How big is your Variac?

[nosaj]

Saw this and used a Vhs tape for reference. Was paired with a ham radio amplifier.

[Chuck H]

I don't have a variac. But that's huge. That's not even a regular knob for adjustment. It looks more like a boats steering wheel!

[DrGonz78]

That powerstat looks like it might worth some money. Did a search online but not exactly sure model number. Websites online are asking $3000 and more. Not sure why but it says these units have a motorized adjuster on it. All the ones I saw say 0-240vac 50/60hz.

edit: or I read that wrong and it is for a 240 input. Now I am going to have find out more. lol

[Mick Bailey]

Mine is a larger unit than I'd ideally like, as it's heavy and takes up too much bench space. It's 240v input and constantly rated at 10A, though does come in handy occasionally for running a toaster oven at lower temperatures for paint curing on small items.

[Leo_Gnardo]

I got a couple 20A variacs stashed under a lot of junk in the garage, part of some old xray machine. But that powerstat in the photo - that's a beauty! Got to use one much like it in Sao Paolo Brazil 1982 when power to stage measured 135 volts. The local PA guy rattled up this giant variac. We ran our band gear off it while I monitored voltage on a Simpson 260 and trimmed it up & down a tad over the course of the show. While mixing monitors. That's show biz! Ah the good old days...

[Pixel]

I have a General Radio one that looks quite similar but is much smaller, only 7" across the top. Mine looks very sad because the broken bakelite knob only has approx 1/4" of each spoke left. I had never really thought about what it looked like originally.

The one I actually use is a little Powerstat. I can easily pick that one up, rather than risking a visit to the chiropractor with the General Radio.

[g1]

That one only goes to 100, you're all the way up, then where do you go?

[Delta362]

I have this one from Amazon. The LED voltage displayed is spot on. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[Tom Phillips]

I have this one from Amazon. The LED voltage displayed is spot on. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I'm glad that it's working out for you. It's probably fine for testing equipment with modest power requirements. However, there are several suspicious claims in the ad copy which includes the following:
2000VA 20A Auto Transformer
110V 60Hz Input
Automatic Voltage Regulator
And the big typo "Current Rating 2000 Amps"

[Chuck H]

That one only goes to 100, you're all the way up, then where do you go?

Inside intel. These dials are installed on all Nigel's Variacs:

[Delta362]

It seems that there are numerous mutations of the one I bought on that can be found on Parts Express, Amazon, eBay and the likes. I ignored the typos in the listing as most of these were written by someone who isn't a native English speaker. When I was looking for one, I couldn't find a used Staco or similar at the time so went with this. While mine is not a high quality piece of test equipment, it has worked for me so far.

[Chuck H]

It seems that there are numerous mutations of the one I bought on that can be found on Parts Express, Amazon, eBay and the likes. I ignored the typos in the listing as most of these were written by someone who isn't a native English speaker. When I was looking for one, I couldn't find a used Staco or similar at the time so went with this. While mine is not a high quality piece of test equipment, it has worked for me so far.

I remember a couple of threads regarding those "variacs". The dodgy representation and specs usually got the poo poo from any service tech. It's a buyer beware situation BUT an autotransformer is an autotransformer. As long as it's up to the work your doing it should be fine. FWIW I vaguely remember some nitpicking about how the safety features are wired in those things. Grounding and fusing. But I don't remember details.

[DrGonz78]

Here’s one of the threads. Greg Robinson post #6 gives good examples.

[Pixel]

I fell into a hole in the Internet and just spent 2 hours looking at pretty variacs and plotting how to spruce up my General Radio variac.

Mine is a model 100-Q which means 18A. So if my "little" variac needs most of a 20A circuit, wth do you plug the monster variac in the OP post into?

[nosaj]

I fell into a hole in the Internet and just spent 2 hours looking at pretty variacs and plotting how to spruce up my General Radio variac.

Mine is a model 100-Q which means 18A. So if my "little" variac needs most of a 20A circuit, wth do you plug the monster variac in the OP post into?

That variac is sitting on a ham radio amplifier where the plates can reach 3000v. It also has a 240v plug on the end.
I just saw it at the ham radio shop and had to take a pic an share.

nosaj