400A Electrical Service is Installed
We have completed another major milestone in our work to upgrade KOLU to 39,000 watts of power. Thanks to a great deal of help from Craig-Co electrical contracting, we now have the 400A service that is necessary to run the high-powered transmitter to be used for this power level.
The work involved the installation of many items:
- A new, larger transformer on the utility pole serving the transmitter site
- Larger wire in the conduit feeding the building
- Installation of a "CT Can", which is necessary since this high power cannot be run directly through the utility's power meter
- Installation of a 400A panel, which will feed the transmitter, high powered air conditioner, and the old panel
- Installation of a "disconnect", which enables quickly connecting and disconnecting power to the transmitter
Before this work was done, the floor was refinished with a new durable, washable white coating that will reduce dust (which can cause short circuits in the kind of high powered transmitter we will be using), and the present transmitter rack was moved and consolidated with another equipment rack to make room for the new equipment.
Here are some pictures of the electrical installation and one of our floor and rack move:
Craig-Co Staff, with disconnect (left) and new panel (right)
Benton PUD arrives to work on the service
“CT Can” with new meter just about ready!
Bob Sutton working on rack after working on floor and walls
