[Amps] Alpha 87A Power Supply Question

[Jim Brown]

On 5/4/2021 3:59 PM, Jim Garland wrote:
> Our point of disagreement is whether we should connect the "third wire" 
> in the amplifier power cord to N (my opinion) or to G (K9YC's opinion).

Hi Jim,

I'm not giving an OPINION. I am stating what the LAW says about it, 
namely the Electrical Code adopted by local Authorities Having 
Jurisdiction (AHJs), virtually all of which are either the National 
Electric Code (NEC) (which is a model prepared by a group of experts), 
or a local code which is very close to NEC. NEC is revised periodically 
(every three years, I think), and local codes may be one or two versions 
behind. Last I looked, California was a couple of versions behind.

The only condition in which a Green wire is permitted to carry load 
current or is permitted to be bonded to neutral is a "grandfathered" 
installation of an appliance that was done before the Code changed to 
prohibit it.

The only conditions in which it is permitted (and required) to bond 
Neutral to Green are 1) at the service entrance and 2) where a new 
SYSTEM is established by the addition of a transformer (and NOT an 
auto-transformer).

I just finished working with N0AX on the second edition of his ARRL book 
on the topic. Until I retired, I taught courses on Power and Grounding 
to contractors installing large scale sound and/or video systems, and 
was commissioned to write a "White Paper" on the topic.

http://k9yc.com/SurgeXPowerGround.pdf

73, Jim K9YC