Hi John,
As retired Senior service Tech. for Amprite Electric Co. in Nashville,
TN, I must agree with n6kb. A 30 amp dedicated circuit would be required
for a 20 amp load at 110 volts (nominal), loaded to 80% as I remember
from the Nat. Elec. Code. A 220 volt circuit would be loaded to 10 amps,
leaving enough head-room to satisfy code. Then remember the IR voltage
drop is less on 220.
If you must run a new circuit and the elect.panel is full, there are
tandem or dual breakers where 4 can be installed in the space of 2.
Good luck!
73, Ariel, k4aal
Ken Brown wrote:
>
> Hi John,
>
> I do not own that amplifier or have a specification sheet for it.
> However most of what you ask can be estimated just based what I do know
> about the amplifier. Since it is a pair of 3-500 I would expect you can
> get maybe 1200 watts CW out of it. Since it is a linear amplifier the
> plate efficiency is probably around 60%. Factoring in the power to run
> the filaments and fans and pilot lamps and other control systems, lets
> just guess that the overall efficiency is about 50%. So when it is
> putting out 1200 watts key down CW it will consume 2400 watts from the
> AC power mains. This would be 20 Amperes at 120 Volts AC or 10 Amperes
> at 240 Volts AC. Whether you can get full power from it running on 120
> Volt AC depends on a number of things. 1) Whether the amplifier's power
> transformer has dual primaries or some other scheme which allows it to
> be wired for 120 VAC, I expect that it does and somebody who owns one
> can tell you for sure. 2) whether the 120 volt circuit you have it
> plugged into has sufficiently sized conductors so that the voltage drop
> while drawing 20 Amps is not too much. 3) the electric power service
> capacity and loading at your house.
>
> You would probably be happier with the performance running it from 240
> VAC. If you do not have a dedicated service outlet for the amplifier in
> your shack, then chances are all of the outlets in the shack are
> connected to the same circuit breaker, and all are on the same side of
> the 120/240 service. It is pretty common for homes to be built using 14
> gauge wire for everything except range/oven/dryer/heater services. I
> would not want the transceiver, computer, and amplifier all drawing
> current on one 14 gauge wire. If you need to run a new service to the
> shack anyway, it may as well be a 240 service with stout wire.
>
> All of what I said above is only estimates. The principals are correct,
> the exact figures for power and efficiency may be not exactly correct.
>
> Have fun, be safe.
>
> 73 DE N6KB
>
> KB2HUK@aol.com wrote:
>
> >Hi all ! I am thinking of buying a 3 year old TT centurion amp with gray
> >face . Can any one tell me if I need to run this amp off of a 220 line to
> >get
> >full power out put ? can I use 110 what wattage should I expect on 110
> >house
> >current . thanks John
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