POWERING A TUBE BASE AMPLIFIER

[Sonar]

Is it important to plug an amplifier directly into a wall outlet as opposed to a power strip? If so why? Thanks 73

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

It depends on the output of the amp and the quality of the power strip. Some (most) power strips use smaller wire and will cause a voltage drop as well as heat up when used with an amp drawing close to the maximum that a normal wall plug can provide.

 

[Sonar]

It depends on the output of the amp and the quality of the power strip. Some (most) power strips use smaller wire and will cause a voltage drop as well as heat up when used with an amp drawing close to the maximum that a normal wall plug can provide.

My initial thought was to state the amp. It's a phantom which I use on AM only. I drive it with an fs 2340 at 3/4 20 pep and see 550 on an autek wm 1. I don't recall the brand power strip but it looks to be well made. It has a heavy duty 3 prong cord and breaker. The breaker actually opened once during a very long winded key. I did plug the amp into the wall for an hour and during a session of vigorous skip and noticed nothing different as far as the way the amplifier operated between the wall and strip. I'm sure there's a way to test the difference between the wall and strip during operation but my lack of knowledge and testing equipment makes that unlikely. My radio room is in a small guest room with three separate outlets. All are used for other appliances TV, cable, lights etc etc. There is one outlet that's behind a bookshelf that isn't in use. I looked for a heavy duty extension cord with a flat plug but the flattest one I could find left the bookshelf sitting a couple of inches away from the wall and the YL wasn't having it. IYO would it be wort having an electrician move that outlet so it could be used as a dedicated amp power source? The thing that concerns me is the power strip also has the transceiver, wm 1 and QF+A1 noise filter beside the amplifier. All are being powered at the same time. Thanks 73

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

IYO would it be wort having an electrician move that outlet so it could be used as a dedicated amp power source? The thing that concerns me is the power strip also has the transceiver, wm 1 and QF+A1 noise filter beside the amplifier. All are being powered at the same time. Thanks 73

Well as soon as someone asks me that i have to say that whether it is worth it depends on you however I have always preferred a dedicated line for an amp. When I built my house 25 years ago I didn't have an amp. I still don't but I am working on it. Nevertheless I had a duplex outlet installed at the operating position that has the two outlets wired to different breakers. I run a power strip across the back of my desk and plug most everything into it. A separate Heath station is plugged into the other. I also installed a dedicated two outlet 220 volt line for future use with an amp. I don't think you need to worry if you are only making 500 watts with your amp however.