Astroheat
Full Specifications

Astroheat DIY Kit — Technical Specifications

Astroheat is a 12 V / 10 A smart power and dew‑control system for astrophotography. Built around the ESP32 and designed for outdoor operation under a protective cover, it keeps your equipment ready to image in seconds.

1. Electrical & Power Distribution

Main power inputXT60 connector — 12 V DC, 10 A max (fused)
Heater channels4 × RCA jacks, 12 V / 2.5 A max each, MOSFET‑controlled
Adjustable DC output1 × LM2596 buck converter, 3–12 V / 2 A adjustable
Auxiliary 12 V output1 × barrel jack (5.5 mm / 2.1 mm), 2 A max
Total continuous loadUp to 10 A (main fuse limited)
Power efficiency< 0.3 W idle consumption
ProtectionsReverse‑polarity diode, 10 A automotive fuse, short‑circuit and thermal safeguards on outputs

2. Sensors & Environmental Inputs

Temperature inputs4 × 2.5 mm 4‑pole jacks (one per heater channel)
Ambient sensor1 × 2.5 mm 4‑pole jack for humidity/temperature
Supported sensorsDS18B20 (1‑Wire) and AM2301/DHT22 (ambient humidity/temperature)
Auto‑detectionFirmware detects connected sensors and shows live data in the app

3. Connectivity & Firmware

MicrocontrollerESP32 (dual‑core 240 MHz, 4 MB Flash)
WirelessWi‑Fi 802.11 b/g/n, 2.4 GHz — AP or Station mode
Control appBlynk IoT (Android / iOS) + web dashboard
UpdatesBrowser‑based flashing via Flash Astroheat (ESP Web Tools)
IntegrationsMQTT‑ready architecture for future automations

4. Control & Operation

Per‑channel controlPID‑based regulation; manual power sliders in app
Dew‑point logicHeater activation based on dew‑point margin (ΔT > 3 °C rule)
Fail‑safesAuto shutdown on sensor disconnect or internal over‑temperature

5. Safety & Reliability

Over‑currentMain 10 A automotive fuse
Reverse polaritySeries Schottky diode on input
ESD protectionTVS diodes on sensor inputs
Outdoor useIntended to stay outside under a protective cover (“poor‑man’s dome”)

6. Mechanical

EnclosureBlack anodized aluminum
Dimensions~ 120 × 90 × 40 mm (incl. connectors) — to be confirmed
Weight≈ 250 g — to be confirmed
MountingVelcro pad or dovetail clamp
ConnectorsXT60 (input), 4 × RCA (heaters), 4 × 2.5 mm jacks (temp), 1 × 2.5 mm jack (ambient), barrel outputs

7. Software & Resources