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Hi Marcus,
I’ve built many of these in different iterations. So for what it’s worth my advice is as follows:
Fuse all circuits is first and foremost. My new project goes one step further and uses optocouplers to separate the switching control from the actual load side of the circuit. But this is the first time I’m doing that so it can be done without. Automotive fuses are good and easy to get hold of. They are fast blow and very tollerant of climatic conditions. I use 10A fuses. Probably slightly over kill but really all you want it to do is blow for a short circuit rather than excessive current draw which they certainly will do and quick !
As you’ve stated using automotive step downs for usb power etc work well. Automotive voltage varies quite a bit so these circuits are designed to handle that.
Any circuit that involves a DC motor such as a cooling fan etc should have a diode across the load to prevent the voltage running back when the fan switches off. Not necessary for stepper motors such as in your mount.
Voltage regulation is good simply because it keeps things consistent but most of things you’ll be connecting to it will have their own regulation anyway.
Try to mount your distribution box somewhere on the RA axis. You can mount it on the actual OTA if you like but it’s more weight which is not ideal. Mounted on the RA axis you’ll only have 1 power wire coming in and only have to worry about making sure that doesn’t snag. I run ASIair’s on my setup so I don’t even have to worry about data cables but that’s different again. Bunch your DC and usb wires into a loose loom and put a loop in it and it will be able to handle any Dec articulation. Cable management is king !
That’s pretty much it.
Hope this helps
Cheers
Ryan
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