New shack build

[338_MtRushmore]

I have an unfinished portion of my cave that I am going to setup as radio desk. I'm looking for any ideas of what I should do before drywall and countertop. I have a 220 outlet beneath the desk for my amp, but I am lacking much 110. I was planning to run another 20 amp 110 circuit, although I could do 2 if it was really beneficial. I was thinking 3 outlets just above the countertop, and 2 more below?

Is there anything else I should consider doing before I drywall? (Other than grounding, that will be external and I'll deal with that later)

 

[Ranch55]

I believe it would be prudent to have two 240 volt outlets.
And you will never be sorry that you installed too many 20 amp 120 volt plugs,

 

[338_MtRushmore]

I believe it would be prudent to have two 240 volt outlets.
And you will never be sorry that you installed too many 20 amp 120 volt plugs,

How many is too many? That is the question.

 

[928bolo]

If possible, put all of your 120 outlets on separate breakers.

 

[NightThumper]

I believe it would be prudent to have two 240 volt outlets.
And you will never be sorry that you installed too many 20 amp 120 volt plugs,

Having done this I installed two 30 amp 240 outlets and have a third 240 wire run behind the wall which could be wired also as two 20amp 120 volt outlets. In addition I have four 20 amp 120 volt outlets. Both Astron VS70M AP power supplies have their own outlet. The other two are for misc such as a power strip for Wall-warts, soldering, test equipment, computer, back up APS…vacuum cleaner…LoL

I would suggest a minimum of two 240 30 amp outlets and minimum of four 20 amp 120 volt outlets. Do it now while it’s easy. I rewired an existing room…doable but a pain. Need to plan for current and future needs. Don’t forget coaxial cable runs be they Ethernet or antenna’s and grounding runs. Also think about the lighting. Think about any addition support structure behind the wall for bench brackets or hanging monitors if needed…oh and remember where you put them…hahaha. Consider any sound deadening if you run CW it carries throughout the house.

Drywall…minimum 1/2 inch 5/8 if possible. Possibly need Blue Board Drywall to resist mold/moisture…not sure about the location of your shack. I see a floor drain, clean out and a freezer so I’m thinking basement and moisture. If one of those walls is an exterior wall it needs to be insulated.

PS: Nice boom mic!

Brad
KE0XS
South of Pittsburg

 

[Slowmover]

Having done this I installed two 30 amp 240 outlets and have a third 240 wire run behind the wall which could be wired also as two 20amp 120 volt outlets. In addition I have four 20 amp 120 volt outlets. Both Astron VS70M AP power supplies have their own outlet. The other two are for misc such as a power strip for Walwarts, soldering, test equipment, computer, back up APS…vacuum cleaner…LoL

Minimum of two 240 30 amp outlets and minimum of four 20 amp 120 volt outlets. Do it now while it’s easy. I rewired an existing room. Need to plan for current and future needs.

Keg-O-Lator on its own dedicated circuit, okay.

.

 

[338_MtRushmore]

Having done this I installed two 30 amp 240 outlets and have a third 240 wire run behind the wall which could be wired also as two 20amp 120 volt outlets. In addition I have four 20 amp 120 volt outlets. Both Astron VS70M AP power supplies have their own outlet. The other two are for misc such as a power strip for Wall-warts, soldering, test equipment, computer, back up APS…vacuum cleaner…LoL

I would suggest a minimum of two 240 30 amp outlets and minimum of four 20 amp 120 volt outlets. Do it now while it’s easy. I rewired an existing room…doable but a pain. Need to plan for current and future needs. Don’t forget coaxial cable runs be they Ethernet or antenna’s and grounding runs. Also think about the lighting. Think about any addition support structure behind the wall for bench brackets or hanging monitors if needed…oh and remember where you put them…hahaha. Consider any sound deadening if you run CW it carries throughout the house.

Drywall…minimum 1/2 inch 5/8 if possible. Possibly need Blue Board Drywall to resist mold/moisture…not sure about the location of your shack. I see a floor drain, clean out and a freezer so I’m thinking basement and moisture. If one of those walls is an exterior wall it needs to be insulated.

PS: Nice boom mic!

Brad
KE0XS
South of Pittsburg

I gotta ask.... what are you running for amps? Henry 4k's?

 

[The20poundhammer]

It's better to have too much than not enough lol. I have 2 20 amp 240 lines and one 50 amp 240 line and 2 20 amp 120 lines in my radio room lol

 

[NightThumper]

I gotta ask.... what are you running for amps? Henry 4k's?

At any point in time I have two amps. So two 240 outlets are being utilized. If I ever build a 200 plus amp 15 volt supply I’m going to need another 240 outlet. Amplifiers have ranged from having two Ampsupply LK550, Acom2000P, Two Al-1500, Three AL-82, Alpha 374, Alpha 76CA, Alpha 91B, Alpha 8410, NCL2000, SB1000 and Palstar LA-1K. At one point I had four amplifiers so two 240 outlets was insufficient. In general I never run any amp on 120 volts.

Minimum of two 30 amp 240 volt outlets. I always use twist-n-lock outlets/plugs.

 

[338_MtRushmore]

At any point in time I have two amps. So two 240 outlets are being utilized. If I ever build a 200 plus amp 15 volt supply I’m going to need another 240 outlet. Amplifiers have ranged from having two Ampsupply LK550, Acom2000P, Two Al-1500, Two AL-82, Alpha 374, Alpha 78CA, Alpha 91B, Alpha 8410, NCL2000, SB1000 and Palstar LA-1K. At one point I had four amplifiers so two 240 outlets was insufficient. In general I never run any amp on 120 volts.

Minimum of two 30 amp 240 volt outlets. I always use twist-n-lock outlets/plugs.

I don't recognize all of those, but the ones I do would run fine on 15 amps, maybe 20 if you were trying to let some smoke out. Are 30 amp outlets really necessary?

 

[338_MtRushmore]

It's better to have too much than not enough lol. I have 2 20 amp 240 lines and one 50 amp 240 line and 2 20 amp 120 lines in my radio room lol

Dude, a 50A 240 is 12,000 watts input! You all are RF addicts. I'm almost sorry I asked now

 

[Slowmover]

Dude, a 50A 240 is 12,000 watts input! You all are RF addicts. I'm almost sorry I asked now[/QUOT

A lot of years. Thousands QSOs. An old juice head who can’t feel a thing unless 3K is in-line.

 

[338_MtRushmore]

A lot of years. Thousands QSOs. An old juice head who can’t feel a thing unless 3K is in-line.

You had better let the other stations know you are running 3 kilowatts, because they won't be able to tell with their s meter.

 

[NightThumper]

I don't recognize all of those, but the ones I do would run fine on 15 amps, maybe 20 if you were trying to let some smoke out. Are 30 amp outlets really necessary?

The price difference between a 15/20 amp and 30 amp 240 outlet is insignificant. The breaker, wiring, outlet take up no more space and are no more difficult to install. Is a 20 amp 240 volt service sufficient??? Probably, until you need a 30 amp or you want to setup 20 amp 120 volt outlets from that line. Whatever amperage you choose two outlets@240 are strongly recommended. The other reason for 30 amp services is Voltage Line Sag. I’ve sold many amps over the years and have occasionally had someone complain that it didn’t perform as well when they got it home, only to discover their Plate voltage was dropping 600-800 volts when under load. My 240 outlets have very little Voltage Line Sag…Wire gauge/outlet contact size all play a part in minimizing the Sag…some things you can’t control like the Power Service Company providing your electricity.

Congrats on your shack build and enjoy. Hey maybe someday you’ll have a Henry 8K Ultra and have the power to run it.

PS: Your electrical needs should consider: 1) Do I need a sub panel? 2). Length of wire run from breaker panel to outlets. 3). Does that length require larger gauge wire? 4) If you install 3/4 20 amp 120 volt outlets that’s 3/4 breakers plus two 240 Volt outlets for a total of 5/6 breakers. I doubt your existing breaker panel accommodates that many additional breakers. I have two sub panels one for my kitchen, one for my pool pump, outdoor outlets, garage and shack. Unfortunately it’s not perfect because all my shack outlets aren’t on one sub panel. That would have required an extreme re-wiring which I should have done but didn’t due to how the house was initially laid out, location of needed outlets and length of wire runs.

Okay so we can read the quote specs on wire gauge for current draw. Which setup is going to have more voltage sag not current/amperage but voltage. A 15/20 amp setup running 12 gauge wire with an AL82 or a 30 amp setup running 10 gauge wire with an AL82 with larger outlet/plug contacts?

 

[The20poundhammer]

And always err on the side of caution. Size of wire for the length of run always go bigger.