Try connecting the input up the other way around. Sounds like the Variac "common" is wired to the Phase of your wall socket, not the Neutral.
Remember too, Variac's do not isolate output from input. Check your house/shack electrical wiring too. From time spent in the US over the years, the domestic wiring "sense" is often random. Just in case. I've seen the same bad AC wiring in many parts of Europe too, just so it is said. 73 Dave G0WBX --- Original Message --- From: "John Cooper" <[email protected]> To: "tesla reflector" <[email protected]>, "Elecraft reflector" <[email protected]> Subject: [Elecraft] variac question Message-ID: <0259E5F216444CFD8A2FC35466035C32@WT5YPC> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" I have a 2000VA chinese variac off ebay looks similar to a staco(. No schematic. It works fine when used normally. Varies my voltage from 0-148V. But when its switched off and left plugged in I have 0 V between and neutral and 120V between hot and ground and neutral and ground. Is this normal for a variac? I was hooking up a electromagnet @5V with the variac off but plugged in and I got a 120V bite even when the dial is all the way to 0. That?s why I started checking it. Ive been running my coil off it with no problems. John Cooper WT5Y ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [email protected]
