Re: D5000 - B Luxtrol variac

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

Original poster: Esondrmn-at-aol-dot-com 

In a message dated 3/24/04 10:03:39 PM Pacific Standard Time, 
tesla-at-pupman-dot-com writes:


>Hi all,
>
>Got a little question on a beauty that I just got on ebay. Externally,
>it looks just like a 1256D powerstat and has the Powerstat name on the
>frame support members just like a 1256. However, it is rated at 5000
>watts or 120 volts at exactly 41.6 amps, that is for an incandescent
>lamp load, and is rated to handle (135) 40 watt flourescent lamps with
>certain types of ballasts. This things weighs 72 lbs. on the scale
>which seems to dictate a considerable higher rating than 5 kW or 5 kVA.
>O yea, that's right, kVA and kW are not necessarily interchangable un-
>less the power factor is corrected to right at 100%. Yet with a resistive
>load like incandescent lamps, the power factor should be right at 100%,
>shouldn't it? Of course, flourescent lamps with their accompanying bal-
>lasts would introduce an inductive load  where the power factor would
>be noticably less than 100%. 135 x 40 = 5400 which is a bit more than
>5000. Could someone please shed a little bit of light on this matter
>for me?
>
>David
>
>PS - I got a great deal on this variac too with a grand total of under
>$75 in it, including shipping ;^))


David,

Good buy.  I have one exactly like it.  I use it for ballasting my 14.4 kv 
5 kva distribution transformer.

Ed Sonderman