[Amps] AC wiring
Gudguyham@aol.com
Gudguyham at aol.com
Wed Oct 19 10:32:28 EDT 2005
In a message dated 10/18/2005 8:22:50 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
aa4lr at arrl.net writes:
> Now let's try 240 volts
> which would give us 2944/240=12.3 amps. If your line voltage is
> low and
> you have 220 volts the current would be 2944/220=13.4 amps. From this
> example it is obvious you can't run a full legal limit amp on even
> a 20
> amp, #12 wire, 120 volt circuit much less any 120/240 volt, 15 amp #14
> wire circuit.
Seems to me that 12.3 A and 13.4 A are both less than 15 A. So a #14
circuit seems adequate for your example.
FYI....An Ameritron AL-1500 will do 2300 watts output with 100 watts of
drive. (FACT)
The AL-1500 comes from the factory with a power cord with a 240V 15A power
plug and is fitted with 15A fuses. A 240V circuit run to this amp using #12
wire will run this amp at 2300 watts out with no problems in SSB and CW
modes. Surely a 15A circuit will suffice at legal limit. The important thing
here is the length of the run from the service panel to the outlet for the amp.
If your voltage is way low, the Ameritron has a low voltage tap you can use
which ups the secondary voltage so that current again is not an issue. An
amp such as an SB-220 can easily be run on a 240 line run with #14 wire.
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