Letting the smoke out

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

Original poster: BunnyKiller <bunikllr-at-bellsouth-dot-net> 

Hi All...

I had tested my system a day before I was to head off to the Teslathon in 
Fla. ... needless to say, during the testing proceedure i managed to blow 
the main power supply that provides the piggie its juice.  After being 
totally disgusted with this situation ( I pouted for a week) I decided to 
open the case up and see what the extent of damage had occurred.

The #2 variac ( of 4) (( 1256D's)) had overheated thus melting the 
insulation on some of the wires on the back of the connect panel. From 
there the excitement began..  2 wires now missing the insulation made a 
connection and SMOKE...  :(

The arced out wires can be easily replaced...  BUT  here is where things 
get difficult....   about 15 turns of wire on the core are black ( burnt 
varnish and oxidized)  and the insulation is fried ....    the flats on the 
bottom of the core ( where the wiper touches) still have the copper color.

My question is ...  Can the portion of  the variac with the blackend wire 
be repaired ???

here are the options I have thought of so far as repair....

#1
remove wire and replace making solder joints long as possible on the 
outside of core....  file new flat on new wire..  labor intensive  not my 
first choice   but minimal cost.

#2
break down variac,  wire brush burnt varnish and soak the hell out of it 
with Glyptol / varnish/ etc   and hope the wire isnt shorted between turns 
...     risky proposal ... 50/50 chance it might work.....

#3
send it out to be repaired ....    Costly

#4
buy another variac    Very Costly

#5
ask everyone here if they have better ideas for repair....   or if anyone 
has a Powerstat 1256D for sale....


hoping a grave for the variac wont be needed...

Scot D