[TenTec] Centurion Amplifier - 110 volt?

[Gary Hoffman]

What I said was, specifically, that you MAY add a ground rod at a secondary
panel.  But - it is not sufficient to meet code.  In other words, you still
need a ground wire back to the main box ALSO.  THat's what the inspectors
here require.  They don't always REQUIRE a ground rod at the remote panel,
because they say it depends on how far away it is and how huge (or small)
the ground wire is between the two panels.  IF you do have a ground rod, it
has to be bonded to the other ground rods (a separate part of the code).

So, I'm not sure we said anything different from each other, with the
possible exception of the fact that sometimes the inspector will not require
a rod at the remote location.  I always use one, but that is beside the
point.

Gary


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ron" <ron at morell.us>
To: "Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment" <tentec at contesting.com>
Sent: Sunday, September 24, 2006 7:26 PM
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Centurion Amplifier - 110 volt?


> Gary,
> Looks like we have a discussion going.
>
> As I understand it, a ground rod at a secondary panel is usual if the
> secondary panel is located in a separate building.  The ground rod at the
> secondary panel is more for lightening protection than for electrical
> grounding and would connect via the safety ground and not the neutral back
> to the main panel. The neutral and safety ground would be isolated from
each
> other in this secondary panel. In a radio shack this ground rod has use
for
> RF ground and equipment case bonding.  I think you are correct about the
240
> VAC only on the 3 wire circuit passing code.  I think Jerry is correct on
> everything else and his assumption of ROMEX being the likely cable being
> considered is well taken.
>
> The NEC has required a safety ground and a neutral for a total of 4 wires
to
> 240 VAC subpanels for 2 or 3 decades now.  Anybody ever cut the ground lug
> off of an extension cord to be able to plug it into a 2 wire receptacle?
Or
> considered how the chassis ground on your older tube rigs makes it back to
> the electrical panel...
>
> A little knowledge can be useful but also dangerous.  Then again, what is
> life without some risk.  Oh... and never trust a tenant improvement!  :)
> Ron
> KA7U
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: tentec-bounces at contesting.com
> [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com]On Behalf Of Gary Hoffman
> Sent: Sunday, September 24, 2006 4:14 PM
> To: geraldj at storm.weather.net; Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment
> Subject: Re: [TenTec] Centurion Amplifier - 110 volt?
>
>
> It will pass code if you ONLY wire the sub-panel to supply 240 VAC and NOT
> 120.  That is, one hot lead is in the black lead.  The other hot lead is
in
> the white wire, which is taped conspicuously at both ends with black tape
to
> indicate it is hot.  The bare lead is used as the required safety ground.
> There is no neutral - hence you may not draw 110 from this box.  You MAY
add
> a ground rod, but it is not required and will not suffice to meet code.
If
> you do add a ground rod, for an abundance of safety for instance, then it
> must be bonded to your other ground rods.
>
> I cannot see that this would be at all useful however.
>
> 73 de Gary, AA2IZ
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Dr. Gerald N. Johnson" <geraldj at storm.weather.net>
> To: <tentec at contesting.com>
> Sent: Sunday, September 24, 2006 3:06 PM
> Subject: Re: [TenTec] Centurion Amplifier - 110 volt?
>
>
> > On Sat, 2006-09-23 at 11:09 -0600, Ron wrote:
> > > Ed,
> > > Not knowing all the particulars of the circuit feeding into your shack
> my
> > > suggestion may not be relevant, but here goes anyway.  If your 110 VAC
3
> > > wire circuit in the shack is dedicated to that location (as in it does
> not
> > > serve other outlets prior to entering the shack), you should be able
to
> > > install a 220 VAC circuit breaker of appropriate amp rating for the
wire
> > > gauge at the panel and feed the circuit to the shack from this new
> breaker
> > > giving you 220 VAC to the shack.  Install a new sub panel in the shack
> and
> > > provide an earth ground for the new sub panel and split off 220 and
110
> VAC
> > > circuits in your shack from this source.  Once you have this
installed,
> you
> > > can use the 220 VAC amps. Surface runs of EMT are cheap and quick to
> > > install. This improvement may require an electrical inspection and
> permit
> > > from the local building code folks.
> > > Ron
> > > KA7U
> > >
> > This will not pass inspection. You are trying to supply a subpanel that
> > requires a 4 wire cable with a three wire cable. The addition of a local
> > ground rod does not meet the code requirements, nor is running the
> > neutral in the bare conductor in the romex allowed by the code. Nor is
> > running 120 volts on the white conductor.
> >
> > It will work but with much reduced shock safety. Don't do it.
> > --
> > 73, Jerry, K0CQ,
> > All content copyright Dr. Gerald N. Johnson, electrical engineer
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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> >
> >
>
>
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