KPA-500 110 or 220?

[NZ0T]

I would like to hear opinions on if it makes any difference to configure the KPA-500 for 220 volts?  Is it any more efficient?   Seems to me that 110 would be the way to go for portability as long as efficiency is the same or nearly the same.

73 Bill NZ0T

[W5RDW]

When I moved my shack inside the house from the garage (where I had 220V readily available), I had to use 110V all around. I did not want to run a 220V line to an inside bedroom where my new shack would be. I have noticed no difference from when it was outside in the garage running off 220V. I usually run the power out level above 400 watts minimum. The KPA500 shares a wall outlet with my Dell desktop computer and they seem to like each other!

[Jim Bennett]

Like Roger, W5RDW, I run my KPA500 from a standard 117V wall outlet in a downstairs bedroom. This room also supplies power to my large iMac and several other 117V devices - not a single problem, and I've often run it between 500 - 550 watts on 160 - 10. (Not 60 or 30 meters, of course…) :-)

73, Jim / W6JHB


On   Sunday, Aug 5, 2012, at  Sunday, 7:29 PM, NZ0T wrote:

> I would like to hear opinions on if it makes any difference to configure the
> KPA-500 for 220 volts?  Is it any more efficient?   Seems to me that 110
> would be the way to go for portability as long as efficiency is the same or
> nearly the same.
>
> 73 Bill NZ0T
>
>
>
> --
> View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/KPA-500-110-or-220-tp7560441.html
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[Jim Brown-10]

On 8/5/2012 7:29 PM, NZ0T wrote:
> I would like to hear opinions on if it makes any difference to configure the
> KPA-500 for 220 volts?  Is it any more efficient?

The advantage of 240V operation is better voltage regulation, due to
half as much IR drop in the wiring between the breaker panel and your
power amp.

The obvious disadvantage is that you need to change back to 120V to run
the amp on a generator or from someone else's QTH.  It's a fairly simple
change -- you need to change the connector on the power cord (or use a
power cord with a different connector) and change the fuse holder.

I can't imagine running a power amp on Field Day -- it would be like
tossing a you know what in the punch bowl.

73, Jim K9YC
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[Jim Bennett]

You are absolutely correct - less current, less wire heating, better voltage regulation. In my case all are offset by what the XYL would do to me if I told her I was going to have a 220V run going into one of our bedrooms! Ouch! :-)

Jim / W6JHB

On   Sunday, Aug 5, 2012, at  Sunday, 11:14 PM, Jim Brown wrote:

> On 8/5/2012 7:29 PM, NZ0T wrote:
>> I would like to hear opinions on if it makes any difference to configure the
>> KPA-500 for 220 volts?  Is it any more efficient?
>
> The advantage of 240V operation is better voltage regulation, due to
> half as much IR drop in the wiring between the breaker panel and your
> power amp.
>
> The obvious disadvantage is that you need to change back to 120V to run
> the amp on a generator or from someone else's QTH.  It's a fairly simple
> change -- you need to change the connector on the power cord (or use a
> power cord with a different connector) and change the fuse holder.
>
> I can't imagine running a power amp on Field Day -- it would be like
> tossing a you know what in the punch bowl.
>
> 73, Jim K9YC
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

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