Cheap high current variac source

• To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
• Subject: Cheap high current variac source
• From: Gavin Hubbard <ghub005-at-xtra.co.nz> (by way of Terry Fritz <terryf-at-verinet-dot-com>)
• Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1998 12:33:54 -0600
• Approved: terryf-at-verinet-dot-com

Hello all.

I found out today that a good source of high current variacs are
electroplaters or electropolishers. After half an hour on the telephone to
local companies I was able to obtain a single phase 60 amp variac with a
blown rectifying stage for next to nothing (a couple of cold beers *grin*).

Electroplaters use a variety of high current (typically 20-2000 amp!)
variacs to step down the industrial supply voltage which is then rectified
into high current DC (often 10-12 volts depending on the desired
electrochemical reaction potentials). They are unlikely to sell working or
surplus variacs, but may have broken or faulty units.

I hope this is helpful,

Gavin Hubbard

P.S. Another good source of industrial variacs is old electric forkhoist
battery charging control circuitry. I have often seen these units for
reasonable prices at surplus industrial equipment dealers.  

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