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Re: [TCML] Bigger Variac Control Wheel



I'm not mechanically inclined either, but have you considered gearing it
down to make it easier to turn? I don't know the how details but it might
make sense.

Jeremy

On Thursday, July 3, 2014, David Rieben <drieben@xxxxxxx> wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> I have been recently trying to secure an economical control wheel to
> replace the factory black phenolic control knob wheel on my 4-stacked 1256D
> Powerstats in my Green Monster pig coil control panel. Reason being is
> that the turning of the combined 4 variacs while smooth, does offer
> significant resistance to overcome the friction of turning the rotating
> guts of 4 large units. I'm sure the factory 7" outer diamter control wheels
> that Powerstats come with are more designed for operating a single variac
> unit and not multiple units. (Multiple units are typically operated with a
> remote control motorized drive). I can run the variac thru its range simply
> enough, but to do so comfortably pretty much requires both hands. So, I'm
> kind of looking for something a bit larger, say in the 10" to 13" diameter
> range, or maybe just 8" diameter if it had one of those "suicide knob" type
> handles on the wheel, like a lathe control wheel, for example. I've spotted
> a few possible candidates on eBay but am a little concerned on how well the
> hub would match up with my 3/4" solid steel shaft through my variacs. Some
> of
>  the boat steering wheels have the tapered 5/8" to 3/4" hub hole and that
> would not work for a solid 3/4" shaft. Some of the large valve control
> wheels look like a possible fit or if the hub was too small but straight
> and untapered, I could simply bore it out to the required 3/4", although
> finding a 3/4" standard twist drill bit in my local Home Depot has proven
> to be rather illusive. Anyway, I do prefer the manual hand control to
> motorized control but would like the find a control wheel that offers a bit
> more leverage. Here a couple of eBay candidates that I have found:
>
>
> http://www.ebay.com/itm/301222411547?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
>  and
>
>
> http://www.ebay.com/itm/121374903703?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
>
>
> Any suggestions from those more mechanically inclined than me (not
> difficult at all :-) would be most welcome.
>
> Oh yea, is anyone else having trouble snipping a chosen part of a post
> when responding via "reply all" through the new format of this list?
>
> Thanks,
> David
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