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Reviews For: Astron RS-70M

Category: Power Supplies

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Review Summary For : Astron RS-70M
Reviews: 46MSRP: 300
Description:
Description: 57 amp cont. 70amp surge 13.8 vdc power supply with voltage and current meters.
Product is in production
More Info: http://astroncorp.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00464.7
W9OWO Rating: 2012-12-15
Heavy,heavy duty! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Just recently received my RS-70M and I'm very impressed with its apparent quality. With weight at nearly 50 lbs. and for safety reasons, I enlisted the help of my husky, teenage grandson to place the PS on my station cabinet. At first, I was concerned with possible fan noise. The fan is yet to run and other reviews confirm it is not anything to worry about.

I fully expect that this is the last PS I'll ever need. It's plugged into a 30A circuit and should power everything through 2 RigRunners.

It's nice to be over-powered with this "quiet giant." Operation is straightforward so no "manual" is needed, however, a schematic is supplied.

One thing I don't understand is the use of a very dark color for labeling on the black cabinet. I guess Astron just wants to be "subtle".
N9EM Rating: 2012-05-28
Meter Lights Dim on Xmit Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I just got my RS70M (with lighted meters) and am using it to power a TS430 barefoot, so very light load.

But with every dot and dash the meter lights dim. Annoying to have this in front of you while operating.

I did read another post saying "...this is normal" and the bulbs "...can't be replaced."

Just wondering if anyone has mod to switch off the bulbs, or feed them from the output of the supply to keep them from dimming on xmit. I keep thinking my input voltage is dropping, but my Fluke and other meters show solid input VAC to the power supply.

I got the meters so I could monitor voltage/current in real time, so I don't want to hide the power supply, but I sure hate the dimming while operating.

Thanks,
John W9EED
N6TZV Rating: 2012-05-02
Own two, never a problem Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I use my two R'S-70M supplies for a pair of 500W amps (Metron, then Hercules II). Got the first 15 years ago, and the second 8 years ago. I have both 220V & 120V versions. Both have been flawless, uncomplaining brutes. I couldn't be more satisfied. My only question: there's a fan? Never heard one, even under heavy load. Get one, or two...
WD1V Rating: 2011-12-07
Great After Fix Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I used this supply to power a 150 watt amplifier on 1296 for EME.
It was working well (so I thought) and pulling a lot of
amps on transmit that made me believe the amp was working and the chances for EME were good. But then I noticed that the fan didn't come on - strange if it had been working so hard. So we opened it up and found that the thermistor sensor wasn't connected and half the MOSFETs weren't connected either! The wires were there and close to where they should have been soldered - but not there at all. So it amazed me that it worked - and then soooooo much better when it all get put together. And yes, it did it for EME from FN42. 73 - John - WD1V
KK5JY Rating: 2011-09-16
Excellent Regulation Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
With a load of just under 60A, my RS-70M has a total voltage drop at the terminals of about 0.06 V, which is a very solid output. I use it to drive an HL-450B amplifier, which it does without complaint. It is covered with heat sinks, and has a nice large fan to boot. My unit has either never heated up enough to need the fan, or the fan is very quiet.
VK2AAA Rating: 2011-05-11
Great Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I've had this power supply for a few months now, coupled to an 8 way RigRunner and converted all shack items to Anderson Powerpoles. I got tired of having multiple small supplies so sprang for this big heavy guy. This is a great traditional linear supply. The transformer hums a bit loudly at times but that might be because I have the 240V 50Hz version, not sure. Built like a tank and I've never heard the fan come on at all.
K3ROJ Rating: 2010-08-17
Old Workhorse Indeed Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I used this supply in my work shack for 10 years but recently bought a Tokyo 2 meter amplifier HL-350VDX. I now have it upstairs in the Den (shack) and ran an additional power line to a new 20 amp breaker which doesn't trip like the older breaker did each time I turned it on. This amp requires 48 to 55 Amperes depending on power out. No problem running 350 watts on 2 meters, all modes. I have 3 more smaller Astrons with meters and never a problem.
KE9K Rating: 2010-03-15
BRUTE FORCE !!! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
16 years of flawless service. It is a real workhorse. joe ke9k
VE7IG Rating: 2009-08-19
A very good power supply. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've been using this as my main station power supply for several years. It is left on most of the time with no problems--- the load current is fairly low. I do run two RS20A's in series with it to give me ~44 volts to run a 400 watt Down East Microwave 6 metre amp but at that voltage the current is still low. The heavy beast just sits there and runs! These Astron power supplies are great and there is NO receiver noise that you will experience with many light weight switching supplies.
W6RTW Rating: 2009-05-21
Power to Spare Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I got this power supply to drive an SO2R station consisting of an Icom 756 Pro 2 and a Pro 3. I have never had a problem with the supply, both power-wise and smell-wise. LOL This supply just sits in a corner and I have never turned it off with the exception of a few power failures here in the city. Voltage and regulation are solid and unchanging. It is also quiet, more so than even the Icom PS125 switching supply. It certainly is a heavy beast. I don't need to worry about it moving around in an earthquake.
Bob - W6RTW