Variac Current rating.

[Enzo]

Over here we have the similar Kill-A-Watt. Not expensive at all. Useful tool.

[nosaj]

Man, I just gotta move to the states. You guys are seriously spoilt for choice!

Check your local ham clubs That's where a lot of good quality stuff can come from. I'd even imagine where you are too. Make friends with the hams let them know what you do and more often than not they are more than willing to help and provide a very fair deal when they know you won't flip it.
nosaj

[olddawg]

I always used one of these:
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?m...2F223044211989
The AC leakage test was required by law in CA. We added $2 for the test and put a signed sticker on the unit. Paid for the variac over time.. The meter displayed line voltage, output voltage, current, leakage to chassis, etc. I used to hook it to a bridge rectifier and a 4700uf cap to make an adjustable DC supply as well that would tell me the current draw.

[Tom Phillips]

The energy monitors give you a lot of information for the price. However, for test bench use, I want analog meters! There is a lot a value is seeing the true rate of change of the voltage and current as you ramp up the voltage. One can even see pulsing of the current flow which would be obscured by the sampling rate of the inexpensive digital device. I always power the amp under test through the variable transformer. That allows me to know the exact line voltage appled to the amp and to set a standard test value so that my readings are not affected

[Helmholtz]

The energy monitors give you a lot of information for the price. However, for test bench use, I want analog meters! There is a lot a value is seeing the true rate of change of the voltage and current as you ramp up the voltage. One can even see pulsing of the current flow which would be obscured by the sampling rate of the inexpensive digital device. I always power the amp under test through the variable transformer. That allows me to know the exact line voltage appled to the amp and to set a standard test value so that my readings are not affected

True, I have and use both at times. No problem to wire the digital power meter and an analog ammeter in series. The issue is that analog meters mostly are of a certain age and often develop a hysteresis caused by mechanical friction in the instrument's bearing. Thus, for accuracy I prefer digital meters.

[Tom Phillips]

... The issue is that analog meters mostly are of a certain age and often develop a hysteresis caused by mechanical friction in the instrument's bearing...

I have seen that issue on some old meters. Especially those that were used on standard consumer equipment or medium to lower price test equipment of the day. However, the good quality analog leaders of the day just seem to go on forever giving excellent performance. Unfortunately those high-quality movements can be hard for the average person find. When you have good ones at your disposal they are a joy to use.

[Helmholtz]

I have seen that issue on some old meters. Especially those that were used on standard consumer equipment or medium to lower price test equipment of the day. However, the good quality analog leaders of the day just seem to go on forever giving excellent performance. Unfortunately those high-quality movements can be hard for the average person find. When you have good ones at your disposal they are a joy to use.

I was speaking of premium grade professional analog meters. I have a nice collection of those. Fine, if yours don't show the issue.