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How many amps ?

BammBamm

Instigators ...173 on the southside.
May 24, 2010
625
302
93
50
Steger,Illinois
I am thinking of selling a few things here including my 257hp to fund the purchase of a RCI 2970 N2 but can't find a good answer to how many amps I will need for the power supply to use it as a base unit? Will 30 amps be enough? The radio will be peaked and tuned and converted for extras and that is all No echo or roger beep crap. Nothing else will be running on this power supply except for the radio.
 

I am thinking of selling a few things here including my 257hp to fund the purchase of a RCI 2970 N2 but can't find a good answer to how many amps I will need for the power supply to use it as a base unit? Will 30 amps be enough? The radio will be peaked and tuned and converted for extras and that is all No echo or roger beep crap. Nothing else will be running on this power supply except for the radio.

Per this write up, I'd go with a 50 amp.

RCI-2970 N2 200 Watt 10 Meter Radio Review
 
Astron 50.....a 70 would be better.....the 2970 will draw 30 amps wide open....will peak 300 watts on SSB.
 
What size fuse does it use in the power line? That's the size of power supply required. That should be the CCS rating of the power supply, not the ICS rating which is normally in the advertising.
- 'Doc
 
that radio should only pull around 18 amps from the factory...


18 amps for 200 watts output from a 13.8 volt supply? Must be some new form of super efficient power amplifier in it then. :whistle: My 100 watt radio draws 22 amps at full output. I am inclined to believe that it requires more like 30 amps, in fact a quick check on ranger's website shows the spec is 32 amps for full output as set from the factory. I would suspect the manufacturer would know best what his product draws for current.

http://www.rangerusa.com/rci-2970n2.html
 
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OK...It depends on what N2 you will have, will it be the 1st series or 2nd series. I have the 1st and had it tuned by DTB radio and this is how it came out:

Full out put on SSB is 250 watts - amp draw is 24.
Full out put on AM is 275 watts - amp draw is 28.


From what I have heard, the 2nd series of the N2 is less in output (around 200 or so) and so if it is tuned correctly, it should not draw more amps than what mine is showing above.

I do know of several people that are using 50 + amp PS, but it's because they did not have them tuned by DTB radio!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So my PS is a Pyramid 36, but I believe it is actually only 32 amps.

On Edit: I will add, my N2 was doing 300 watts when I got it and would not run on my 46 amp supply, the radio would shut down. But as you can see, Dave at DTB radio got it working much better and with much less amp draw.
 
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I figure when in doubt RTFM. In this case RTFM means Refer To (the) F'n Manufacturer.

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RCI-2950DX & RCI-2970N2 Specifications
General
RCI-2950DX & 2970N2
Frequency Range
10 Mtr: 28.000 - 29.6999 MHz
12 Mtr: 24.8900 - 24.9900 MHz
Tuning Steps
1 MHz, 100 KHz, 10 KHz, 1 KHz, 100 Hz
Emission
USB, LSB, CW, AM, FM
Frequency Tolerance
0.005%
Frequency Control
Microprocessor / Phase-Locked-Loop Synthesizer
Frequency Stability
0.001%
Operating Temperature Range
-10 ºC to + 50 ºC
Meter Function
RF Output, RX Signal Strength, Modulation, SWR
(LCD Display Indicates Relative Values)
Antenna Impedance
50 W
Input Voltage
13.8 Vdc
Microphone
400 W Dynamic PTT - 6 Pin
Size (W x D x H)
2950DX - 7 3/4 " x 10 3/4 " x 2-3/8"
2970N2 - 7 7/8" x 11 1/8" x 3 1/4"
Weight
2950DX - 4 lb 3 oz
2970N2 - 8 lb 3 oz
Shipping Weight
2950DX - 7 lb.
2970N2 - 11 lb
Transmitter
RF Power Output
RCI-2950DX - 10 Watts RMS: CW / AM / FM
25 Watts: SSB (PEP)
RCI-2970N2 - 100 Watts RMS: CW / AM / FM
200 Watts: SSB (PEP)
Current Draw @ Full Power (PEP)
RCI-2950DX - 8 Amps
RCI-2970N2 - 32 Amps
Modes
USB, LSB, CW, AM, FM, PA
CW Keying
Semi break-in
Carrier Suppression
- 50 dB
Spurious Emission
- 50 dB
Antenna Connector
UHF Type, 50 W
Receiver
Sensitivity
AM / CW: 0.5 µV for 10 db SINAD
FM: 0.25 µV for 12 db SINAD
SSB: 0.15 µV for 10 db SINAD
Selectivity
- 55db
Image Rejection Ratio
- 65 db
Audio Output Power
2.5 Watts @ 10% THD into 8 W
 
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Hint, factory 50amp fuse..........


102_327420Small.jpg
 
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I figure when in doubt RTFM. In this case RTFM means Refer To (the) F'n Manufacturer.

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[/FONT]

RCI-2950DX & RCI-2970N2 Specifications
General
RCI-2950DX & 2970N2
Frequency Range
10 Mtr: 28.000 - 29.6999 MHz
12 Mtr: 24.8900 - 24.9900 MHz
Tuning Steps
1 MHz, 100 KHz, 10 KHz, 1 KHz, 100 Hz
Emission
USB, LSB, CW, AM, FM
Frequency Tolerance
0.005%
Frequency Control
Microprocessor / Phase-Locked-Loop Synthesizer
Frequency Stability
0.001%
Operating Temperature Range
-10 ºC to + 50 ºC
Meter Function
RF Output, RX Signal Strength, Modulation, SWR
(LCD Display Indicates Relative Values)
Antenna Impedance
50 W
Input Voltage
13.8 Vdc
Microphone
400 W Dynamic PTT - 6 Pin
Size (W x D x H)
2950DX - 7 3/4 " x 10 3/4 " x 2-3/8"
2970N2 - 7 7/8" x 11 1/8" x 3 1/4"
Weight
2950DX - 4 lb 3 oz
2970N2 - 8 lb 3 oz
Shipping Weight
2950DX - 7 lb.
2970N2 - 11 lb
Transmitter
RF Power Output
RCI-2950DX - 10 Watts RMS: CW / AM / FM
25 Watts: SSB (PEP)
RCI-2970N2 - 100 Watts RMS: CW / AM / FM
200 Watts: SSB (PEP)
Current Draw @ Full Power (PEP)
RCI-2950DX - 8 Amps
RCI-2970N2 - 32 Amps
Modes
USB, LSB, CW, AM, FM, PA
CW Keying
Semi break-in
Carrier Suppression
- 50 dB
Spurious Emission
- 50 dB
Antenna Connector
UHF Type, 50 W
Receiver
Sensitivity
AM / CW: 0.5 µV for 10 db SINAD
FM: 0.25 µV for 12 db SINAD
SSB: 0.15 µV for 10 db SINAD
Selectivity
- 55db
Image Rejection Ratio
- 65 db
Audio Output Power
2.5 Watts @ 10% THD into 8 W



My wife always urges me to read the directions and specifications before starting anything.
Just buy an astron 70 amper with variable voltage. Please don't make the same mistake one of the know it all locals did and try to run a 2 pill radio on a 200 amp Davemade unregulated power supply. RIP General Grant!
 
Thanks guys I seen it said 32 for max as a stock radio but keep hearing to go 50 amps or 60 amps and I don't get 50 amps to run a 250-300 watt radio after tuning. I have been told 1 amp to 10 watts is a safe bet so I was thinking 30 amps would be fine. I guess it will be a 2950dx hooked to my X-Force as my base here soon because I can't see spending $350-$400 for the radio then another $200 for a power supply for 250-300 watts.
 
General rule of thumb
if it requires a power supply say it needs 30 amps get a 60 amp
this way the power supply does not have to work as hard
 

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