[Elecraft] KPA500 on 240 VAC in the USA?

[Jim Brown]

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