View Single Post
  #10   Report Post  
Posted to sci.electronics.repair
Arfa Daily Arfa Daily is offline
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 6,772
Default Simple Variac Question


"Meat Plow" wrote in message
news
On Sat, 03 Mar 2007 10:28:52 +0000, Arfa Daily wrote:


"Meat Plow" wrote in message
news
On Fri, 02 Mar 2007 21:41:12 +0000, Matthew Rossiter wrote:

I built a test fixture for doing all kinds of different things. One of
the
ideas I had in mind was using a Variac to adjust AC voltage for certain
types of monitors, one which requires two 45VAC inputs.

Would I be able to use a VARIAC to set the voltage to 90 VAC and have
both
terminals deliver equal 45VAC in reference to ground?

Thanks

Matt

The output of a variable AC supply is almost always isolated from any
reference to any kind of "ground" you might be thinking of.

--
Pierre Salinger Memorial Hook, Line & Sinker, June 2004

COOSN-266-06-25794


I would have to disagree there. A variable AC source in the form of a
traditional variac, is an adjustable autotransformer, which means that
one
of the line legs - lets call it "neutral" or "cold" - is common to both
the
input and output, which means that the variable output is referenced to
the
incoming supply, which is itself tied to ground at the local substation
in
most countries, as far as I know. A variac does not provide any form of
electrical isolation, so the output from it *must not* be treated as
'bench-safe', unless its input is plugged into a proper isolation
transformer.

Arfa


Was thinking of my Sencore PR57 which is a VARIAC as in (variable AC
supply) and it does have an isolated output, no big ****ing deal.


Sorry old boy - wasn't meaning to dis you ... I just wanted to make sure
that no one had a safety issue by not understanding the difference between a
double wound and an auto tranny. Thanks for the support in that other thread
further up though. That Aussie **** pops up on other groups as well. I think
it must be every time he runs out of money to buy his meds ...

Arfa