[MRCA] [MMRCG] [MRCG-West] BC-610I on a 20A circuit?

[Jason WA6BBQ]

Thanks Mike!

Yeah, would be vendor and model specific.

My main panel is the dreaded Zinsco/Feseral, so I’m already at a
disadvantage. But, I’ve got a brand new 20A circuit breaker I can snap into
the position being used, got as part of the wiring upgrade/subpanel I did
to wire my shack for 240v for the KWS-1.

But, I figure “Amateur Intermittent Service” and “Only on voice peaks…”
right?? :D

73,
Jason WA6BBQ


On Tue, May 5, 2026 at 15:52 Mike Kelley K6AJ via groups.io <mkelleyp=
gmail.com at groups.io> wrote:

> Jason,
>
> Check this out
>
> What is the difference between a 80% rated breaker and a 100% rated
> breaker? | Schneider Electric USA
> <https://www.se.com/us/en/faqs/FA104355/>
> se.com <https://www.se.com/us/en/faqs/FA104355/>
> [image: favicon.ico] <https://www.se.com/us/en/faqs/FA104355/>
> <https://www.se.com/us/en/faqs/FA104355/>
>
> Mike Kelley
>
>
>
>
> On May 5, 2026, at 3:43 PM, Jason Sogolow via groups.io <w6iee.73=
> gmail.com at groups.io> wrote:
>
> 
>
> Thanks Scott!
> Jason WA6BBQ
>
> On Tue, May 5, 2026 at 15:39 <scottjohnson1 at cox.net> wrote:
>
>> I have absolutely no problems on a 20A circuit.  Caveat:  My shack has a
>> 100 A branch feeder panel, and the drop is only about 10’ from the panel.
>>
>> I personally think 30 A 120V circuits are a bad idea, as they can cause
>> imbalance in a split-phase system if fully loaded.  They hearken back to
>> the bad old days of the 110V service.
>>
>>
>>
>> Scott W7SVJ
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* mrca-bounces at mailman.qth.net <mrca-bounces at mailman.qth.net> *On
>> Behalf Of *Jason WA6BBQ via MRCA
>> *Sent:* Tuesday, May 5, 2026 2:58 PM
>> *To:* MMRCG at groups.io; MRCG-West at groups.io; mrca at mailman.qth.net
>> *Subject:* [MRCA] BC-610I on a 20A circuit?
>>
>>
>>
>> I’ve always been under the impression that a BC-610 required a minimum of
>> a 30A 120V circuit.
>>
>>
>>
>> At full power according to the manual, on 120V (original spec is 115V)
>> comes to 16 2/3 A, just a tad past the 80% circuit loading “rule.”
>>
>>
>>
>> Sure, 30A would be vastly preferable, but I’m curious to hear of anyone’s
>> successes running one on a 20A circuit/ 12GA wire.
>>
>>
>>
>> Something might rapidly move up in restoration priority! Or, it’s just a
>> really bad idea?
>>
>>
>>
>> Thanks and 73,
>>
>> Jason WA6BBQ
>>
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