[BC] Powering the big rigs

[nakayle at gmail.com]

>From: Art Reed <areed21774 at comcast.net>
>>Robert Meuser wrote:

>>>For older stations this should not be a big problem since the older transmitters required so much more power so there would already a lot of power available.
>>>Remember a few stations had their own substations taking only an HV feed from the utility.

>This comment dovetails with something I saw recently. I had occasion about a month ago to be at the KDKA transmitter site, to witness installation of one of the FEMA "doomsday" transmitter buildings. But, my other interest was to have the opportunity to examine the remains of the Westinghouse HG-50 transmitter that is still on-site.
>The one thing I saw that I didn't fully understand was a device marked "induction regulator", a motorized coil arrangement that I believe was used to balance voltage, current, and/or phase between the three phases of 480v driving the transmitter. I don't quite understand what its function was, or what modern-day technology takes its place. I noticed that its operation was sufficiently important to be included on the transmitter's operating "podium", where you could select Manual or Automatic operation of the regulator. Anyone care to explain this device to me?

>>Art Reed

WPTF in Raleigh had a 1940 Westinghouse HG-50. When it was replaced with a RCA BTA-50H Amplifuzz in 1966 they kept much of the original HG-50 switchgear in the basement to use with the RCA. That regulator was use to raise or lower the plate supply for the HG-50.  It took 2400V coming in from the substation in the front yard and outputted regulated 2400 to the HG-50 plate transformers. The RCA however required 480V so three 75-KVA 2400 to 480V transformers were installed to interface the regulator to the RCA. 

- Nat Kayle