Re: Variac ratings

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

Original poster: "Steven Ward by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <srward16-at-hotmail-dot-com>

Like John, i push my old Staco 7.5 A unit to about 18A all the time.  I run 
my 2kva coil with it using 2 15/60s.  NO SWEAT!  I only run for up to a 
minute at a time though, and i have PFC(i have ran it up to around 19A at 
times when there wasnt any PFC).  I run my tube coils that pull about 16A 
for minute long periods.  The variac gets a little warm after running the 
2kva coil for maybe 20 minutes in one evening, but maybe only as warm as my 
skin.  It doesnt seem to saturate or anything, so i think if you have older 
variacs, the 8.5A will easily handle 1 15/60 NST.  a 15/60 only draws maybe 
10A without PFC, and maybe 7 or 8 with PFC, so that seems ok for that variac.

Steve Ward.






>From: "Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
>To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
>Subject: Re: Variac ratings
>Date: Mon, 16 Dec 2002 11:46:14 -0700
>
>Original poster: "by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" 
><FutureT-at-aol-dot-com>
>
>In a message dated 12/16/02 1:33:03 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
>tesla-at-pupman-dot-com writes:
>
>
>>My question, is can you push a variac for short periods of time.  In
>>example, can i push my 8.5A variac to say 12A for
>>short periods of time.
>
>
>Dan,
>
>Yes, most variacs can be pushed to 2X rated current or more for short periods
>according to the manufacturer's spec sheets.
>
>I always ran my 2400 watt, 24" spark tube coil using a 7.5A , 120V variac,
>although this was pushing it a bit much perhaps.
>
>John