William Noble wrote:
top posted again to annoy everyone.

1. 6 hz is almost DC - I am quite positive that the variac is not 6 hz - if so, it
would weigh an amazing amount - something else is wrong.

I was wrong about the 6HZ but not by much. I assumed that I was in error when I read
350 CPM and wrote 360 CPM but it was in fact 350 CPM (5.83 HZ)

2. a 400 hz variac powered at 60 hz won't blow a breaker immediately, but it will
overheat rapidly (a vew seconds to smoke starts)

I would speculate that you wired it incorrectly - did you try looking up the
specific variac on the superior electric (I think that's right) web site? can you
explain exactly how you wired it? does it trip the breaker if you disconnect the
bridge?

As I mentioned to Don : this unit carries the registered Variac(R) trademark but was
not made by superior, it was made by Technipower
of Davis instruments and calibration, type M 10, CDC part number 23253800.

Not at all in doubt about wiring as I removed that Variac and replaced it with
another and it's working just fine. The only question I have is that the motor I am
running is rated as 60 volts at 11.2 amps and the Variac is rated as 120 Volt at 6.0
amps.

I would assume I'm OK with a 672 watt load through a 720 watt transformer but maybe
there is something I am missing.

I ran continuously (no load) for 15 min and found no heating of the Variac the
bridge rectifier or the motor.

T