Astron 50A power supply input cable wire size?

[pmoore4321]

Does anyone know what gauge wire is in the input power cable supplied with the Astron 50A power supplies? I lost mine and have dozens of 18 gauge "three prongs".

 

[cmjonesinc]

Not answering your question exactly but my 20 amp astron has an 18 gauge cable. I'm sure my method of doing the math here is wrong so hopefully someone will chime in... but 13.8v at 50 amps is 690 watts. So in turn 690 watts at 120 volts is 5.75 amps. And according to my handy chart #18 is good for 10 amps.... so maybe? But there's got to be some loss figured in there somewhere for the AC DC conversion and I haven't been in college in a long time.

 

[prcguy]

A linear power supply is not 100% efficient so I would count on the maximum available voltage from that power supply at 15V X 50A = 750W X 1.4 (60% efficient?) = 1050W / 120V = 8.75A.

I would use 16ga at the very least but 14ga would be better. If I was home I would just look at what's on my 50A Astron.

Not answering your question exactly but my 20 amp astron has an 18 gauge cable. I'm sure my method of doing the math here is wrong so hopefully someone will chime in... but 13.8v at 50 amps is 690 watts. So in turn 690 watts at 120 volts is 5.75 amps. And according to my handy chart #18 is good for 10 amps.... so maybe? But there's got to be some loss figured in there somewhere for the AC DC conversion and I haven't been in college in a long time.

 

[cmjonesinc]

I knew someone smarter would have a better answer. OP, I suspect you can search the exact model number for that supply and if it doesnt tell you the input amp rating it may tell you its efficiency. With efficiency alone you should be able to figure up the amperage. P(w)=I(A) x V(v)

 

[krokus]

Does anyone know what gauge wire is in the input power cable supplied with the Astron 50A power supplies? I lost mine and have dozens of 18 gauge "three prongs".

The 18 AWG should work, especially if you do not pull near the full capacity of the supply. Larger should be easy get, if you want the confidence that it will work.

Sent using Tapatalk

 

[K4EET]

Both of my Astron RS-50M power supplies have 18/3 (18 AWG / 3 conductor) stamped on the outer insulation of the 120 VAC power line cable. These supplies are from the early 1980s. 73, Dave K4EET

Edit: FWIW as an FYI, these supplies have been continuously "on" since their purchase and still work fine today. Neither the electrolytic capacitors nor anything else for that matter have gone south in the past 35-plus years of operation. Astron power supplies are built rock-solid to last!

 

[N4KVE]

as an FYI, these supplies have been continuously "on" since their purchase and still work fine today. Neither the electrolytic capacitors nor anything else for that matter have gone south in the past 35-plus years of operation. Astron power supplies are built rock-solid to last!

I'm sure there are thousands of Astron power supplies that have been running constantly since the day they were purchased.

 

[rescue161]

My RS-50M has 18/3 and it's not that old.

 

[wyShack]

The 18 gauge will work fine-While there are some losses I would say 10 percent losses would be high. also the load is not 50 amps all the time-taking that into account you have quite a bit of 'room'.

Free advise-money back guarantee.

 

[prcguy]

I keep a stock of 6ft 14ga and 12ga IEC power cables for special stuff around here and I put at least a 14ga on my Astron 50A and 70A power supplies just because I like to overkill things like this. You can get these large gauge power cables on Ebay for real good prices.