"dave" wrote in message
. ..

I'm replacing all my wall warts with switch mode power supplies (some also
wall wart form factor). My ICOM R75 had a 1500 mA linear supply. I cut the
cable and attached to my Astron SS-12 station supply. The Drake SW2 has an
AC/AC adapter, but I still unplug it when I' not using it. I have to get
below 700 KWH/month.

SMPS' are greener, yes... but for RF they are horrid. Especially on the
LW/MW bands.

700KwH? Dunno how much that would cost you, but here it's about $270. Bump
it to 800, and it's over $350. We have a graduated system of billing. 200
KwH is only about $6. Be nice if it was a level system at that rate. 1MwH
would be just $30, instead of the nearly $500 it actually is.

Can you say "ouch?"

Brenda Ann wrote:


"dave" wrote in message
. ..

I'm replacing all my wall warts with switch mode power supplies (some
also wall wart form factor). My ICOM R75 had a 1500 mA linear supply.
I cut the cable and attached to my Astron SS-12 station supply. The
Drake SW2 has an AC/AC adapter, but I still unplug it when I' not
using it. I have to get below 700 KWH/month.

SMPS' are greener, yes... but for RF they are horrid. Especially on the
LW/MW bands.

700KwH? Dunno how much that would cost you, but here it's about $270.
Bump it to 800, and it's over $350. We have a graduated system of
billing. 200 KwH is only about $6. Be nice if it was a level system at
that rate. 1MwH would be just $30, instead of the nearly $500 it
actually is.

Can you say "ouch?"

All my antennas are outside. My house is a Faraday cage. We have tiered
electricity as well; I'm trying to avoid the 38 cents a KWH rate. I can
get a 250 Watt Mexican station on 540 KHz right now, on a 50' wire
antenna from the back of the ICOM, through the window, to a 6' wood
fence up a hill and around a corner. Very clean QRN, no noticeable QRM.
Now if I tune to 30 KHz it gets really interesting. Just had a nice deep
fade, still no buzzing or whistles.

On Nov 12, 7:16*am, dave wrote:
Brenda Ann wrote:

"dave" wrote in message
...

I'm replacing all my wall warts with switch mode power supplies (some
also wall wart form factor). My ICOM R75 had a 1500 mA linear supply.
I cut the cable and attached to my Astron SS-12 station supply. The
Drake SW2 has an AC/AC adapter, but I still unplug it when I' not
using it. I have to get below 700 KWH/month.

SMPS' are greener, yes... but for RF they are horrid. Especially on the
LW/MW bands.

700KwH? Dunno how much that would cost you, but here it's about $270.
Bump it to 800, and it's over $350. We have a graduated system of
billing. 200 KwH is only about $6. Be nice if it was a level system at
that rate. 1MwH would be just $30, instead of the nearly $500 it
actually is.

Can you say "ouch?"

All my antennas are outside. My house is a Faraday cage.

- We have tiered electricity as well;
- I'm trying to avoid the 38 cents a KWH rate.

Winter PG&E Rates : Winter Season is
1 NOV 2010 through 30 APR 2011.
http://www.gosolarnow.com/pdf%20file...20Schedule.pdf
Shows the Energy Use Tiers (Baseline)
Off=Peak = $0.09112 per KWH
Partial-Peak = $0.10319 per KWH

The Phony 'Base-Line' :
The whole concept of the 'Base-Line' is Phony
-aka- a Fraud. -cause- the 'Base-Line' is set
at 50%~60% of the Average Useage -thus- Short
Changing you the Energy User by 40%~50%.
-so- On the Average you should be "Exceed" the
'Base-Line' each and every Month by 40%~50%
-cause- The "Average" 100% User will have a
usage that is designed to use-up all of the
50%~60% 'Base-Line' [Tier 1] and use-up all
of the Tier 2 plus part of Tier 3 to get to
the other 40%~50% of normal average usage that
is "Above" the 'Base-Line'.

california 'puc' = phony-r-us ~ RHF