[Hallicrafters] tools for the newbie

[k6uuz at juno.com]

Hi Joe;

You are quite correct. 3 amps at 120 volts is 360 VA (watts). Anything
less than that is OK. You can use any size transformer you want. I use an
11 amp one that is good for up to 1320 VA (watts). VA is volt-amps or
apparent power. If there is no reactance in the circuit it is the same as
watts. Transformers have and inductive reactance and you should reduce
the watts by the power factor, i.e. true power divided by apparent power=
power factor. In your case multiplying the VA by .75 should be safe. Good
luck.

Ed Richards

On Sun, 19 Jan 2003 19:27:34 EST Wj5mh at aol.com writes:
> In a message dated 1/16/2003 11:51:38 AM Central Standard Time, 
> k6uuz at juno.com writes:
> 
> > The voltage reducer is because most tube-type radios were designed 
> when the 
> > standard mains voltage was 115-117 VAC.
> 
> Ed, thanks for pointing out the "voltage reducer" on BAMA.  I built 
> it today, 
> and it has made a noticeable improvement in AGC action on my SX-130. 
>  In 
> addition, the selectivity/BFO (regeneration control) now works the 
> way I 
> think it should on AM and CW, probably due to the reduction in B+.  
> (No 
> regulators in these two receivers.)
> 
> I actually ran both receivers off the transformer.  If my math is 
> correct, 
> each radio runs less than .5 amp (<50 watts each), so I should be 
> within the 
> 3 amp rating of the transformer.  I plan on building another for my 
> HT-40 
> transmitter rated at 175 watts "power consumption" which should be 
> around 1.5 
> amps.  The transformer should still be in the ballpark unless I'm 
> missing 
> something?
> 
> Any comments?
> 
> Joe ( WJ5MH )