So why do we need "power boxes" again?

Not everyone's needs are the same. None of that will suffice for a remote telescope. I wouldn't trust passive splitters even for an attended telescope.

Also, Powerboxes have DC power ports for dew heaters, astronomical cameras and other devices that use 12V 5.5x2.1 DC connectors.

Not everyone's needs are the same. None of that will suffice for a remote telescope. I wouldn't trust passive splitters even for an attended telescope

So how are power boxes different than splitters.  Aren't they just splitters on in the inside with a FET to switch on/off the connection to the input power.  Turn on that FET and isn't it just a glorified splitter?

As far as trust goes, what's the concern with splitters.   They're just some copper wires connected together in a junction.  Isn't that more reliable than a power FET which is a complicated piece of silicon circuitry?

Also, Powerboxes have DC power ports for dew heaters, astronomical cameras and other devices that use 12V 5.5x2.1 DC connectors.

Right, and so does that DC splitter.  It has one split for each device needing power on the telescope.   (Take a closer look at the picture I posted and you'll see that SVBony Dew Strip has a DC 5.5mm x 2.1mm female plug.)   

Now on the subject of dew control, I can understand the need for something smarter than just a box with a dial (or a button in the case SVBONY) because you sometimes want to turn that dial remotely and only PWM controlled outputs can do that.

However can't all other accessories that need 12V power be run from one of tails on the splitter?  Things like a flat-panel, rotator, and camera, dew controller, etc.   

Personally, I've never had the need to turned off my camera power from my ASIAIR control panel in all the time I've used it.   Has anyone? 

Also, when you're remote and something locks up, you need the ability to remove power from the device to reset it.    Turning your computer off and on isn't always the answer.

Isn't that where something like this comes in:



Just plug your ZWO power brick into one outlet and your Mount's power brick in another and control it from your phone.

In fact, has anyone had the need to remotely power on/off an accessory using their powerbox software interface?  If so, what happened and why was it needed?  How often do your devices "lock-up/need a power cycle"?  If not often, then why not power cycle everything on the telescope when rarely needed?

USB cannot provide enough power for the devices by itself.    Splitters will not work for a fully rigged up system.

I agree the USB ports on a Mini-PC aren't really meant to provide dew-heater power, but as I mentioned above the SVBONY dew heater is powered by a DC plug from the splitter.  

And speaking of power, there's only a single source of power for the stuff on your telescope  anyway so all power must come from that single source (ZWO power brick in my case), so unless you're worried that the wires in the splitter will somehow break I'm still struggling to see the real difference (besides smart dew control which I talked about above).

If I'm missing something, I'd like to understand it.

Thanks for you help.

Power boxes provide vastly more control for automated systems and are especially critical for remote systems and multiple scope systems. My remote system currently has a total of 14 switchable power connectors. 8 are 120 VAC and 6 are 12 VDC plus two variable DC switches. Most are used by something. This is all done by one web switch and one power box all of which can be automated via NINA.

So for a simple system one might get by for a while with something like you suggest but for anything beyond a simple single scope system in your backyard, you will quickly find that it has some serious limitations. 

Screenshot of my remote system switch control in NINA below. You will never be able to totally control a large system w/o power boxes and remote switches that can be addressed by automation software.

My 2c on this,

I've got both a PPBA and quite a few 1 into X splitters, both are useful but I find myself just using the splitters almost always, they have worked faultlessly for years on end as there's just so little to go wrong in them - copper wire and connectors! as with anything though, make sure you've got a quality power supply otherwise either solution will end up being a source of frustration.