[Amps] What to do about 'Neutral' in HB amp?

Paul Christensen w9ac at arrl.net
Fri Dec 30 15:46:58 EST 2022


>"Cable not so easy. All I can easily get here is SOOW which in 12/4 is
about the thickness of an elephant's trunk. I can order SJOOW which is
better but still pretty thick. Both those cables are intended for industrial
use. I can't find any consumer type indoor cable. Does such an animal
exist?"

Roger, I'm using #10/4 SOOW for all Alpha 70/77 amp cords and #10/4 internal
home wiring to the breaker panel.  Yeah, SOOW is pretty damn thick but it
does fit nicely into the amp's Cinch-Jones power plugs.  Not sure if your
PT-3000 can disconnect from the cord, or if the power cable is attached to
the amp and requires enlarging the chassis cable entry hole to fit new
compression gland.  Something like less than ten PT-3000 amps were made with
an Eimac 8877?  You're a lucky owner.

Someone suggested simply using the transformer CT as the blower neutral.
For simplicity, that's okay too assuming the amp has a split 120/240 primary
winding.  Some amps only have a 240V non-tapped primary.  Regardless, I
would sure want to evaluate the schematic and then if proceeding this way,
document the change for the next owner.  However, the change should be
easily reversable without any "modification residue" left behind.  

Paul, W9AC 




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