RE: Ganging Variacs (fwd)

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Mon, 20 Aug 2007 07:23:15 -0500
From: Terry Oxandale <Toxandale@xxxxxxx>
To: Tesla list <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: RE: Ganging Variacs (fwd)

I've run 2 sets of two 1256 variacs in parallel (same shaft and
carefully) aligned for years without the choke. One set as a ballast,
and one set to vary input voltage to the pig.

Terry

-----Original Message-----
From: Tesla list [mailto:tesla@xxxxxxxxxx] 
Sent: Sunday, August 19, 2007 12:14 PM
To: tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: Ganging Variacs (fwd)


---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sun, 19 Aug 2007 12:34:03 -0400
From: Edward Wingate <ewing7@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: Tesla list <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: Ganging Variacs (fwd)

Tesla list wrote:

>---------- Forwarded message ----------
>Date: Sat, 18 Aug 2007 15:46:25 -0700
>From: Frank <fxrays@xxxxxxxxxx>
>To: Tesla list <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
>Subject: Re: Ganging Variacs (fwd)
>
>Couple of comments and questions.
>
>First, you cannot parallel Variacs, you would be driving one or the 
>other as they would not be identical.
>I have to assume ganging as used here would be a number of Variacs on 
>a single shaft and each one controlling a single phase of a multiphase
system.
>
>  
>
Frank,

I have been paralleling Variacs and Powerstats for years with no 
problems. My current 100 amp Tesla coil control cabinet contains 4  280 
volt/25amp Variacs on a single shaft and uses NO paralleling chokes. The

cabinet has been in use for over ten years and the Variacs are still 
perfectly happy. Intermittant use in Tesla coil service makes even 
paralleling chokes unnecessary if the Variacs or Powerstats are properly

syncronized and TIGHTLY secured on the shaft and the output voltage 
difference in not more than one half to one volt. For 24/7 duty the 
chokes are a necessity.

Ed Wingate RATCB