On Mon, 26 Nov 2007 16:34:25 -0600, Art Todesco wrote:


AZ Nomad wrote:
On Mon, 26 Nov 2007 09:32:05 -0800, Smitty Two wrote:


In article
,
BoyntonStu wrote:

On Nov 26, 11:09 am, Smitty Two wrote:
In article ,
Art Todesco wrote:

Anyway, what I would do is try in your
case is a 220 volt Variac and adjust the
voltage as needed.
A 120 volt variac goes up to 140 volts, which would give the OP 36% more
power.
A 15 Amp variac would be nice but very expensive.

A stove controller costs about $5.00 on eBay and it fits a BBQ grill
enclosure.

220 V is already there.

True, if you don't already have the variac, buying it for that purpose
would be silly. This is one thread on which I'd like to see a follow up;
let us know how it works out, and whether it lasts.

The infinite switches are time-pulse devices, so your voltmeter isn't
going to help with the adjustment. Eyeball, as you mentioned, is
probably your best friend on this one.

Small fixed adjustments can be made using a standard step down transformer.
Wire the secondary in series with the primary and the load.
If you get it backwards, it'll subtract instead of add.
a 12V transformer will give you 132V out from 120V in.

-----120V in-------
| |
+-----primary------+
| |
| |---------
| |
| -secondary--
| |
-- load -------------
But remember, the secondary of the
transformer must be capable of the load
current. A 12 volt transformer capable
of 15 amps will get pretty large.

****. I wasn't thinking of a 1500-2000W application. There's no
way an inexpensive stepdown transformer will work.

That's very different. never mind. /emily latella