[Amps] Westinghouse BC Ammeter QX-37

[Bill Turner]

ORIGINAL MESSAGE:

At 07:36 AM 1/8/2006, HAROLD B MANDEL wrote:
>The power supply is rated at 2545 VDC at 1.5 amperes.
>
>Hence, the power supply runs 3817.5 Watts through
>the amplifier.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This part of your question puzzles me. I see you are in the US, so 
you will be running max output of 1500 watts. Most amplifiers are 
about 60-66% efficient, so the input will be around 2500 watts. Where 
does the figure of 3817.5 watts come from? At no time should you be 
putting that through the amp or lots of smoke will escape.

With 2545 VDC to the amp, the current should be a bit less than one 
amp when tuned up. Since your meter's resistance is .33 ohms, a 
single diode across it will begin to conduct at about 1.5 amps. I 
would use it that way, knowing the reading will never go above 1.5 
amps. If you put two diodes in series, they will begin to conduct 
around 3 amps. Since the meter is rated for two amps anyway, no harm 
is likely to result. Meters are damaged by a massive overload, not by 
50%. Your choice.

Hope that helps.

Bill, W6WRT