Re: Variac rebuild

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: Finn Hammer <f-h@xxxx>


Blake,

Looking at thoseindustrial variacs, I tend to think I am loking at a 
genuine example of industrial art.
Getting the wire trough that small hole in the center is the hard part, as 
I see it. That`s why I had the core made so big for my project. Not so neat 
and refined as the professionally evolved types, but manageable on a hand 
work level.
Another thing, the contact area: on pro stuff, the wires are rolled flat, 
you will have to file it flat, which decreases the cross section. more heat 
in a critical spot.
I see these hand winding endeveours as zen activity, more than anything, 
and rewarding as such.
I wish you luck!
Cheers, Finn Hammer



Tesla list wrote:

> Original poster: Blake Hartley <teslaspud@xxxxxxxxx>
>
> All,
>
> Maybe you remember, but a while ago my four amp variac brokedown due
> to several burned and broken turns. Seeing Finn Hammers homemade
> variac inspired me to dig up the remains to see if it would be
> possible to rebuild. I took all of the stuff off except for the core
> and windings, and the physical specs of the core are as follows:
> height=2.9", ID=2", OD=4.1". It is wound 45 turns until the first tap
> point, 206 turns in between the two tap points, and 45 more turns
> until the last turn. The inside is two layered, but the outside is
> single layered (because the inside radius is ~ half the outside
> radius.) I plan to figure out the type of wire and re-wind it in the
> same manner as it was wound. would this work, or is there any other
> way i should go? Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks
>
> Cheers,
>
> Blake