+++++++++++++++++++ Reply-To: From: "Ron D' Eau Claire" To: "Elecraft" Subject: RE: [Elecraft] What Guage Wire for PS? Date: Sun, 31 Mar 2002 08:20:17 -0800 > I see several volts drop on my (admittedly too small) power cord > at 3A draw for my K2. What guage wire should I try to cob into > that tiny plug for about a 2 meter run with minimal drop? > > Dan / WG4S / K2 #2456 You aren't alone Dan. That power plug deserves to be a bit heftier to allow larger wire sizes to be used more easily. I run a large-size "zip" cord on mine - probably about 18 gauge. I had to throw away the shell for the power connector - the total diameter of the wires is greater than the diameter of the shell. I used several layers of shrink wrap shrunk down tight onto the threads of the connector and around the wires to hold them, but still managed to break one of those flimsy soldering tabs off of the connector by flexing the cord after a year or so of fiddling around. I probably should have used an inch or two of small diameter wire to fit in the shell, and then spliced the big stuff onto it. The size of wire needed is dependent upon the length of the cord, if course. I have about a meter of wire running from the rig to my power supply under the operating desk. If you put the power supply closer to the rig a smaller wire will work just as well. BEWARE, though, if you have a linear power supply with a large transformer, DO NOT place it close to your K2! My power supply fit neatly under my K2, holding it just the right distance up off of the table. And I got reports of HUM on my signal. In spite of my call sign, I decided that was not good. I found that the VCO in the K2 is sensitive to being modulated by strong a-c fields such as those produced by a power transformer - even through the two metal cases. Wayne or Eric said that a warning was going to be added to the manual, so you may know about that already. Ron AC7AC K2 # 1289 +++++++++++++++++++ From: "Don Brown" To: "Elecraft" Subject: Re: [Elecraft] What Guage Wire for PS? Date: Sun, 31 Mar 2002 10:23:58 -0600 Hi Wire size ohms/1000ft =20 =20 22 ga 16.5 =20 20 ga 10.4 18 ga 6.5 =20 14 ga 2.5 =20 20 gauge wire will drop about .37 volts at 3 amps with 2 meters of wire 18 gauge wire will drop about .23 volts at 3 amps with 2 meters of wire I used 20 gauge wire. Don Brown KD5NDB ----- Original Message ----- From: Dan Barker Sent: Sunday, March 31, 2002 9:50 AM To: Elecraft Subject: [Elecraft] What Guage Wire for PS? I see several volts drop on my (admittedly too small) power cord at 3A dr= aw for my K2. What guage wire should I try to cob into that tiny plug for= about a 2 meter run with minimal drop? Dan / WG4S / K2 #2456 +++++++++++++++++++ Date: Sun, 31 Mar 2002 11:13:23 -0600 From: k4zm at comcast.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] What Guage Wire for PS? To: Dan Barker Cc: elecraft at mailman.qth.net Dan: I purchased a roll of 2 conductor 18ga Speaker Wire (Red and Black) Radio Shack #278-567. The roll had 25ft on it and was only $4.29. It will fit nicely in the connector provided. I removed the insulation from the black lead and tinned the conductor, place a 90 degree bend in the ground wire, and pushed it through the hole on the side of the connector ground and then cut the red lead to the exact length to fit the center pin, then I tin it and the center pin and lay it next to the center pin on the inside edge and heat the pin and allow the solder to flow onto the red wire and hold it in place until it cools. Then I solder the black wore sticking out of the ground and clip off the wire flush with the ground terminal. The connector cover will slip right down over the cable. I have used this method for all 9 Elecraft kits I have built. (Seven K2's and two K1's) 73 Jim Younce K4ZM K2 SN: 18 K2 Field Tester ----- Original Message ----- From: Dan Barker To: Elecraft Sent: Sunday, March 31, 2002 09:48 Subject: [Elecraft] What Guage Wire for PS? +++++++++++++++++ From: "Don Brown" To: "Indy" , Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 power cable Date: Sun, 23 Feb 2003 13:58:35 -0600 Hi First do not try to use the plugs from Radio Shack they will not take the larger wire. The plug that comes with the K2 is a Switchcraft part and is much heaver duty. I use red/black 18 Ga speaker wire from Radio Shack. Separate the red and black wires about 1/2 inch and strip the black wire almost all the way back to the separation. Tin the wire and insert in the hole in the connector strain relief. Quickly solder this wire and clip off the excess flush with the bottom of the strain relief. Using needle nose pliers crimp the strain relief around the black wire only. Cut the red wire so it is just a little longer than the center terminal and strip and tin the wire as well as the terminal. Now slip a short piece of shrink on the wire and quickly solder the wire to the terminal then slip the shrink up on the terminal and wire and heat to shrink it down. Slip the cover on the plug and tighten it hand tight Don Brown KD5NDB +++++++++++++++++++