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Re: [TCML] Giant Variac For Sale



Behold, the power of Peer review! :)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Staco-3-Phase-Automatic-Voltage-Regulator-AVR-20WCSY075-/222067908245

Have fun gentlemen.

On Fri, Apr 1, 2016 at 10:37 AM, Chris Boden <cboden@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

> Excellent sir, thank you for the info.
>
> I'd be happy to sell it as a stack, but there's no way I split it into
> individual variacs, that's just mean.
>
> On Thu, Mar 31, 2016 at 4:42 PM, Thomas Shurtz via Tesla <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
> > wrote:
>
>> The balancing chokes aren't the big yellow coils.  They are smallish
>> (about 3-4 inches or so) and to the right (when looking at the side with
>> fuses visible) and between each pair of variacs.  They are hidden behind
>> square terminal plates with 4 threaded studs.  Those do in fact look like
>> 5011 variacs and would be good for 7kVA each or 42 kVA for the stack. Using
>> it in 3x2 with split phase 240 isn't quite a freebee because you would need
>> to parallel 3 coils instead of 2 and set up appropriate balancing chokes
>> for 3-way parallel operation. If they have little brush wear and are in
>> good working condition I'd say the variacs might be worth $300 a piece.
>> They are the equivalent of the powerstat 1156D.
>>
>>       From: Teslalabor <teslalabor@xxxxxxxxxxx>
>>  To: Tesla Coil Mailing List <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
>>  Sent: Thursday, March 31, 2016 2:43 AM
>>  Subject: Re: [TCML] Giant Variac For Sale
>>
>> So, everything seems to be fine! The yellow transformers are ballancing
>> chokes. I first suspected a completely different mode of operation in a
>> way
>> more complex way (as my unit was built like I was talking about), but
>> indeed
>> the 2 x 3 variac stack in this staco system seems to be made for 75kVA.
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Chris Boden" <cboden@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> To: "Thomas Shurtz" <whompin105@xxxxxxxxx>; "Tesla Coil Mailing List"
>> <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
>> Sent: Thursday, March 31, 2016 3:24 AM
>> Subject: Re: [TCML] Giant Variac For Sale
>>
>>
>> > Video! Data! Peer Review!
>> > https://youtu.be/XrOZ-jKXr8o
>> >
>> > On Wed, Mar 30, 2016 at 1:18 PM, Chris Boden <cboden@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> > wrote:
>> >
>> >> I think you're the closest to correct in this, and I'm genuinely
>> curious
>> >> to figure out just what we've got going on here. This is bugging me.
>> I'm
>> >> going to get up-close detailed video of the unit and put it in the
>> >> Captain's Blog so that we can all peer review it and figure out just
>> what
>> >> this has going on. I figured out what my fundamental error was though.
>> >> These are a 208-3ph setup so the variacs are at 120VAC or so. I was
>> >> comparing them to the 9 stack triple-triple we have and those are
>> 480VAC.
>> >> Of course the kVA was off, the voltage makes a huge difference, and I'm
>> >> an
>> >> idiot.
>> >>
>> >> So, video, data, let's work it through and figure out exactly what
>> we've
>> >> got here so that we can put a FAIR price on it. Because as it sits, I
>> >> think
>> >> I'm overcharging.
>> >>
>> >> Of course if you're working with 120VAC Variacs and thinking with a
>> >> 480VAC
>> >> mentality....overcharging is going to be the first problem you have.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> On Wed, Mar 30, 2016 at 12:25 PM, Thomas Shurtz via Tesla <
>> >> tesla@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>> >>
>> >>> It has been interesting to watch this little exchange on the list.
>> I'm
>> >>> not going to assume that Chris is trying to mislead anyone, but the
>> >>> point
>> >>> here is that he is advertising a 6-gang variac that comes with some
>> >>> other
>> >>> goodies that one may or may not be interested in ("who cares?" was the
>> >>> wording used). If it's a variac stack you are trying to sell, then
>> it's
>> >>> probably prudent to include the specs for the variac rather than the
>> >>> specs
>> >>> of the "who cares" unit which it's a component of.  We might be able
>> to
>> >>> make some assumptions about the variac specs- Staco 5011 series auto
>> >>> transformers come with a 50 amp fuse they are for 120v input and rated
>> >>> at
>> >>> 7kVA each. The variac stack isn't fused at 50 Amps, so teslalabor's
>> >>> analysis isn't quite right, but neither is the 75kVA claim made by
>> >>> Chris.
>> >>> If you can provide some physical measurements of the autotransformers
>> or
>> >>> check the top of the stack for a nameplate and provide that info, you
>> >>> might
>> >>> get more success selling this as a variac stack stuck inside of a "who
>> >>> cares" voltage regulator.  BTW - Staco has a part number  for the
>> >>> variable
>> >>> transformer listed in the user manual for the voltage regulator
>> >>> (033-7581)
>> >>> but this number doesn't match the part number (031-6954) on the
>> drawing
>> >>> for
>> >>> the 6stack wye configured set of 5011's that I looked at, so that may
>> >>> mean
>> >>> it isn't really made up of 5011's or it could be that it's configured
>> a
>> >>> bit
>> >>> differently for this application and given a unique part number.  Best
>> >>> of
>> >>> luck with the sale.
>> >>> Thomas
>> >>>      From: Teslalabor <teslalabor@xxxxxxxxxxx>
>> >>>  To: Tesla Coil Mailing List <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
>> >>>  Sent: Wednesday, March 30, 2016 10:04 AM
>> >>>  Subject: Re: [TCML] Giant Variac For Sale
>> >>>
>> >>> 75kVA says the makerplate of what? I only can see a photo of the
>> >>> makerplate
>> >>> of the whole unit, which says it is 75kVA.
>> >>>
>> >>> Makerplate says 75kVA, 208Volts @ 208Amps, so: 208 Volts * 208/sqrt(3)
>> >>> Amps
>> >>> * 3 = 75kVA
>> >>>
>> >>> The variac is fused with 50Amps, you say. That is a maximum power of
>> >>> 18kVA
>> >>> for the variacs, what makes completely sense to me (maybe even only
>> 9kVA
>> >>> for
>> >>> each of the 2 stacks). They are only for controlling the main
>> >>> transformer,
>> >>> and that beast is rated at 75kVA not the little variacs, thats the
>> thing
>> >>> I
>> >>> am trying to explain to you.
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> ----- Original Message -----
>> >>> From: "Chris Boden" <cboden@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> >>> To: "Tesla Coil Mailing List" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
>> >>> Sent: Wednesday, March 30, 2016 1:50 AM
>> >>> Subject: Re: [TCML] Giant Variac For Sale
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> > Each coil of this variac is fused at 50A, what was yours at? The
>> >>> > makerplate
>> >>> > says 75kVA, and it's Staco....I believe them.
>> >>> >
>> >>> > On Tue, Mar 29, 2016 at 1:08 PM, Teslalabor <teslalabor@xxxxxxxxxxx
>> >
>> >>> > wrote:
>> >>> >
>> >>> >> :-)))) Very funny. Yes, the small potentiometer knob is used to
>> >>> fine-tune
>> >>> >> the regulation range, with this you only can change the output
>> >>> >> voltage
>> >>> in
>> >>> >> a
>> >>> >> range of lets say 200-216 Volts.
>> >>> >> I know this because I bought exactly such an unit like yours some
>> >>> >> years
>> >>> >> ago for a big pile of money. I also thought "wow, very cool
>> >>> >> variac..."
>> >>> >> The end of the story was, that there was only a very small
>> (3-phase)
>> >>> >> variac with some kVA's inside, which (when I remember corectly)
>> >>> >> controlled
>> >>> >> in combination with another (small) 3 phase transformer the VERY
>> big
>> >>> >> 3-phase load-transformer inside the housing. BTW, please don't ask
>> >>> >> me,
>> >>> >> how
>> >>> >> this works...
>> >>> >> I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure that your unit works in the
>> same
>> >>> >> way... At least you should take this into consideration instead of
>> >>> >> only
>> >>> >> rely on size-comparisons with another variacs.
>> >>> >>
>> >>> >> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Chris Boden"
>> >>> >> <cboden@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> >>> >> To: "Tesla Coil Mailing List" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
>> >>> >> Sent: Tuesday, March 29, 2016 6:06 PM
>> >>> >>
>> >>> >> Subject: Re: [TCML] Giant Variac For Sale
>> >>> >>
>> >>> >>
>> >>> >> The output is adjustable (it's the little knob under the meter) and
>> >>> has a
>> >>> >>> considerable range. I don't know it's full range as I haven't
>> tested
>> >>> >>> this
>> >>> >>> unit. We got them for the stacks, and then leapfrogged past them
>> in
>> >>> our
>> >>> >>> upgrade cycle in building the new lab. That's why we're selling
>> >>> >>> these.
>> >>> >>>
>> >>> >>> The variac, pulled from the cabinet, will actually handle a 75kVA
>> >>> >>> load
>> >>> >>> just fine. I know this because it's a slightly smaller version of
>> >>> >>> the
>> >>> >>> one
>> >>> >>> I
>> >>> >>> use every day in our High Voltage lab as our main power supply.
>> >>> >>> There
>> >>> >>> are
>> >>> >>> dozens, if not hundreds of videos of my demonstrating it's use in
>> >>> front
>> >>> >>> of
>> >>> >>> thousands of people. You yourself are welcome to come here and
>> >>> >>> measure
>> >>> >>> the
>> >>> >>> output capacity and compare it yourself. Of course I suggest you
>> >>> bring a
>> >>> >>> NIST traceable, calibrated measurement set. If you wish to do
>> this,
>> >>> >>> I
>> >>> >>> would
>> >>> >>> be happy to provide a complete camera crew and live audience to
>> >>> publish
>> >>> >>> your results if you have any doubt as to the veracity of my
>> claims.
>> >>> >>>
>> >>> >>> It's only a voltage regulator if you keep it intact and use it as
>> >>> such.
>> >>> >>> Anyone interested on here would likely autopsy it for its
>> component
>> >>> >>> pieces.
>> >>> >>> The transformer inside, aside from being "damn big" I know nothing
>> >>> >>> about.
>> >>> >>> Though it would make one hell of a boat anchor or a great core
>> for a
>> >>> >>> reactive ballast.
>> >>> >>>
>> >>> >>>
>> >>> >>> On Tue, Mar 29, 2016 at 11:25 AM, Teslalabor
>> >>> >>> <teslalabor@xxxxxxxxxxx>
>> >>> >>> wrote:
>> >>> >>>
>> >>> >>> Okay! I was little bit confused because of the additional "large
>> >>> >>>> transformer" you mentioned. What I was talking about, are units
>> >>> similar
>> >>> >>>> to
>> >>> >>>> yours, used for automatic "voltage stabilisation". They
>> >>> >>>> automatically
>> >>> >>>> adjust line voltage within a range of +/- some percent. These
>> units
>> >>> >>>> consist
>> >>> >>>> of small variacs + big transformer, which takes the load.
>> >>> >>>> But anyway, you should check the namplate carefully. It says
>> INPUT
>> >>> >>>> is
>> >>> >>>> 166-229 Volts and OUTPUT is fixed at 208 / 120 Volts.
>> >>> >>>> So this means, this unit can NOT regulate Voltage between 0 - 208
>> >>> >>>> Volts!
>> >>> >>>> Is stabilizes the Output Voltage @ 208 Volts, whereas Input
>> voltage
>> >>> can
>> >>> >>>> be
>> >>> >>>> anything between 166-229 Volts.
>> >>> >>>> So this is not a 75kVA Variac Mr. Boden...
>> >>> >>>>
>> >>> >>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Chris Boden" <
>> >>> >>>> cboden@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> >>> >>>> To: "Tesla Coil Mailing List" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
>> >>> >>>> Sent: Tuesday, March 29, 2016 4:39 PM
>> >>> >>>> Subject: Re: [TCML] Giant Variac For Sale
>> >>> >>>>
>> >>> >>>>
>> >>> >>>>
>> >>> >>>> If you check the pics, this is not a small variac. ;) It's a
>> >>> >>>> 6-stack
>> >>> >>>>
>> >>> >>>>> (triple-double) of the standard big toroids with balancing
>> chokes.
>> >>> >>>>> It's
>> >>> >>>>> one
>> >>> >>>>> size smaller than our 100kVA variac and will certainly handle
>> the
>> >>> >>>>> load.
>> >>> >>>>> Check the pics, the stack fills up half of that cabinet.
>> >>> >>>>>
>> >>> >>>>> On Tue, Mar 29, 2016 at 3:45 AM, Teslalabor
>> >>> >>>>> <teslalabor@xxxxxxxxxxx
>> >>> >
>> >>> >>>>> wrote:
>> >>> >>>>>
>> >>> >>>>> Nice! I also had such an big automatic voltage regulator some
>> time
>> >>> >>>>> ago.
>> >>> >>>>>
>> >>> >>>>>> "Problem" is: I don't remember how it works but the variac
>> itself
>> >>> >>>>>> (which
>> >>> >>>>>> would be interesting for TC use) is only a relatively small
>> one,
>> >>> >>>>>> maybe
>> >>> >>>>>> 10kVA or less. The main power (75kVA in your case) comes from
>> the
>> >>> big
>> >>> >>>>>> standard 3-phase transformer, which is controlled via the small
>> >>> >>>>>> variac
>> >>> >>>>>> +
>> >>> >>>>>> controll transformer.
>> >>> >>>>>> Maybe you should add an info to your auction, that this is NOT
>> a
>> >>> >>>>>> 75kVA
>> >>> >>>>>> variac, this could lead to some confusion and you could get
>> some
>> >>> >>>>>> trouble
>> >>> >>>>>> otherwise :-)
>> >>> >>>>>>
>> >>> >>>>>>
>> >>> >>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Chris Boden" <
>> >>> >>>>>> cboden@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> >>> >>>>>> To: "Tesla Coil Mailing List" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
>> >>> >>>>>> Sent: Tuesday, March 29, 2016 1:21 AM
>> >>> >>>>>> Subject: [TCML] Giant Variac For Sale
>> >>> >>>>>>
>> >>> >>>>>>
>> >>> >>>>>> If anyone is interested in a massive 6-stack variac, we have
>> one
>> >>> for
>> >>> >>>>>> sale.
>> >>> >>>>>>
>> >>> >>>>>> http://www.ebay.com/itm/222067908245
>> >>> >>>>>>> This happens to also include a solid cabinet with a large
>> >>> >>>>>>> transformer
>> >>> >>>>>>> and
>> >>> >>>>>>> some control circuitry. The unit actually works, but who
>> cares,
>> >>> it's
>> >>> >>>>>>> a
>> >>> >>>>>>> giant 6-stack variac :)
>> >>> >>>>>>>
>> >>> >>>>>>> And a matching massive switch as well
>> >>> >>>>>>> http://www.ebay.com/itm/-/322055321777
>> >>> >>>>>>> --
>> >>> >>>>>>>
>> >>> >>>>>>> Chris Boden
>> >>> >>>>>>> President
>> >>> >>>>>>> The Geek Group National Science Center
>> >>> >>>>>>> www.thegeekgroup.org
>> >>> >>>>>>> We Build Awesome
>> >>> >>>>>>>
>> >>> >>>>>>> --
>> >>> >>>>>>>
>> >>> >>>>>>>
>> >>> >>>>>>> This email may contain confidential and privileged material
>> for
>> >>> the
>> >>> >>>>>>> sole
>> >>> >>>>>>> use of the intended recipient. Any review or distribution by
>> >>> others
>> >>> >>>>>>> is
>> >>> >>>>>>> strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient
>> >>> >>>>>>> please
>> >>> >>>>>>> contact
>> >>> >>>>>>> the sender and delete all copies.
>> >>> >>>>>>>
>> >>> >>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>> >>> >>>>>>> Tesla mailing list
>> >>> >>>>>>> Tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
>> >>> >>>>>>> http://www.pupman.com/mailman/listinfo/tesla
>> >>> >>>>>>>
>> >>> >>>>>>>
>> >>> >>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>> >>> >>>>>> Tesla mailing list
>> >>> >>>>>> Tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
>> >>> >>>>>> http://www.pupman.com/mailman/listinfo/tesla
>> >>> >>>>>>
>> >>> >>>>>>
>> >>> >>>>>>
>> >>> >>>>>
>> >>> >>>>> --
>> >>> >>>>>
>> >>> >>>>> Chris Boden
>> >>> >>>>> President
>> >>> >>>>> The Geek Group National Science Center
>> >>> >>>>> www.thegeekgroup.org
>> >>> >>>>> We Build Awesome
>> >>> >>>>>
>> >>> >>>>> --
>> >>> >>>>>
>> >>> >>>>>
>> >>> >>>>> This email may contain confidential and privileged material for
>> >>> >>>>> the
>> >>> >>>>> sole
>> >>> >>>>> use of the intended recipient. Any review or distribution by
>> >>> >>>>> others
>> >>> is
>> >>> >>>>> strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient
>> please
>> >>> >>>>> contact
>> >>> >>>>> the sender and delete all copies.
>> >>> >>>>>
>> >>> >>>>> _______________________________________________
>> >>> >>>>> Tesla mailing list
>> >>> >>>>> Tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
>> >>> >>>>> http://www.pupman.com/mailman/listinfo/tesla
>> >>> >>>>>
>> >>> >>>>>
>> >>> >>>> _______________________________________________
>> >>> >>>> Tesla mailing list
>> >>> >>>> Tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
>> >>> >>>> http://www.pupman.com/mailman/listinfo/tesla
>> >>> >>>>
>> >>> >>>>
>> >>> >>>
>> >>> >>>
>> >>> >>> --
>> >>> >>>
>> >>> >>> Chris Boden
>> >>> >>> President
>> >>> >>> The Geek Group National Science Center
>> >>> >>> www.thegeekgroup.org
>> >>> >>> We Build Awesome
>> >>> >>>
>> >>> >>> --
>> >>> >>>
>> >>> >>>
>> >>> >>> This email may contain confidential and privileged material for
>> the
>> >>> sole
>> >>> >>> use of the intended recipient. Any review or distribution by
>> others
>> >>> >>> is
>> >>> >>> strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient please
>> >>> >>> contact
>> >>> >>> the sender and delete all copies.
>> >>> >>>
>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________
>> >>> >>> Tesla mailing list
>> >>> >>> Tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
>> >>> >>> http://www.pupman.com/mailman/listinfo/tesla
>> >>> >>>
>> >>> >>
>> >>> >> _______________________________________________
>> >>> >> Tesla mailing list
>> >>> >> Tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
>> >>> >> http://www.pupman.com/mailman/listinfo/tesla
>> >>> >>
>> >>> >
>> >>> >
>> >>> >
>> >>> > --
>> >>> >
>> >>> > Chris Boden
>> >>> > President
>> >>> > The Geek Group National Science Center
>> >>> > www.thegeekgroup.org
>> >>> > We Build Awesome
>> >>> >
>> >>> > --
>> >>> >
>> >>> >
>> >>> > This email may contain confidential and privileged material for the
>> >>> > sole
>> >>> > use of the intended recipient. Any review or distribution by others
>> is
>> >>> > strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient please
>> >>> contact
>> >>> > the sender and delete all copies.
>> >>> >
>> >>> > _______________________________________________
>> >>> > Tesla mailing list
>> >>> > Tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
>> >>> > http://www.pupman.com/mailman/listinfo/tesla
>> >>>
>> >>> _______________________________________________
>> >>> Tesla mailing list
>> >>> Tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
>> >>> http://www.pupman.com/mailman/listinfo/tesla
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> _______________________________________________
>> >>> Tesla mailing list
>> >>> Tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
>> >>> http://www.pupman.com/mailman/listinfo/tesla
>> >>>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> --
>> >>
>> >> Chris Boden
>> >> President
>> >> The Geek Group National Science Center
>> >> www.thegeekgroup.org
>> >> We Build Awesome
>> >>
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > --
>> >
>> > Chris Boden
>> > President
>> > The Geek Group National Science Center
>> > www.thegeekgroup.org
>> > We Build Awesome
>> >
>> > --
>> >
>> >
>> > This email may contain confidential and privileged material for the sole
>> > use of the intended recipient. Any review or distribution by others is
>> > strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient please
>> contact
>> > the sender and delete all copies.
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
>> > Tesla mailing list
>> > Tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
>> > http://www.pupman.com/mailman/listinfo/tesla
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Tesla mailing list
>> Tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
>> http://www.pupman.com/mailman/listinfo/tesla
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Tesla mailing list
>> Tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
>> http://www.pupman.com/mailman/listinfo/tesla
>>
>
>
>
> --
>
> Chris Boden
> President
> The Geek Group National Science Center
> www.thegeekgroup.org
> We Build Awesome
>



-- 

Chris Boden
President
The Geek Group National Science Center
www.thegeekgroup.org
We Build Awesome

-- 


This email may contain confidential and privileged material for the sole 
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