[CQ-Contest] Shack power wiring

[Robert Naumann]

I would suggest the subpanel as the way to go.

You should consider what you might ever want to do in your shack and scale
it accordingly.  The other nice part is that if you ever trip a breaker,
it's right there in the shack instead of at the other end of the house.

Might you ever run a multi-op/rig with 2 rigs and amplifiers ?  If so,
you'll need two 20A 240v circuits for the amplifiers and it's nice to have
separate circuits for your 120v stuff too.  Computers on one circuit, radio
1 on another, radio 2 on another, VHF stuff on another and so on.

You're idea of a 60 Amp subpanel is probably as big as you'll ever need
unless you want to do multi-multi.  In that case, scale up to 100A.  My
guess is that you'll have to spend a couple of hundred dollars on the
components that make it up.  If you have an electrician do it, it'll
probably cost a few hundred more for the labor.  I've been out of that
business for a few years, but it's probably around $100 an hour and
depending on how difficult the job will be running the subpanel cable -
well, you can do the math.  There's a lot to be saved in doing it yourself -
as long as you do it right.  If you know an electrician, or if there's one
close by, stop and ask if they've got any used stuff.  You could probably
save ton there too.  There's nothing wrong with re-using electrical
equipment.  Most electricians won't bother keeping anything that's no good.

You'll need:
60 Amp 240v (2-pole) breaker for the main panel
#6-3 cable to run from the main panel to the subpanel location.
Big connectors to fit the #6 cable at the main panel and subpanel
12 to 20 circuit subpanel (you'll have to decide what you want)
20 amp 240 v (2-pole)breakers for the amp (times # you want)
12-3 wire to the 240v outlets from the subpanel
20 amp 120 v breakers for the radios, computers etc (times # you want)
12-2 wire for the 120v 20A outlets
15 amp 120 v breaker for any lighting you may want to add (I added a track
light over my shack table)
14-2 wire for the lighting
240v 20A outlets
120v 20A outlets
boxes in which to mount the outlets
outlet covers for above

If you need a 30A 240v circuit, use #10 wire along the  correct breaker -
2-pole for 240, single for 120.

That should do it.

73,
Bob N5NJ
I've never played an electrician on TV, I actually was one.

-----Original Message-----
From: Dave_K9NX <n7ex at athenet.net>
To: cq-contest at contesting.com <cq-contest at contesting.com>
Date: Sunday, March 14, 1999 13:27
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Shack power wiring


>
>At 02:58 PM 3/13/99 -0500, 00tlzivney at bsuvc.bsu.edu wrote:
>>
>>I am now getting ready to put some 220v in the shack - the shack is
>>about 125 feet from the main breaker box.  I have 400amp service with
>>a number of extra knockouts in the subpanel attached to the main box
>>that I could put more circuits on.  The question is:
>>
>>Should I run two 220v, 20amp circuits and two 120v, 20 amp circuits,
>>each 125 feet long, from the main subpanel OR have a separate subpanel
>>put in in the shack (probably a 60 amp) and run short runs to the rig?
>>I assume I could more easily run the four 10 gauge romex from the main
>>subpanel than install the big stuff for the 60amp subpanel.  Also, I
>>may want to get a pro in; if so, any idea which SHOULD be cheaper so
>>I can bargain intelligently?   Which should be better electrically?
>
>Terry'
>
>For my money I'd run one  220V circuit for the amp by itself and one 120V
>circuit for everything else, both #10. My logic has always to run the amp
>on a seperate circuit you get better voltage regulation at the far end that
>way. A sepearte 60Amp service is probably overkill although handy to have
>the breaker box in the shack, also a lot more expensive.
>
>Dave
>K9NX
>
>
>
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