RE: Variac Help

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "Lau, Gary" <gary.lau-at-hp-dot-com> 

I was about to reply with "No, a dimmer just won't work with an NST".
This question has been asked often on this List and that's the usual
response.  But since I happened to have a dimmer and had never
personally tried it, I thought I would.

I was surprised to find that it did work - mostly.  It did occasionally
stop, and I had to turn the dimmer down to zero and then it would behave
nicely again.  I did notice that when the dimmer was full-on, that
performance would improve somewhat by shorting the leads, so 100% is
more like 90%.  And of course, there's no way to achieve the extra 20V
boost that a real Variac can provide, with a dimmer.

But, if the intended application draws anywhere near the 30A that the
original poster's Variac is rated, the $8 dimmer will fry before you can
say "what was that?"

Gary Lau
MA, USA

Original poster: "Philip Brinkman" <peeceebee-at-mindspring-dot-com>

Well, are you putting that variac between the wall outlet and a neon
sign
transformer? If so, you don't need it. Go to walmart and get an $ 8.00
lamp
dimmer with attaced cord, mine works fine on a 15000 volt 30 ma
transformer, it even has a RF filter in it.


  > [Original Message]
  > From: Tesla list <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
  > To: <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
  > Date: 11/20/2003 10:00:10 AM
  > Subject: Variac Help
  >
  > Original poster: "EMMETT SECREST" <secrest2032-at-msn-dot-com>
  >
  > I am in need of help on wiring of a Technipower 30A Variac.  I
purchased
it
  > used and there are no instructions. I don't want to toast it as it
was a
  > little on the expensive side so your assistance is appreciated.  It
has
  > five connection points in this order;
  >
  > 1  5  3  2  4
  >
  > 1 = one end of the coil
  > 5 = between connection 1 and the center tap
  > 3 = center point of coil
  > 2 = between the center point and the end of the coil, point 5
  > 5 = the other end of the coil
  >
  > This is a 130 volt single phase model that mounts inside a cabinet of
some
  > type and does not have it's own enclosure.. My question is which
points
  > does the 120V supply connect to and which points are the output. Also
where
  > would the safety ground connect.
  >
  > Thanks in advance for your help,
  >
  > Emmett
  >
  > _
  >