What kind of 240 plug on linears?

[zulu]

I'm going to install a 240 outlet in the radio room in a new
house.
What kind of 240 receptacle should I use. (I don't have the amp just
yet)

[Edward A. Feustel]

Use the one specified in the National Electrical Code! This will depend
on your voltage and the current you expect to use. It probably will look
like the one on your electric dryer. Make certain that it does not look
like the standard 110V socket!

Ed, N5EI

[Peter J. Bertini]

Use the style that is found on most home 220-volt airconditioners.
These look like a regular 110 volt outlet except the openings are
inline instead of parallel to each other. They are rated for 20 amps,
which should handle any legal ham amp.

Your local hardware store should have them.

Peter

"Edward A. Feustel" <efeu...@ists.dartmouth.edu> wrote in message
news:3C04E009...@ists.dartmouth.edu...

[Tom Bruhns]

Here's a generally useful site that links to lots of mains-related
answers: http://www.epanorama.net/wire_mains.html

In particular, you can find the standard NEMA socket configurations
at:

http://www.leviton.com/sections/techsupp/nema.htm
and
http://www.quail.com/locator/nema.htm
(and probably some others!)

Personally, I'd go with the 250V 20A grounding one, NEMA 6-20R. Note
that it will accomodate either a 20A or a 15A plug. 20A@240V =
4800VA, and that seems like it should give enough margin for most
amplifiers. (But good practice is to plan for ~20% more capacity
than the maximum expected load.) You could go for a feed that could
accomodate higher current in the future if you end up needing it, and
then only have to change the socket and breaker. 10 gauge wire would
normally get you to 30A, unless there are extenuating circumstances,
and gives you lower drop under load for your 20A service than the
default 12ga would. Of course, if you know the amplifier of your
dreams will take 4500VA, you should probably go ahead with the 30A
service to start with. FWIW, I'd also put in at least one dedicated
20A 120V circuit to the hamshack, and plenty of outlets.

Cheers,
Tom

zulu <zu...@zulu.com> wrote in message news:<3C04878A...@zulu.com>...

[Crazy George]

Unless you plan on something on the order of an old broadcast transmitter,
you want a 20 amp/ 220 volt outlet with a 20 amp breaker feeding it through
10 Ga. wire. 12 Ga. will pass code, but 10 will provide a tiny bit less
drop for those picky amplifiers. This outlet will be similar to the
U-ground 110 outlet, except one slot will be rotated 90 degrees, and the
other will be T shaped, as it will also receive a 15 A plug, or the 20 A
plug, so you are covered. The NEMA reference number for the socket is
6-20R.

--
Crazy George
Remove NO and SPAM from return address

zulu <zu...@zulu.com> wrote in message news:3C04878A...@zulu.com...

[G. Beat]

Photos of the straight (non-locking plugs and receptacles)

http://www.leviton.com/sections/techsupp/nema.htm

If a long run (for the 20 amp feed) from the main breaker panel to your
location, consider 10-3/with Ground

gb

"Tom Bruhns" <tom_b...@agilent.com> wrote in message
news:3832adca.01112...@posting.google.com...

[mwp]

My personal preference would be a NEMA L6-20R receptical. The L prefix
specifies a "locking" type commonly referred to as "twist-lock". This
type prevents the plug from accidentally being pulled, The other upside
is the L6-20R has more contact serface than the 6-20R so there is less
heating at the plug. But then my background is also high availablity
computer installations.

[Your Friend Bill]

mwp wrote:
>
> My personal preference would be a NEMA L6-20R receptical. The L prefix
> specifies a "locking" type commonly referred to as "twist-lock". This
> type prevents the plug from accidentally being pulled, The other upside
> is the L6-20R has more contact serface than the 6-20R so there is less
> heating at the plug. But then my background is also high availablity
> computer installations.

The standards dictate that you shouldn't have a preference. For "x"
amps use "x" receptacle. A savvy insurance company can nail you on that
when your Xmas tree catches fire. "House suffered improper electrical
installation".
-:-)
Bill

[Crazy George]

Your Friend Bill <"Remove The NO In The Reply Address"@coqui.net> wrote in
message news:3C0A97CB...@coqui.net...

Not quite true, Bill. I don't like to use the locking plugs and sockets
because they are so bloody expensive. The L6-20 is functionally equivalent
to the 6-20 which I recommended. Actually, the plug and receptacle we all
should be using is the 4-wire model, 14-20 P and R, (or the locking L14-20)
which has 4 pins and provides a separate ground and neutral. Since many of
the 240 powered units we use connect circuitry to the ground pin to support
some 120 volt function, this would then meet present code, which it now does
not, except that it continues to be grandfathered. Again, these plugs and
receptacles are 2 to 5 times as expensive as the 6-20 series.