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Using Variac China
Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2014 12:09 pm
by bobtec
Has anyone tried one of those under $150.00 made in China Variacs...I see them as low as $68.00 3 amp and $150.00 for a 5amp..Just for home noodling...I really want it for my 63 Fender Bandmaster to lower the voltage to 110...
Re: Using Variac China
Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2014 2:07 pm
by rgorke
Do you have a specific link? Mine is a 5A Made in China jobber that has worked perfectly for 8 years or more....
Re: Using Variac China
Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2014 7:26 pm
by awangotango
get an original varica or other from the golden age. they work great, are less than $50 and probably last lifetimes
Re: Using Variac China
Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2014 12:51 am
by bobtec
rgorke wrote:Do you have a specific link? Mine is a 5A Made in China jobber that has worked perfectly for 8 years or more....
They sell them at sears parts express online the Red one with a meter The one that is 3 amps is $68.00 and the 5amp is $150.00..I see Stanco ones on ebay but you do not know how good it is...I just want to play with it on my 100 watt SLP Plexi and to lower the voltage to my 63 Bandmaster at home
Re: Using Variac China
Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2014 7:13 am
by Star*Guitar
Spending that much on a Variac is just ridiculous. I have as saved searches for variacs and check it everyday and they go for much less on Fleabay. You shouldn't have to pay more than $70.00 for a 5 amp. Who cares if it is used? I wouldn't settle on a 3 amp. That may not be enough. I routinely see 10 amps go for less than $100.
I just bought a variac and paid $150. It is rated at 15 amps, it is used. The reason I paid that much is it is a rackmount. It is all enclosed, so it is safe, nothing exposed. It will be in a rack with my Alex attenuator.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Variac-Voltage- ... 7675.l2557
Re: Using Variac China
Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2014 10:59 am
by rgorke
That rack mounted one is very cool!!!
Here is what I have...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Variable-AC-Tra ... 33897a8034
Re: Using Variac China
Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2014 2:01 pm
by bobtec
That is just like the one on saw but Sears online wanted $150.00+$25 to ship But it was Red haha Thanks Thats what I wanted to know If one of these made in China ones would hold up with a 100watt SLP...Some people told me Not to use one.Thanks
Re: Using Variac China
Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2014 6:33 pm
by Star*Guitar
They look cool too and the price is perfect. Good deal!!
Re: Using Variac China
Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2014 7:16 pm
by awangotango
here's a cool 5Amper
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-General ... 462d6e2cdc
I've used the old variac brand and staco like these, I'd just get an old one if i were you
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Variac-Autotran ... 58b96d3712
http://www.ebay.com/itm/General-Radio-W ... 3399827488
what is it 5 Amps for 100w superleads and 3 amps for 50w?
Re: Using Variac China
Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2014 7:31 pm
by Star*Guitar
Re: Using Variac China
Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2014 8:18 pm
by Strat78
Here is a good one.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/OHMITE-VT-8-GC- ... 540baf48d1
I like having the switch, so you can just reach over and turn off the power from the wall without having to unplug the amp when tweaking. Like with Star Guitars 68 marshall, you can't drain the caps unless the standby and power switches are engaged so turning off the power at the variac is easy for this. This is another transformer in the circuit so the amp behaves in accordance to how current can be drawn from the variac, so make and brand should matter. I would say the less efficient the better; 4 to 5 amps maybe
Re: Using Variac China
Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2014 10:36 pm
by emmjaydubya
Strat78 wrote: Like with Star Guitars 68 marshall, you can't drain the caps unless the standby and power switches are engaged so turning off the power at the variac is easy for this.
The switch is nice, no juice inside the amp, plus the ground still runs uninterrupted back to the wall so you
know that the caps are draining.
I have a few old autotransformers, an Ohmite which I bought for $45 in excellent condition which I use for reforming/building/draining caps and an NOS Superior Electric Co. 5 Amp Variac for $40, new in box from probably the 60's which is for my 12,000. The deals are out there on the 'bay if you have some patience, personally I wouldn't mess with a Chinese one if I could buy an old American made.
Re: Using Variac China
Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2014 1:02 pm
by rgorke
Strat78 wrote:. This is another transformer in the circuit so the amp behaves in accordance to how current can be drawn from the variac, so make and brand should matter. I would say the less efficient the better; 4 to 5 amps maybe
here is something I have been thinking about the last couple of days in looking through ebay at variacs and looking at pictures of Ed's. It appears to be an Ohmite looking at the pictures from VH2 and the tour. What we can't see is the specific model. I have seen 1.75 amp, 3.5 amp, 5 amp, 8 amp Ohmites.
So, what if Ed used one of the lower models 1.75 or 3? What would that do to the tone? Presuming a lower amperage, maybe making the PT work harder and causing more sag? or something else? Not sure if my electrical knowledge is adequate to determine if this would create an effect. What are the down sides of a 1.75 or 3 amp model? Ed most certainly didn't know the difference.
I think there is a post with Friedman saying the type of variac matters. Maybe not brand but specs...
Re: Using Variac China
Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2014 3:12 pm
by mr.twistyneck
if you think that rack mount variac is cool, check out the pics on this auction
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ONE-OF-A-KIND-C ... b#viTabs_0
you can brown your sound and create a death ray at the same time!
Re: Using Variac China
Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2014 3:27 pm
by rgorke
Those are just pictures of variacs, aren't they?