Ultimate Powerbox v2

Ultimate Powerbox v2 (UPBv2 in short) is the successor of our renowned Ultimate Powerbox. You asked for more features, we kept our promise:

A USB3.1 Hub was added -you can switch on/off each USB port –, more power outputs, more dew heaters, α new stepper controller that can drive any stepper motor in the astronomy market as well as an expansion ports for future devices that will communicate with the UPBv2 Controller!

A new “face-lifted” enclosure comes with the Ultimate Powerbox v2.

If you are tired of carrying multiple power packs and dealing with a mess of power and data cables, our Ultimate Powerbox v2, a sophisticated power control unit, is the “Ultimate” solution. Our idea is an enclosure that makes a sufficient number of amperes available.

No cables disturb the movements of the mount and the instrument, only the main power cord and one USB data cord is attached to the Ultimate Powerbox from which branch off the other cables powering all devices.

Ultimate Powerbox v2 quick glance:

	4 x 12V Smart Outputs,
	3 x PWM duty cycle channels for Dew Heaters / Flatpanel / Fans
	USB3.1 SuperSpeed, 5 Gbit/s Industrial Grade Powered Hub Includes 4 x USB3.1 and 2 x USB2 available ports (6 USB ports in total)
	Stepper Motor Controller (Can drive nearly any stepper motor in the astro -market Unipolar or Bipolar)
	Variable / Software Configured 3-12V / Regulated Output of 3Amps
	12V / Always ON Output for your mini PC
	Environmental & Power readings
	In a compact size with plenty of features!

We strongly believe that if you own a remote observatory or you do advanced imaging you are going to love this device!

Power and Data Cable management

Solid Input Socket

A large and solid DC input socket ensures that power cable is always secured in place. Socket is selected to provide all the power you need without voltage drops

DC power cable is included in the package

More than 20A of total power

Controller has been designed to support up to 20 Amps of total input current.

* Please notice that Ultimate Powerbox v2 is not a powerbank. It requires an external power source (battery or PSU) to receive its power.

4 x 12V DC Power outlets for your equipment

Four powerful Smart Mosfet transistors provide “electric juice” to your precious equipment. Sophisticated short circuit and overload per port protections cut the power and report the incident into our software. Every Mosfet is capable to provide up to 7Amps of current.

Metal & good quality output sockets ensure that will provide all the juice you need and can secure in place your extension power cables

Built in Power Sensors

A precise voltmeter and an ampmeter (can measure up to 30A) measure and display in real time your power input. If the input is more than 14.5V the power is instantly cut off to protect your equipment.

Individual Current Meter per 12V port and Dew Heaters

Every 12V output and every Dew Heater Channel has an internal and independent digital current meter. You can view each port power consumption in the software.

Stand Alone Software

Our modern standalone software has a neat dark skin! Control all Ultimate Powerbox v2 features from this software. Receive metrics, View and zoom into graphs, name your outputs, tune every setting of your Ultimate Powerbox v2 quickly and easily.

Industrial 6 port powered USB3.1 SuperSpeed Hub

An industrial grade USB3.1 Hub controller ensures that this USB hub will work flawlessly from temperatures of -40°C to +80°C.

A neat feature is that each USB port can be switched ON/OFF individually by the software. A device was stuck and you had to replug the socket in the middle of a cold night? No problem! Just locate the port, click the ON /OFF switch in our software and you recycle the USB port . Simple as that!

At the back of the UPBv2 you can locate:

• 4 x USB 3.1 Super Speed ports
• 2 x USB 2 High Speed ports

Each USB port provides up to 2.5Amps. All USB ports include an electronic short circuit and overload electronic protection.

Embedded Stepper Motor Controller

A stepper motor controller will precisely move your focuser. The controller drives a Pegasus Motor or any other stepper motor in the market (Unipolar or Bipolar) e.g. Rigel, Robofocus, Moonlight Motor.

Make sure you have the correct cable for your motor. Every manufacturer uses its own pinout. Contact us if you have any question for the type of your motor.

Supported Stepper Motors

Backlash compensation is already implemented in the firmware and can be enabled, tuned and disabled from the software. A fully ASCOM6 focuser driver is already available.

Three channel duty cycle PWM outputs

Three Pulse width modulation (PWM) outlets are capable to provide power to your “thirsty” Dew Heaters / Flatpanels or Telescope Fans. Eliminate the moisture that is fuzzing your equipment and destroying your clear nights. These outlets can be remotely tuned from your laptop using the supplied software.

A Variable & Voltage Regulated Output

One regulated output that can provide up to 3Amps of current is available. You can tune the output from 3 Volt to 12Volt and save this setting in controller’s memory. Every time UPBv2 boots the port will be tuned to the stored voltage setting,

Always ON – 12V Output

One unregulated 12V output can provide up to 8Amps. So, In addition with the Smart 4 x 12V outputs you have one more to connect additional equipment. This 12V output port stays always ON!

Expansion Port (EXT)

An RJ12 expansion port is available for future devices. Expansion Port allows the connectivity of current and future Pegasus Astro Products. Plugged devices can be controlled from UPB software (ASCOM /INDI / Standalone)

Hint: To drive a second stepper motor via UPBv2 check our optional product for focus expansion capabilities:
eXternal Motor Controller (XMC)

Auto Adjustment of PWM (Dew Outputs)

Firmware can auto adjust the PWM Outputs by consulting the environmental sensor Dew Point reading. Just click “Auto” and leave to Ultimate Powerbox v2 decide if it is time to switch on your dew heaters.

Notice: You can select which Dew Heater output is controller by the “Auto Dew” function.

ASCOM 6 fully supported

Ultimate powerbox fully supports ASCOM6. In combination with our main program which acts as a server you can use our latest ASCOM 6.4 supplied drivers to:

• Control Stepper Motor (ASCOM Focuser)
• Pass environmental settings to supported software (e.g Sequence Generator Pro / MaximDL /NINA )  (ASCOM ObservingConditions)
• Switch ON or OFF all 12V outputs. (ASCOM Switches – NINA/ MaximDL)

Above screenshot shows ASCOM Observing Conditions and Focus Driver in combination with Sequencer Generator Pro

INDI support

Ultimate Powerbox v2 is fully supported by INDI and INDIGO

• Indigo: http://www.indigo-astronomy.org
• Indilib: https://indilib.org/devices/auxiliary/pegasus-ultimate-power-box.html

Fully compatible with StellarMate

RPI3 & RPI4

TheSkyX native plugin support

A multi platform plugin for OSX (macOS), Windows, Linux (Ubuntu) and Raspberry PI is available.

For more information visit RTI-ZONE website (3rd party plugin).

Native Support at NI.NA.

Thanks to NINA developers the Ultimate Powerbox v2 is fully supported via native drivers

External brackets support

We provide an optional pair of brackets to grab the Ultimate Powerbox device onto a Losmandy 3” or Vixen plate. Both brackets can be screwed on the side of the controller and grab on your telescope.

Installation guide for Pair of UPBv2 Dovetail Brackets

Led Indications for power and failure states

Led can blink in patterns to warn you regarding important power issues (e.g over or under voltage). Moreover light can be turned off using the software. Our led is very dim but in case you don’t like it on you can switch it off via the software.

Power Cables are included in the package

Four (4) power cable of DC 2.1mm to 2.1mm male (1m) are included in the package. Cables are thick enough to support up to 6Amps of current.

External Environmental Sensor

External temperature & relative humidity sensor is included in the package. Know exactly the environment conditions in your location.  Temperature, humidity and dew point measurements are displayed in the software.

Zoomable  and Exportable Graphs for Power and Environment values

Software logs all voltage, current, temperature and relative humidity readings. All these plots are zoomable and easily exportable in PNG image & CSV text format. Keep a full record of your night conditions.

Timer to shutdown outputs

Choose the time and start timer to shutdown output ports when you schedule it.

Memory persistence outputs on startups

You can easily define which output (power or USB) should turn ON during startup. The setting is stored in system’s EEPROM memory. A neat feature in case of a power failure.

USB3.1 Connectivity

Controller is always connected to the USB Hub (7th internal USB port). No extra cable needed. Just connect the USB Hub to your laptop and you are ready to go.

Reverse Polarity Protection

Ultimate Powerbox has been design with a reverse voltage polarity protection. It will definitely save your night if you accidentally connect the main power supply in reverse polarity!

Watchdog

A hardware watchdog resets the device if for any reason there is no response from the controller for two seconds. A neat feature in the unlikely event of a controller freeze – when you have a remote observatory and you need to be certain that everything works as expected.

Upgradable Firmware

Firmware supports re-programming via the USB connection using upgrade software ((only available for Windows), for future upgrades which may become available. We constantly receive feedback from our customers and keep updating the firmware and software with new features.

Compact Size and Lightweight

A blue anodised aluminium compact sized box enclose the controller board. Size is 12cm x 10cm x 3cm (4.72 inch x 4.06 inch x 1.2 inch). Weight is 400 grams (14.1 ounces).

In the box

Ultimate Powerbox v2 enclosure
Temperature / Humidity Sensor
4 x Power DC 2.1 to 2.1 male cable (1m)
DC Cable (2m) to Cigarette Lighter Adapter (10A fused)
USB3 Cable Type B (1.8m)

Documentation

• Please visit support page for latest software and documentation

Motor Cable Pinout

• Starlight HSM Motor Cable Pinout for UPBv2
• Rigel nStep Motor Cable Pinout for UPBv2
• Robofocus / Moonlite / Lakeside Cable Pinout for UPBv2
• Pegasus Motor requires a common straight RJ45 to RJ45 network cable

Technical Specifications