[TCML] Variac Paralleling Transformers

["Jon Danniken" <danniken@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I finally finished building my next control cabinet, built around three 
ganged variacs.  I figured I would finish the cabinet before I tackled the 
issue of balancing the variacs, and that time is now.

I came across a post detailing the "Hickman Method" 
(http://www.pupman.com/listarchives/2001/March/msg00469.html) of winding 
center-tapped transformer cores, which I will be utilizing with MOT cores. 
Note: I will be modifying his method by seperating and isolating each side 
of the center tap.

My plan was to use three MOT cores, wired up in the standard method, shown 
as "B" in the following diagram: 
http://teslacoils.home.comcast.net/ParallelVariac.gif

But then I came across topology "A" (from 
http://www.superiorelectric.com/PDF/z30pwst_instr_002105-006g.pdf), which 
uses only two balancing transformers.

So here's my question: Would the method "A" actually work, and balance 
current equally from the three variacs?  If so, is there any benefit from 
using three balancing transformers instead of just two?

Also, do the balancing transformers need to have similar core areas, or does 
this not matter as long as they don't saturate?

Thanks for any insight into this,

Jon

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