Re: Variable AC control from Harbor Freight

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "Jim Lux by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <jimlux-at-earthlink-dot-net>


Almost certainly a form of triac speed control.  Essentially a light dimmer 
in a different package...  Given the highly non-sinusoidal output waveform, 
it probably isn't too great for a NST.

The giveaway is the "universal motor" thing..   A phase controlled dimmer 
will vary the speed of these quite nicely..


At 06:22 PM 8/27/2002 -0600, you wrote:
>Original poster: "Dan by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" 
><toodamtall1-at-yahoo-dot-com>
>
>Hi Folks,
>I just got a Harbor Freight Tool Catalog in the mail.
>On the front is a "Router Speed Controller". It's a
>smallish box that varies the AC. It says 15A, works
>with any univ. ac/dc brush type motor and will NOT
>work with any soft or slow start motor.
>
>Could this vary the input to my NST or would the
>waveform not be clean enough? It's item # 43060-7RTB.
>This thing's on sale for $9.99 from $19.99. If this
>could replace a variac, heck I'll buy one. Could it be
>a solid state version of a variac? I don't know.
>
>Thanks a bunch folks.
>Dan--Ft. Lauderdale