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variacs
#1

What do you folks recommend for a reasonably priced variac?  What current rating for working on vintage radios?
#2

500VA is plenty.
eBay has them.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/AC-0-130v-60Hz-...%3A2334524

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Variable-Voltag...Sw8UNgHHZt

People who do not drink, do not smoke, do not eat red meat will one day feel really stupid lying there and dying from nothing.
#3

many thanks
#4

    Many of these variacs are a variable auto transformer, not isolated from the mains. I’ve been using an RCA Isotap WP-27A for many years. It is not continuously variable but instead, you can vary the out put voltage in 5V steps from 25V to 150V. One big advantage is that in addition to adjustable output voltage it is also an isolation transformer, 2in 1. Works great but sometimes might take awhile to find one!

Ron

Bendix 0626.      RCA 8BX5.   RCA T64
Philco 41-250.    Philco49-500
GE 201.             Philco 39-25
Motorola 61X13. Philco 46-42        Crosley 52TQ
Philco 37-116.    Philco 70
AK 35                Philco 46-350
Philco 620B.       Zenith Transoceanic B-600
Philco 60B.         Majestic 50
Philco 52-944.    AK 84
#5

+1 for what Ron said.

"I just might turn into smoke, but I feel fine"
http://www.russoldradios.com/
#6

I use an old Heathkit IT-1 circa 1955.  http://www.w6ze.org/Heathkit/Heathkit_018_IT1.pdf
It does isolate and is adjustable but only down to about 80v and being from the pre polarize
plug era it doesn't like them.

Easily handles any ac/dc set and is rated @ abt 200w with a break every now and then. Most
of the time with AC/DC set I'm just careful to make sure that the neutral side is at b- and couple
signals thru loops, nothing with a chassis connection. Sometimes I'll get a set with a problem
with hum modulation that's where it comes in really handy.

When my pals were reading comic books
I was down in the basement in my dad's
workshop. Perusing his Sam's Photofoacts
Vol 1-50 admiring the old set and trying to
figure out what all those squiggly meant.
Circa 1966
Now I think I've got!

Terry
#7

I prefer them separate.
I have a 500VA variac and a Fluke medical isolation xfmr. Yes, more space, but smaller space sometimes dictates lower power.
I also have one boost variac that allows to get 300V from 120V.

People who do not drink, do not smoke, do not eat red meat will one day feel really stupid lying there and dying from nothing.
#8

I use what Ron has, a variac and isotap. Best of both worlds.

If I could find the place called "Somewhere", I could find "Anything" Icon_confused

Tim

Jesus cried out and said, "Whoever believes in me , believes not in me but in him who sent me" John 12:44
#9

I believe the Isotap WP-27A is good for 400 watts which will handle any radio you work on and even old tube TV sets. It is just one unit on your bench and doesn’t  take up much space!

Ron

Bendix 0626.      RCA 8BX5.   RCA T64
Philco 41-250.    Philco49-500
GE 201.             Philco 39-25
Motorola 61X13. Philco 46-42        Crosley 52TQ
Philco 37-116.    Philco 70
AK 35                Philco 46-350
Philco 620B.       Zenith Transoceanic B-600
Philco 60B.         Majestic 50
Philco 52-944.    AK 84




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