Power and the RA82

[Tim Shoppa]

> might not draw the stated 8A @ 120VAC.

That's a "max" rating.  Most DEC stuff from that era overstates
power consumption/cooling required by a factor of 2 or 3 for site
installation purposes.

> Don't forget there are several square feet of layered circuits

Oh, yeah, certainly.  Some of it is VLSI, other (read channel)
is ECL-like, and it does draw power.  But look at the little exhaust
fan on the back of the drive - it is not dissipating a kilowatt,
but a few hundred watts.

I got rid of all my RA8x stuff around about 1996 or so.  But
I had no problem running 4 drives simultaneously on a 20A kitchen
circuit.  (Sequenced spin-up, of course.)  Along with a 11/730.

Tim.