Best Internet Device for Powering Up (and Down) a Remote Observatory - Forums

Topic starter

Dec 4, 2023

My observatory is all of 15 km from home, but in the New England winter that's a long way. I've got all the software for automatic operation working, and thanks to recommendations from an an earlier query to an AB forum, I'm now connecting to the observatory via Chrome Remote Desktop. CRD works like a charm.

Wondering now what Internet-controlled switch other remote imagers prefer for powering equipment up (and down when done.)

CS, Bob Gillette

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Philip F.

Dec 4, 2023

What you are likely looking for is a remote power switch. You will find a bunch of options if you search google for "remote power switch" or "IP Power Switch".

At the simplest end of things, you could probably use a simple google home style smart plug. I know that I have some lamps at home that I can control via the google home app. At the other end of the spectrum are rack mountable power switches that can control numerous devices.

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Dave Erickson

Dec 4, 2023 · Edited: Dec 5, 2023

Hi Bob,

There is NO POWER infrastructure, no water, no sewer at my remote observatory. There is only DSL through a phone line. So its all solar powered with batteries for power storage… I generate 110volt power with an inverter powered by solar/batteries that I switch on-off by remote control.

I have two remote control methods that have been running for 13 years 24/7.
Using a secure form of remote desktop I can access some C++ software I wrote that controls a set of USB relay boards. This system runs 24-7 by solar power. The relays switch instruments, scopes, lights, cameras there are 32 relays in total.

I can shut things down when there is no sun for extened periods to conserve power or if things need to be reset. The second method uses a telephone connection with touch tone codes to power things on or off. There are three relays, 1st for the computer and network, 2nd for instruments weather station, etc. 3rd for the control room. This redundancy is important as my observatory is 180miles (290km) from home, and traveling to reset or bring things back up is an issue.

Best regards,
Dave

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Robert Gillette

Topic starter

Dec 4, 2023

Dave,

Thank you. I should have mentioned that I’m not an engineer and couldn’t program any better than I speak Urdu (which I do not.)

Philip, thanks. I’ve looked at a couple IP power switches (which seem not so simple to set up), but if I I were to go that route, I wonder which ones imagers are actually using.

A Google smart plug sounds intriguing.

Best, Bob

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Jared Willson

Dec 5, 2023

What was recommended to me when I first setup a remote observatory was a "Digital Loggers" IP power switch like this one:

https://www.digital-loggers.com/pro.html

I bought one and in several years have had zero issues of any kind. It has been 100% reliable with low temps approaching -20ºC and high temps around 35ºC. I'm sure there are other brands that are good as well, but this one I can recommend from experience. It's relatively pricey, but pretty minor in the grand scheme of setting up and running a remote observatory. Controls multiple different accessories and systems.

- Jared

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Reg Pratt

Dec 5, 2023

I too use a Digital Loggers web switch. I've installed ZeroTier on it so that I can remote into it securely. A power cycle of the outlet boots the pc due to the "boot on power restoration" option in the NUC bios.

For device power and USB I use the Pegasus UPB.

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Oscar

Dec 5, 2023

@Bob Gillette

ارے یار، کیسا چل رہا ہے؟

Continuum - Laurent Lucas

Dec 5, 2023

I use an Aviosys IP Power in Chile, no problemo

Philip F.

Dec 5, 2023

@Bob Gillette

ارے یار، کیسا چل رہا ہے؟

😂

Bill McLaughlin

Dec 5, 2023

Yes, the digital loggers is kinda the standard for astro-remote. I have four of them, three for my backyard roll-off and one for my remote site. I think I have had only one die in 20 years. There are also ASCOM drivers available for these to use in NINA and such. Highly recommended.

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Robert Gillette

Topic starter

Dec 6, 2023

Bill,

Thanks for weighing in. Three digital loggers for your backyard obs? What kind are you using?

My obs is located about 30 feet from my heated cabin in a field on our rural NH residence. Camera, guider, focuser and mount connect via USB to an Icron Ranger USB hub in the obs and then by Ethernet cable to the cabin, to an Icron receiver that plugs by USB into a standard Win 10 PC.

All obs equipment is powered thru a multi-plug surge protector. All I need in the way of a digital logger is one controllable socket that feeds the surge protector. Can you recommend a brand/model?

Best, Bob

Willem Jan Drijfhout

Dec 6, 2023

I'm just in the process of designing the controls for a remote hosting site myself.

The current thinking is to use the Shelly Pro 4PM switch.

This will switch four outlets: PC, 24VDC circuit, 12VDC circuit and a dragonfly.

The Shelly itself is connected to the local LAN via an ethernet cable and can be remotely controlled (iPhone app, browser, etc) via the Shelly Cloud. So PC does not always have to be on and no issues with VPN or port forwarding.

In architecture somewhat similar to home automation systems, but all wired connections, super compact and pretty price competitive.

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Robert Gillette

Topic starter

Dec 6, 2023

Thank you, Willem. Looks interesting and versatile, but seems to require some electrical wiring.

Best, Bob

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Bill McLaughlin

Dec 6, 2023 · Edited: Dec 6, 2023

My obs is located about 30 feet from my heated cabin in a field on our rural NH residence. Camera, guider, focuser and mount connect via USB to an Icron Ranger USB hub in the obs and then by Ethernet cable to the cabin, to an Icron receiver that plugs by USB into a standard Win 10 PC.

All obs equipment is powered thru a multi-plug surge protector. All I need in the way of a digital logger is one controllable socket that feeds the surge protector. Can you recommend a brand/model?

I would run the surge suppressor first, before anything else. Then the UPS (if you are using one) and then the remote switch. Digital loggers is the brand and most people use this one:

DL Ethernet Controlled Switch

These can be controlled from any browser and there is also a phone app that will work and a 3rd party ASCOM driver to allow astronomy sequencing software like NINA to turn switches on and off as part of a sequence.

FYI, for surge suppressor I prefer the type that does not use MOVs. They do not gradually diminish in effectiveness over time like the common everyday ones do. There are a couple brands that use the same basic tech. More spendy but better.

SurgeX

Brickwall

I used to use the Icron system but found that a PC in the observatory controlled from one in the house is more reliable, especially now with solid state drives that do not mind the cold..

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Willem Jan Drijfhout

Dec 6, 2023

Robert Gillette:
Thank you, Willem. Looks interesting and versatile, but seems to require some electrical wiring.

Best, Bob

Yes, it assumes DIN rail mounting and terminal wiring. But combined with DIN rail mounted Power supplies it makes for a compact, but powerful package.

palaback

Dec 7, 2023

My observatory is remote and solar powered. Most devices are 12v but I plan to add an inverter to power a couple of devices. I had a hard time figuring out something that would work and finally settled on two Sonoff 4 channel switches (so I can independently turn on and off 8 devices). These can also be controlled with google home software. These can be used for either 12v or ac. I can connect with them on WiFi. I am not an engineer so some of this has been challenging. Dave Ault has a series of detailed utube videos “Dave’s Astrophotography “ in which he goes through whole process of designing and building a remote 12v system, which I have been following. I just got all the last parts this week so it’s not fully implemented. I am using mostly Victron solar components so I can remotely monitor solar panels, charge controllers, and batteries plus can use a remote client to control mini computer and all the connected devices.

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palaback

Dec 7, 2023

My observatory is remote and solar powered. Most devices are 12v but I plan to add an inverter to power a couple of devices. I had a hard time figuring out something that would work and finally settled on two Sonoff 4 channel switches (so I can independently turn on and off 8 devices). These can also be controlled with google home software. These can be used for either 12v or ac. I can connect with them on WiFi. I am not an engineer so some of this has been challenging. Dave Ault has a series of detailed videos “Dave’s Astro” in which he goes through whole process of designing and building a remote 12v system, which I have been following. I just got all the parts this week so it’s not fully implemented. I am using mostly Victron solar components so I can remotely monitor solar panels, charge controllers, and batteries plus can use a remote client to control mini computer. Especially since I have limited power it’s important to be able turn on and off different devices as needed. Also I have shutter on separate battery independent of everything else so even if there is a power issue observatory will still automatically close down.

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Robert Gillette

Topic starter

Dec 7, 2023

As one non-engineer to another, my hat’s off to you, Palaback, for tackling not only a remote observatory project, but one with the added complexity of solar power.

Switches that operate with Google home software sound intriguing. I’ll follow up on your suggestions.

Best, Bob

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palaback

Dec 7, 2023

Hope it works out well for you, and look forward to hearing how it goes. Once I found a good example of how to do it I regained momentum for finishing up this much longer than anticipated project. I was pretty naïve when I started, but I have learned a lot along the way. It should eventually be a pretty robust system. I can’t wait to be able to finally image remotely whenever the weather is good. Should be a game changer!

Robert Gillette

Topic starter

Jan 7, 2024 · Edited: Jan 7, 2024

My thanks again to all who responded to my query about how best to power up a remote observatory.

I initially found my way to a Proxicast two-socket digital switch that was straightforward to set up, cost only $100 and operates via an app or the manufacturer's website. https://www.proxicast.com/shopping/power-management/smart-switches/

I've now upgraded to the above-mentioned Digital-Logger web power switch with six individually controllable sockets, plus two always-on sockets, and an integrated surge protector. Works by wifi or, in my preferred mode, an Ethernet cable to the observatory computer, all accessible via Chrome Remote Desktop.

The Proxicast switch will be used to power up the computer as soon as its on/off switch can be rewired to turn on as soon as power is turned on via the Proxicast app or company website.

CS, Bob

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Patrick

Jan 7, 2024

I use a simple Leviton wifi controlled power plug for control of power output from my UPS. It’s in a remote observatory 400 miles away. It has been extremely reliable.

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Kevin Morefield

IOTD Staff

Jan 7, 2024

Reg Pratt:
I too use a Digital Loggers web switch. I've installed ZeroTier on it so that I can remote into it securely. A power cycle of the outlet boots the pc due to the "boot on power restoration" option in the NUC bios.

For device power and USB I use the Pegasus UPB.

Same here and these are pretty standard devices at remote observatories. One other norm from my observations is that devices are seldom powered down. I don't power down any of my hardware and that seems the most common approach.

But you do need the ability to power down and restart and to power down/disconnect USB and restart. The Pegasus can do that.

Kevin