Nice inexpensive variac found on-line

[frankeg]

Just wanted to share this variac I found on-line. Seems like a very good deal and perfect for my needs. I just bought one and will update this post after I get it and use it a while. https://www.circuitspecialists.com/v...c-ps05kva.html

[nosaj]

Just wanted to share this variac I found on-line. Seems like a very good deal and perfect for my needs. I just bought one and will update this post after I get it and use it a while. https://www.circuitspecialists.com/v...c-ps05kva.html

If your gonna spend the money should've found one with the Amps reading so you can back it down if needed when amps rises otherwise you're going blind.

nosaj

[Steve A.]

Just wanted to share this variac I found on-line. Seems like a very good deal and perfect for my needs. I just bought one and will update this post after I get it and use it a while. https://www.circuitspecialists.com/v...c-ps05kva.html

If your gonna spend the money should've found one with the Amps reading so you can back it down if needed when amps rises otherwise you're going blind.

nosaj

Or buy a clamp-on digital ammeter. A Google search just found this one at Amazon for under $10. You might want to call Amazon to make sure that you can return it for a refund it if defective (even when they don't they will usually offer you credit towards a future Amazon purchase - at least they have for me several times.)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ID5R3GM...D5R3GM5318513/

BTW they have come out with clamp-on digital ammeters that measure DC current as well as AC. I just got an Extech MA220 but have not confirmed the accuracy of the DC current readings yet.

Steve A.

[Chuck H]

Or just build a little gizmo from a salvaged meter and a resistor. But I must say that now that I'm older I tend to see the value in buying properly featured items rather than cheaper items I need to amend with DIY effort or buy another thing for full performance. Seriously. If you take a couple or a few hours to bench modify and add, or earn the money to buy amendments to supplement a bargain, how far ahead can you be? Not to mention the reality that "affordable" products almost never demonstrate the durability and longevity of market standard items.

[Enzo]

I have a metered outlet for the purpose, my variac is a bare bones thing. I plug my outlet box into it.

[frankeg]

Or buy a clamp-on digital ammeter. A Google search just found this one at Amazon for under $10. You might want to call Amazon to make sure that you can return it for a refund it if defective (even when they don't they will usually offer you credit towards a future Amazon purchase - at least they have for me several times.)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ID5R3GM...D5R3GM5318513/

BTW they have come out with clamp-on digital ammeters that measure DC current as well as AC. I just got an Extech MA220 but have not confirmed the accuracy of the DC current readings yet.

Steve A.

I have meters and a light bulb limiter. This variac is fused for 5 amps max as well. fg

[DrGonz78]

I have seen these installed on such variacs. Just have to modify variac and figure some creative way to mount it on the unit too.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...863d835a6abc55

[Mick Bailey]

Looks like a decent enough piece of gear. for the price. I'm intrigued to find out if the windings are copper. I'd rather have a metered outlet rather than an inbuilt meter to measure current - more useful that way if you're monitoring current draw when biasing a SS amp.

[g1]

I'm a bit surprised they rate it at 500VA, but fuse it for 600VA.
I suppose if you are not running near 5A sustained it should be ok.

[J M Fahey]

I'm a bit surprised they rate it at 500VA, but fuse it for 600VA.
I suppose if you are not running near 5A sustained it should be ok.

Which is proper and fine

Fuses are there to protect your home wiring and if possible avoid device catching fire; too close a rating can annoy you with random nuisance blow ups.

[SoulFetish]

I just bought the 2000VA version from them and it should arrive on Wednesday.
https://www.circuitspecialists.com/variac-tdgc2-2.html
I plan installing a an analog current meter when bringing up the voltage on suspected shorted equipment and digital V/A meters for accurate operating measurements.

[SoulFetish]

But, I don’t understand why every variac does come standard with a current meter included. Isn’t that the most common use? To test for fault current?

[Enzo]

No. That is a relatively common use for US. They are also used as dimmers, as speed controls, as all sorts of things. Serious applications probably already have current monitoring.

[Chuck H]

No. That is a relatively common use for US. They are also used as dimmers, as speed controls, as all sorts of things. Serious applications probably already have current monitoring.

Indeed. Like I said above, it would be easy enough to make something from a salvaged meter and a resistor. Or you can just plug in a device like Gonz posted in #7. I have a couple of those. Ot you can just monitor current within the device as usual just as if you weren't limiting voltage. I do think an integral current monitor would be useful (as Enzo said, for us).

[Enzo]

Right. WE would prefer a current meter, nothing wrong with that, just from the Variac maker point of view, we are small potatoes.