of sight in an adjoining room. I never think about them, except when a storm comes through and I turn them off and pull the power plugs out of the wall. Otherwise they're on 24/7. Will I buy another one? Well, yes, but given their durability I may never get the chance. They're heavy, of course, but that's what makes them last.
W9SA Rating: 2018-02-04
Solid and Reliable Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I just got my second one of these. The first one ran 25 years without an issue and finally shut down. I figured that was a pretty good reason to buy another. Much to my surprise when I called Astron to inquire about repair they said did you turn it off and back on? Once I did I found that it in fact had reset itself and worked fine. I now have two (which I needed anyway because I got a new rig) and can only say thanks Astron.
AG6QR Rating: 2017-03-11
Minor QC issue, but solid Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This is what everyone says it is: Big heavy, and RF-quiet. I bought mine new from HRO in February of 2017. Being curious, I took off the cover to take a peek inside, and found that the main capacitor and the regulator board were floating around loose in the cabinet! There was a clamp to hold the capacitor securely to the cabinet floor, but the screw had never been tightened on that clamp, and the capacitor had fallen out of its clamp during shipping. It was a simple fix, and it hadn't caused any problems, but it shouldn't have escaped from the factory like that. There are exposed terminals that could short out if things are allowed to rattle around loose inside there. I'm also not really crazy about the use of two diode bridges in parallel with no effort to equalize the load between them. I may substitute a single higher-rated diode bridge one of these days. But the good news is that there is ample documentation on how to maintain these simple supplies, and I expect mine to last a very long time with minimal care. I don't plan on drawing much more than 25 amps peak out of mine, so it should run cool and outlast me.
WA6KYR Rating: 2015-06-20
Great lasting supply Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I had another manufacturer supply fail about 20 years ago so I picked up an Astron 35A. It still works fine, just turn it on and forget about it.
No problems.
N0FPE Rating: 2015-06-20
excellent Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I picked up 4 of the old style 35M supplies at a county surplus auction years ago. One has been running my shack 24/7/365 for over 15 years now. A second one has been running my UHF MASTR II repeater for 7 years 24/7/365. The other 2 are spares and get used once in a while just to keep the electrons from leaking out of them. I have a couple of the 30amp switchers but nothing beats the heavy iron for solid operations!!


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Earlier 5-star review posted by N0FPE on 2009-10-21

hard to stop. I have 3 RS-35M units in service. One has been powered on 24/7/365 for 15 years. Never as much as blink unless the power company dropped the line. yes i have a newer switcher. But it is only for temp use when i am cleaning the dust off the astrons.
AA7LX Rating: 2015-06-19
The Best Power Supply Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Just received the RS 35A today! It is big and heavy(27 lbs.)! Didn't look inside; however, it sits square and flat on the rubber feet and nothing shaking inside! Wow! What a difference from MFJ. I'm glad I took other Hams advice and also did Research here on eHam Reviews. First turn on: 13.8v on 400v scale digital; after 10 minutes: 13.7v on 400v scale digital. Haven't "installed" yet at Station location, however, I'm really glad I spent the money for this Astron 35A. Very-well made and rock-solid case. I agree: You won't be disappointed! I'm not. Buy it! Not necessary to have meters/don't want to worry about them going out -or- flickering. Like another reviewer said, "It's sexy...". My advice: Buy it! Down the road I will do another review while in operation. Buy it-- it's built like a tank!
N7WE Rating: 2015-05-26
Legendary! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Bought mine used for $50 many years ago. I have no idea how old it is, but it just does what it is supposed to do, day in and day out. Outlasted lots of good ham equipment!

Is it light and easily portable like the switchers? No. Does it have sexy meters? No. Is it the latest technology? No. Was it made in China, Taiwan, or Japan? No, no, and no.

Rock solid and never a problem. Made in the USA. The stuff of legends.
W6UXB Rating: 2015-02-06
Astron 35A 12V supply Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I am amazed the RS-35A has not been listed before, I think the meters are rather redundant, this is the go to power supply for all the 100 watt radios on the market, massive transformer, over rated components, it will survive the operator I am sure. I would not power my radios with anything but an Astron