Just acquired an old Staco 140V 10A in very good condition - the old variacs hold up for many decades with very little maintenance if they aren't abused, and this one is new enough to be grounded. I use it to test amplifiers and other audio gear when it first lands on my repair bench, mostly to keep from blowing components that might be damaged on cold startup with unknown problems. I only intentionally overdrive transformers used in audio gear to measure clipping and distortion- not the one in my variac. Can't quite imagine destroying it just to see how far it could be pushed, because my bench needs it to be reliable to use as a tool. Although it looks like fun... I hadn't considered using it to power a Jacob's Ladder... I guess a proper mad scientist's lab needs at least one plasma arc continuously rising up, to create life or to blow the transformer, whichever comes first...
Mine too (3 kW variac). Sometimes it works, sometimes the breaker trips. Depends at which position on the AC wave you plug it in. It is possible to change the breaker to a slower reacting one or to use an electronic inrush current limiter (resistor + relais) to avoid that.
You could take that worn out variac and turn it into an extreme current step down toroidal transformer by taking the rotor off of it and passing heavy guage windings through the middle :)
I must say you do have the best toys in here. Those h.v transformers are so so awsome. I'd love something like that. Best video and thanx for uploading and sharing ;-) Well I was going to say keep up the good work but that would be silly!!!! ;-) BIG THUMBS UP*
I now have 5 variacs. 1 is a 120V input 0-140V out 7 Amp. Appears to be fairly old originally had a 2 prong un-polarized cord. Socket I think was polarized. I modified put a 16AWG 3C cord from a microwave on it, put a 2-3 prong adaptor on it then grounded that to the chassis with one of the screws for the cover. I got 4 more variacs last week from some odd electric meter tester thing. They are only like 3.5 amp and have no case yet. These are all rated 280V I found a way to put in 120V and they will put out 280V. Part of me wishes I could stack all 4 of them and get like 12-15 amps, but not sure can even do that without some special kit or premade assembly.
If using a tap on the variac to input 120 and get 280 out then be aware you're limited to 3.5A on the input (since the windings are only rated for 3.5A). Don't try and pull 3.5A at 280V out because you'll be drawing almost 8 on the input and the variac will likely get very hot. Nice variacs tho wish I had that many. I do have a 3ph 8A that's been rewired for single phase 240V input (3 toroids in parallel). 6.3kVA total hehe
I managed to pick up a decent old British made 10amp model on eBay for about £40. I was after at least a 15amp version but I couldn't resist at that price so I bought it anyway, hehe.
Idea.. If you took the variacs from your 3 phase Big Boy Supply and wired them all in parallel, would that be cheeper than buying 3 phase power from the electric company? I mean 3 phase 240 volts at 80 amps must be more expensive than single phase 240 volts at 240 amps. In America, 3 phase power is ridiculously expensive.
Ahh we have a different power distribution system in the UK and three phase is common place. In multi-occupancy dwellings, e.g. apartments, it's common to see three phase coming in and have the properties split evenly across the three phases. I believe in the US the pole-top transformers are a center tap 240V transformer so you get two phases fed to each property and use the centre tap for your 120V circuits and both phases for things like tumble dryers? We don't really do pole top transformers except for in the most rural of locations, we have residential substations and they're usually in a star configuration providing three phase.
Hello, where can I send you some pictures of a big variac control module i found on a scrap yard, really bigone... maybe you could help me to know if it is worth to restore
Thank you very much! Now I know where to get a good powerfull variac. Beleve me, I couldn't find a powerfull one just this stupid overpriced 3-5 amp crap. Great video!
Where do you get this crap. Variacs R Us??? LOL. I've watched alot of your videos and you sir are CRAZY but GOOD crazy. Its a good thing you know what your doing. Keep up the good videos.
LMAO. Owning a variac that big must be seriously funny. "....28A continuous, & it doesn't complain.....Until we get to 80A" Mega LMAO. Probably, the reason it complains at 80A, is because it's struggling to pull the current through the service fuse! :-D But really though: 80A on a 28A variac? That's about 285% overload. How long would it handle 285% & what about the cable going to it?! Something must surely get hot, & quick! :-O Thanks for re-loading these clips. :-D -BBD.
I do wonder if you submerged a Variac in Cooling Mineral Oil, it'd last a lot longer!
Just acquired an old Staco 140V 10A in very good condition - the old variacs hold up for many decades with very little maintenance if they aren't abused, and this one is new enough to be grounded. I use it to test amplifiers and other audio gear when it first lands on my repair bench, mostly to keep from blowing components that might be damaged on cold startup with unknown problems. I only intentionally overdrive transformers used in audio gear to measure clipping and distortion- not the one in my variac. Can't quite imagine destroying it just to see how far it could be pushed, because my bench needs it to be reliable to use as a tool. Although it looks like fun... I hadn't considered using it to power a Jacob's Ladder...
I guess a proper mad scientist's lab needs at least one plasma arc continuously rising up, to create life or to blow the transformer, whichever comes first...
too bad you removed the part where you say "think we're gonna use one variac to fry the other one" :)) that was funny :))
my variac trips my breaker
FUREK młody
Time for a new breaker?
Mine too (3 kW variac). Sometimes it works, sometimes the breaker trips. Depends at which position on the AC wave you plug it in. It is possible to change the breaker to a slower reacting one or to use an electronic inrush current limiter (resistor + relais) to avoid that.
Mine too (5kVA)
You could take that worn out variac and turn it into an extreme current step down toroidal transformer by taking the rotor off of it and passing heavy guage windings through the middle :)
5:06 someone can be heard. I believe she says "WTF ARE THOSE NOISES"
mateusz urbaniak nah, it's the TV dumbass.
80 amps at 250 V ? 20Kw on that variac ? DAMN ! :| Costs a bloody fortune too...
I must say you do have the best toys in here. Those h.v transformers are so so awsome. I'd love something like that. Best video and thanx for uploading and sharing ;-)
Well I was going to say keep up the good work but that would be silly!!!! ;-)
BIG THUMBS UP*
Nice! But I WANT MORE!
Sweet to see this video again
your house is like a copper mine :D
now you can crank anything right up
Omega Day you burnin the house down 😁😁😁
I now have 5 variacs. 1 is a 120V input 0-140V out 7 Amp. Appears to be fairly old originally had a 2 prong un-polarized cord. Socket I think was polarized. I modified put a 16AWG 3C cord from a microwave on it, put a 2-3 prong adaptor on it then grounded that to the chassis with one of the screws for the cover.
I got 4 more variacs last week from some odd electric meter tester thing. They are only like 3.5 amp and have no case yet. These are all rated 280V I found a way to put in 120V and they will put out 280V. Part of me wishes I could stack all 4 of them and get like 12-15 amps, but not sure can even do that without some special kit or premade assembly.
If using a tap on the variac to input 120 and get 280 out then be aware you're limited to 3.5A on the input (since the windings are only rated for 3.5A). Don't try and pull 3.5A at 280V out because you'll be drawing almost 8 on the input and the variac will likely get very hot. Nice variacs tho wish I had that many. I do have a 3ph 8A that's been rewired for single phase 240V input (3 toroids in parallel). 6.3kVA total hehe
Could always try and re-wire the burnt but with wire from the primary of an MOT, but with that new big one it wouldn't be worth the hassle.
I managed to pick up a decent old British made 10amp model on eBay for about £40. I was after at least a 15amp version but I couldn't resist at that price so I bought it anyway, hehe.
Idea.. If you took the variacs from your 3 phase Big Boy Supply and wired them all in parallel, would that be cheeper than buying 3 phase power from the electric company? I mean 3 phase 240 volts at 80 amps must be more expensive than single phase 240 volts at 240 amps. In America, 3 phase power is ridiculously expensive.
Ahh we have a different power distribution system in the UK and three phase is common place. In multi-occupancy dwellings, e.g. apartments, it's common to see three phase coming in and have the properties split evenly across the three phases.
I believe in the US the pole-top transformers are a center tap 240V transformer so you get two phases fed to each property and use the centre tap for your 120V circuits and both phases for things like tumble dryers?
We don't really do pole top transformers except for in the most rural of locations, we have residential substations and they're usually in a star configuration providing three phase.
thats not how it works. but yes - in another vid he said its a 25a 3ph variac and he parallels them for 75a single phase
He doesn't have a 3 phase service. Single phase HRC service fused at 100A.
@@teravolt1195 I think he has 3 phases, the red socket is an 3N400, with means, 3 phases, and a neutral.
@@nikolassels5751 No, check th-cam.com/video/HMH2t34Rw3E/w-d-xo.html
You're right it's a 3 phase plug though.
@0:40 OMG Photon REPAIRED something!
Nikola Tesla reincarnated as a geezer lol.
Now thats a beauty :-)
Hello, where can I send you some pictures of a big variac control module i found on a scrap yard, really bigone... maybe you could help me to know if it is worth to restore
Телеведущий то "синий", однако. Это видно по его мимике.
It may interfere with the contact brush and track..
I have a gang of x4 15amp variac's with chain drive and motor controlled... I need it sold
anther top vid
Are there variable toroidal transformers like this? Can you make one?
you got over $660 worth of variac there, guess that' what happens when you get nearly a million subscribers!!!
Bulmers 3 thumbs up
Could you run the transformer in parallel? At the ends
woo NZ!
Thank you very much! Now I know where to get a good powerfull variac.
Beleve me, I couldn't find a powerfull one just this stupid overpriced 3-5 amp crap.
Great video!
I ain't avin it!!!!!
David Mckendry avin it !!!!
Where do you get this crap. Variacs R Us??? LOL. I've watched alot of your videos and you sir are CRAZY but GOOD crazy. Its a good thing you know what your doing. Keep up the good videos.
LMAO. Owning a variac that big must be seriously funny.
"....28A continuous, & it doesn't complain.....Until we get to 80A"
Mega LMAO. Probably, the reason it complains at 80A, is because it's struggling to pull the current through the service fuse! :-D
But really though: 80A on a 28A variac? That's about 285% overload.
How long would it handle 285% & what about the cable going to it?!
Something must surely get hot, & quick! :-O
Thanks for re-loading these clips. :-D
-BBD.
Those wingdings need some epoxy to help with the wear, it's supposed to be a smooth surface.
CMV 28E-1
I recently found it on eBay, but shipping is extremely expensive for me :(
heh-heh.......that new one IS athing of beauty.
Where the hell do you get this shit ? These are HUGE pieces
My variac dies at 9Amps:-(
Looks and sounds like Dr. Frankenstein's lab!
Bet it smelt nice after its first run-in period ( :
If you aren't his #1 fan, I don't know who is ;)
Do variac companies hate you? LOL
Mate, I don't recommend drinking bubbly around all that high voltage equipment. Be safe!
Best safety tip ever: Don't drink electricity when you are experimenting with beer. =) (Not mine)
One 😁