Guest AstroOlly Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 Hi all, Just wanted to share my latest project with you all, my own version of a mount hub pro Includes 3 12v waterproof twistlock lighter sockets 4 12v Aux power plugs 2 Chanel dew controller (PWM controlled) 4 outputs 2 per channel 7 port USB hub (2 internal) 5v powered by internal 12 to 5v regulator USB input socket 12v fan On off switch External fuses for all the above Give me your comments https://www.dropbox.com/s/uw4iz083eznw3kr/Photo%2020-09-2014%2012%2041%2036.jpg?dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/s/maykbz0y8yuf7n2/Photo%2020-09-2014%2012%2041%2046.jpg?dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/s/mk101jueevnjg8p/Photo%2020-09-2014%2012%2042%2000.jpg?dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/s/876jpdvnss3wvcu/Photo%2020-09-2014%2012%2042%2009.jpg?dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/s/jkzvm1shhk4bmh6/Photo%2020-09-2014%2012%2042%2022.jpg?dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/s/1h76pphi4cd050c/Photo%2020-09-2014%2012%2043%2021.jpg?dl=0 Olly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perkil8r Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 Nice work, I have considered something similar myself but integrating it into my battery box. I am not sure as it really needs a cooling fan though? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest AstroOlly Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 Nice work, I have considered something similar myself but integrating it into my battery box. I am not sure as it really needs a cooling fan though? It probably does not need the fan, but had one spare and room to put it, so why not.....never know in the future what I might add Olly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+RonC Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 Well done, good idea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest AstroOlly Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 Forgot to add that it is powered by a 13.9v, 15 amp bench power supply that feeds my pier from the garage, around 8mts away, I only have a drop of 0.4v @ 7amps, at the pier which is more than acceptable, although I have used mains 2.5mm twin and earth cable from garage to pier to run the 13.9v DC down, to limit the voltage drop. Olly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red dwalf Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 excellent idea, very neat and tidy job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BAZ Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 That's a very neat job there Olly. There's always a way round things eh! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweedledee Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 That really does look neat and professional Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+TasKiNG Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 Great bit of DIY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest AstroOlly Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 Thanks all very much, for the praise, really appreciate it Olly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest StevenWhatley Posted September 22, 2014 Share Posted September 22, 2014 How much that cost you to build?? Looks great I want one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweedledee Posted September 22, 2014 Share Posted September 22, 2014 I would be interested to know your method for cutting out the very neat circular and rectangular holes in the box Olly. It is difficult to make such a clean job working with plastic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest AstroOlly Posted September 22, 2014 Share Posted September 22, 2014 How much that cost you to build?? Looks great I want one Hi, In total including all the fixtures around £75, but for that I bought large assorted boxes of stuff, like, pan head screws, assorted glass fast blow fuses, 5 mts of 15amp wire, small assorted nuts and bolts, so,have loads of bits leftover. I reckon you could probably make for around £50 if you just bought what you need for one. I thought about knocking a few out, something to do now I am semi retired, but it was quite time consuming, probably took me around 8 hours of work in total. Regards Olly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest AstroOlly Posted September 22, 2014 Share Posted September 22, 2014 (edited) I would be interested to know your method for cutting out the very neat circular and rectangular holes in the box Olly. It is difficult to make such a clean job working with plastic. Hi, I cut the holes with a sharp hole cutter, then used a hobby file set to square them off, the circular holes were just drilled and filed if needed, I covered the box in masking tape first and marked it all out and left that on while cutting all the holes, then removed afterwards, this gave the box some protection and stopped the drill bits slipping. Regards Olly Edited September 22, 2014 by AstroOlly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweedledee Posted September 22, 2014 Share Posted September 22, 2014 Thanks for that info Olly. I have something similar work to do on a plastic box. Your holes are so neat, I thought you might have had them professionally laser cut or something, very nice job . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest AstroOlly Posted September 22, 2014 Share Posted September 22, 2014 Thanks for that info Olly. I have something similar work to do on a plastic box. Your holes are so neat, I thought you might have had them professionally laser cut or something, very nice job . No laser involved, but a lot of patience with the files.... Also a bit of advice, the plastic box was quite thick, around 4mm which helped, some that you can buy are very flimsy, but this one was good to work with. Regards Olly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweedledee Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 That's good to know thanks. Mine is a similar thickness, and is possibly even the same box. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest StevenWhatley Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 Olly, Could you give me a list of everything you would need to make one as it looks like just what im after Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest AstroOlly Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 Olly, Could you give me a list of everything you would need to make one as it looks like just what im after Will sort a list out for you later one thing I will say is I got absolutely everything from ebay. Regards Olly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catman161 Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 Olly, that is a seriously good job well done. If you put that on kickstarter i for one would back it as a project straight away. I think if you did decide to do it on kickstarter and got to your target for funding you may even give some of the larger Astro manufacturers a run for their money! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest devil74 Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 Cor blimey Olly that is the dogs nuts of a job...i want one too... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red dwalf Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 i`d be interested in a list of the components also Olly, it`s very impressive Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest AstroOlly Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 Well what can I say, thanks to all of you for your superb comments, I thought I had done a good job, but it is nice to here from fellow astronomers and astrophotographers, it really does get id of the mass of cables and works very well. I will show a list of the components and I will try and put links to them all as I bought the whole kit from ebay, the only thing I have noticed is that the 12v PWM dimmer controllers I used for the dew controllers, I bought two for £6 here in the UK but the guy has put them up to £32 each......go figure, but I know a lot of people are using them for dew controllers as they are rated to 8amp at 12v and work perfectly, so maybe he has realised there is a good market for them. They are still available from china for about £4 each with free delivery. Anyway I will sort out a list, and thanks again for the kind words Regards Olly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest AstroOlly Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 (edited) Ok here goes the list of items...hope I have got them all USB hub http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111453496230?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT USB hub 12v to 5v power converter http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Car-Charger-Converter-12V-To-5V-3A-15W-DC-To-DC-Buck-Step-Down-Module-/261596598891?nma=true&si=ieoxzGddZyBBVENEN0pC0ibYlpg%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557 LED switch http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/130947813460?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT RF interference filters http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221379747255?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT PWM controllers for dew control http://www.lightinthebox.com/96w-manual-led-strip-dimmer-white-dc-12v_p474082.html?utm_source=mb_ShoppingUK&utm_medium=PCS&utm_campaign=2354&litb_from=paid_pcs_Shopping¤cy=GBP&lightinthebox&CA_6C15C=1677753946 RCA connectors, four red and four white http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221363401191?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT 5mm 12v LED for dew power controllers, will dim and brighten with the controller http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12V-Ultra-Bright-3mm-5mm-10mm-Prewired-LED-with-Black-Bezel-Holder-All-Colours-/261437032882?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Components_Supplies_ET&var=&hash=item3cdedc89b2 12v sockets http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/370622726420?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT External fuse holders http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/301150405943?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT Assorted pan head screws http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/310354586357?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT USB panel mount http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/291157520531?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT 15amp wire, I think you really only ned 10 amp http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/140680352171?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT Spade connectors http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251279968607?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT Assorted fast blow fuses http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/351159341595?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT Copper strip board for connecting all positive and negative wires easily http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/110773926039?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT 40mm computer fan and case guard http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181436325596?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&var=480408082276&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT And most importantly the box for it all, good quality 4mm thick so you can screw into it. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271364357366?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&var=570245025383&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT Also I used computer motherboard stand offs to mount the copper strip board on and the dew controller boards, to keep off the base of the box, these just screwed into the base of the box into a small pilot hole. Well I think that was about it, except for assorted black cable ties, and then an old computer power lead for the input cable, and whatever plug you want on the end to connect to a suitable power supply, I bought one of these: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/301186076491?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT to supply 13.8v from my garage to my pier 8 mts away, and even with everything on and drawing7 amps at the pier I only get a 1volt drop over the 8 meter distance, so still get 12.8 volts at the pier. Regards Olly Edited September 23, 2014 by AstroOlly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest AstroOlly Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 Here is a link,to all the pictures taken from start to finish, it might help anyone who wants to have a go and build one https://www.dropbox.com/sh/of0yarei2bbrtvp/AAAEehy82Sj1RUpsClCwS30Pa?dl=0 Regards Olly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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