SSSSS1667

The power supply arrived with the shipping and product boxes completely intact.However, the voltage meter had a hole in it and it was pushed back into the chassis.The current meter was stuck at 8 amps, and there was no voltage at all at the output lugs, although the pilot light on the power switch was on.It must have come from the factory this way, since all the packaging was in perfect shape. I expect this from MFJ, but not from Astron.The only way this thing could have been in any worse shape would have been if it was just a box of random parts.

I don't normally assign the lowly 1-star rating to anything. But, when a brand new product, fresh from the shipping carton does not work at all, 1-star is clearly indicated. I have 2 other Astron power supplies. Both are over 25 years old and STILL perfectly functional. The new supply shipped to me curiously came out of the box with the power switch in the "On" position but the unit would only illuminate its pretty meters. "0" voltage at the taps. Astron, what happened to you? I should have remained happy with my big, heavy, ugly old RS-35A that STILL works great.

Original review was good because the unit came clean, well packaged and worked fine.Problem is less than a year later my unit died for no reason. Powered off but never came back on other than a lit power switch. Never pushed unit past the halfway point (14 amp max radio to a 30 amp max PS) and the radio had been idle an hour before power down. I also wonder why the Astron website claims these are made in the USA when the sticker on the bottom clearly states MADE IN CHINA so it does explain the very early demise of a $200+ PS.This time it's under warranty so sending it in to be fixed but I highly doubt the unit will last more than a year once fixed and won't be under warranty then. I almost made the mistake of buying the 50 amp version...no chance of that now.Sad used to be such a good company but like most are now hawking cheap Chinese made garbage. Since I can get an identical cheap china unit without the brand name on it for half the price I'm just gonna go that route and not waste my money on a name.