[Elecraft] Linear PS Recommendations

[Jim Brown]

On Wed,7/20/2016 10:52 PM, Bob Nielsen wrote:
> you probably don't need much more than 20 amp capability. I have used 
> an Astron RS-20 for the past 35 years but I would probably go for the 
> RS-35 or RS-50 if I was getting another one. 

That depends on what gear other than the radio that you want to run from 
it, and whether it is charging a battery which runs the gear or the 
supply is running the gear directly. It's easy for other 12V gear in a 
shack to add several amps to the load, and the fancier the shack gets, 
the more that increases. Clay said he wanted to run all his gear from it 
(but not the KPA, I am assuming, because it's 120/240V powered). The 
gear I saw included computer monitors, a K-Line, and some accessories. 
Perhaps there will someday be antenna relays. And so on.

Also, the numbers in Astron's model names do NOT correspond to steady 
state load capacity. It's important to study the data sheets. They are 
generally well regarded for reliability, but every one I've opened had a 
bonding problem which is important, but easy to fix.

Another important characteristic of Astron supplies is that their output 
regulator circuit is likely to fry if connected to charge a battery but 
the supply is not powered. Like in a power failure. Ask me how I know 
this. :) Astron sells a module to place between the supply and the 
battery to solve this problem.

73, Jim K9YC