Astron RS-35M
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| Frequency | n/a (13.8 VDC linear power supply) |
| Bands | n/a (station power supply) |
| Power | A 13.8 V DC bench power supply. It delivers 25 amps continuous and 35 amps intermittent (ICS) at 13.8 V; the '35' in the model name is the peak rating, and continuous duty is about 25 percent lower. |
| Modes | DC power supply (13.8 V regulated) |
| Weight | 12.2 kg (26.9 lb) |
| dc output | Rear 1/4-inch (1/4-20) screw/stud DC terminals; the RS-35M-AP version adds Anderson Powerpole connectors on the front panel |
| ac in | 105-125 VAC, three-conductor grounded cord (a 220 V version is available by special order) |
| power req | 105-125 VAC input (three-prong grounded cord). Output 13.8 VDC, 25 A continuous / 35 A intermittent, internally adjustable 11-15 V. |
A rugged, quiet, made-in-USA linear supply that delivers a clean, well-regulated 13.8 volts with no switching hash, which is why many HF operators favor it. It supplies 25 amps continuously (35 peak), has backlit volt and amp meters, and includes proper protection (fold-back current limiting and crowbar over-voltage). The -AP version adds convenient Anderson Powerpole outputs.
Being a linear supply it is heavy (around 27 pounds) and large, and it runs warm under load. The base RS-35M has only rear screw terminals (the -AP adds Powerpoles), the continuous rating (25 A) is notably below the 35 A in the model name, and switching supplies are lighter and cheaper if their RF hash is managed.
The Astron RS-35M is the classic heavy linear 13.8-volt shack power supply: 25 amps continuous (35 peak), rock-steady regulation, low ripple, no switching noise, and backlit meters, in a rugged American-made box. It suits a 100-watt HF station that wants clean, reliable power and does not mind the weight; those who want light and cheap choose a switching supply, and the RS-35M-AP adds front Powerpole connectors.
The Astron RS-35M is a classic linear 13.8-volt DC power supply, the kind that has powered base-station radios for decades. Most HF gear runs on 13.8 volts, and a supply like this turns household AC into a clean, steady 13.8 volts to feed a 100-watt transceiver. The RS-35M is rated 25 amps continuous and 35 amps on intermittent peaks, which comfortably covers a typical 100-watt HF radio.
It is a linear supply, meaning it uses a big transformer and linear regulation rather than a high-frequency switching circuit. That makes it heavy, around 27 pounds, but it generates no switching hash on the bands, which is exactly why many operators choose linear supplies for sensitive HF receiving. The output is regulated to 13.8 volts within a tiny margin, internally adjustable from 11 to 15 volts, with very low ripple. Backlit volt and amp meters sit on the front, and the supply protects itself with fold-back current limiting (against shorts and overload) and crowbar over-voltage protection, plus a chassis fuse. It is convection-cooled by a large heat sink with no fan.
For connections, the standard RS-35M has heavy 1/4-inch screw terminals on the rear; the RS-35M-AP version, now the common one, adds Anderson Powerpole connectors on the front for quick hookups. It runs on a standard 105-125 VAC grounded outlet and is made in the USA. One naming note: Astron's model number is the peak current, so the RS-35M's continuous rating is the lower 25 amps.
It is a natural anchor for a station's DC system, feeding a distribution panel such as the West Mountain RIGrunner 4005, and it has ample current for a 100-watt SDR like the FlexRadio FLEX-8400.