[Elecraft] KPA500 on 240 VAC in the USA?
Anybody using 240 VAC in the US? So it uses the same connector on the amp, but you have to fit a different plug to mate with your 240VAC/20A wall socket? Looks like this -! ...only without the dot. Or better still, any droop using the 120VAC option? About 10 amps I guess. Chuck, KE9UW -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/KPA500-on-240-VAC-in-the-USA-tp6631465p6631465.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 on 240 VAC in the USA?
I am using a separate 220v cable with a 15 amp plug. This cable can be purchased from Datacomm Cables, Inc. It is NEMA 6-15P to IEC320 C13 - 5A - 6 Feet. This is a 14 gauge 3 wire SJT jacket black cable. Cost is $18.25 shipped. This is a molded cable on both ends and works well with my KPA500. I can easily replace the 6 amp fuses with the 12 amp fuses, turn over the fuse block, install the 115v cable. I am then ready for 115v operation. I like this flexibility without having to open the amp to make this change. I have no connection whatsoever with Datacomm Cables, Inc. other than being a satisfied customer. Roy Morris W4WFB __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 on 240 VAC in the USA?
Chuck, The "do-it-yourself" solution is to purchase a plug that matches your socket, cut off the 115 volt plug and install the 230 volt plug. Those plugs are available at DIY and hardware stores as well as at electrical supply centers. 73, Don W3FPR On 7/28/2011 5:39 PM, ke9uw wrote: > Anybody using 240 VAC in the US? So it uses the same connector on the amp, > but you have to fit a different plug to mate with your 240VAC/20A wall > socket? Looks like this -! ...only without the dot. > Or better still, any droop using the 120VAC option? About 10 amps I guess. > Chuck, KE9UW > __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 on 240 VAC in the USA?
Oh, yes, several of the field testers ran it on 240VAC and, of course, many European customers are running with 240VAC. There are at least two different connectors used for 240VAC mains in the USA, depending upon the current the outlet is rated for. >From my experience, I definitely would not go to the cost of installing 240V in the shack just for the KPA500. I probably have a worst-case situation here for operating from 120 VAC. My "shack" has a 15 amp outlet over 60 feet from the breaker panel. That's 60 feet of #14 copper wire, IIRC (1970's construction). Lights, the K3, and other accessories are on the outlet along with the KPA500 (Of course the K3 draws much reduced current when driving the KPA500). I see a 10 volt droop at 500W on the band where the KPA500 draws the highest current (6 meters). The selectable tap arrangement on the power transformer* provides the range I need to maintain the supply voltage for full output and lowest distortion even with that much mains droop. Ron AC7AC * Described under "Installation" in the KPA500 Owner's manual -Original Message- Anybody using 240 VAC in the US? So it uses the same connector on the amp, but you have to fit a different plug to mate with your 240VAC/20A wall socket? Looks like this -! ...only without the dot. Or better still, any droop using the 120VAC option? About 10 amps I guess. Chuck, KE9UW __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 on 240 VAC in the USA?
On 7/28/2011 2:39 PM, ke9uw wrote: > Anybody using 240 VAC in the US? So it uses the same connector on the amp, > but you have to fit a different plug to mate with your 240VAC/20A wall > socket? Looks like this -! ...only without the dot. > Or better still, any droop using the 120VAC option? I have 240VAC in the shack to run my legal limit Ten Tec amps, but I've never taken the trouble to add another outlet so I could use it for my KPA500. I'm running on a 120V/20A circuit that' probably about 50 ft of wire from the panel. I get 550W out on 6M and 675W on the HF bands. If the match were better on 6M I might get a bit more. If you already have 240V in the shack, all it takes to try it is to buy a new standard IEC line cord (but buy a #14 -- most standard IEC cords are #18) and stick a male plug on it that matches your 240V outlet. If you don't have 240V in the shack, I wouldn't worry about it. And there are instructions in the manual about how to change transformer taps if you need to for full power. FWIW, I don't think Ron's 60 ft of #14 is anywhere near worst case. In many houses you can have 100-200 ft between the panel and an outlet, often with multiple outlets daisy-chained, and with shared neutrals. 73, Jim K9YC __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 on 240 VAC in the USA?
I had 220 available so i started out with 110 and when confirmedall.was well i chopped off the pl ug from a heavy iec cord set and swiped the 220 plug from my TT hercules.. Wow this box is tiny Bill/ 3i Sent from myTouch 4G - Reply message - From: "Don Wilhelm" To: "ke9uw" Cc: Subject: [Elecraft] KPA500 on 240 VAC in the USA? Date: Thu, Jul 28, 2011 6:38 pm Chuck, The "do-it-yourself" solution is to purchase a plug that matches your socket, cut off the 115 volt plug and install the 230 volt plug. Those plugs are available at DIY and hardware stores as well as at electrical supply centers. 73, Don W3FPR On 7/28/2011 5:39 PM, ke9uw wrote: > Anybody using 240 VAC in the US? So it uses the same connector on the amp, > but you have to fit a different plug to mate with your 240VAC/20A wall > socket? Looks like this -! ...only without the dot. > Or better still, any droop using the 120VAC option? About 10 amps I guess. > Chuck, KE9UW > __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 on 240 VAC in the USA?
I use top run 600w with my 2m-8877 running on a HV PS that ran on 120vac. As I recall voltage drop was about 5vac, but my house is wired with 12ga wiring. When I switched to a bigger PS that could provide enough to run 1.5kW on the 8877 I ran 240vac to the shack using about 35 foot of 8-4 wiring (3-8ga plus safety ground). I decided on using twist-lock receptacles and plugs. All the material was bought at Home Depot. I am now in process of wiring in a transfer switch at my meter to permanently connect my 6500w Honda standby generator. The generator takes a four-prong twist lock plug. BTW my line runs 244vac unloaded and 242vac when key-down with 1400w CW. I added two 120vac circuits to run some other power supplies from the new 240v power feed (I installed a 40A load box in the shack with one 240v-20A and two 120v-20A breakers). Now I wil have to add another 240v outlet to run a 50v-50A switching PS for my 1100w 6m PA. 73, Ed - KL7UW, WD2XSH/45 == BP40IQ 500 KHz - 10-GHz www.kl7uw.com EME: 50-1.1kw?, 144-1.4kw, 432-100w, 1296-60w, 3400-? DUBUS Magazine USA Rep dubus...@gmail.com == __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 on 240 VAC in the USA?
I run my KPA500 on 240V and did the cut and replace plug job. The amp works great and the plug is 3 feet from the breaker panel. The only concern I had was having the female end the same as the 120V type cords. I wrapped red tape aroung the power cord on the female side to warn stupid people like me that the voltage was changed on the male side. The amp is a real piece of art! I love it. Great job Elecraft!! - Dan AB3EN -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/KPA500-on-240-VAC-in-the-USA-tp6631465p6635066.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
