Purchased General Radio Variac w/meter * What do you think?

[Toppscore]

Thanks for TAG Forum Members for your help & ideas to make a decision.

I've purchased this General Radio variac:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/190784431020?ss ... 1438.l2649
Pictures follow below.

This EBay seller has over 120 variacs listed. He knows his stuff.
Higher priced than the $150~$200 variac products I was considering.

Lifetime warranty from Los Angeles area for services and purchase.
All American made. This one is a General Radio portable model.

I'll have a Furman rackmount power strip with six outlets after
the variac. Then simply hook up all my vintage equipment to it.
Should the Furman be BEFORE or AFTER the variac???

Most smaller guitar amplifier variac type voltage regulators do not offer
a quality voltage meter as the General Radio's meter,
most others are 2-amps to 4-amps while this GR variac is 5-amps.

Should be enough amps for running two vintage amplifiers and some 1970's
rackmount effects. Right? (1970s Tapco two channel rackmount equalizer
and a rackmount 1978 Ibanez AD-220 Analog Delay & effects unit).

Weighs seven pounds, which is maybe twice as much as smaller units considered.
Yet it has a portable handle, and at seven pounds is not that much more
weight to manage various small gig/garages/homes/bars voltage outputs.
Am I accurate here? PLMK

Can handle my entire music room at 5-amps towards bringing down
the voltage down to 110v/115v for keeping my amps safer.

Anybody know how many amps are minimal to drive two twin reverbs
and an effects chain?
Is 5-amps more than enough?
What would be too much?

I figure the cost of one tranny saved/lost because of "longterm"
inbound power issues will more than pay for this variac.


Seller's description of the General Radio variac/variable auto transformer.
YOUR PURCHASE IS FOR AN ALL AMERICAN MADE, FULLY RE-FURBISHED, TESTED AND GUARANTEED, TECHNIPOWER BRAND (ORIGINALLY GENERAL RADIO INC.), MODEL W5MT3VM, BENCH TYPE VARIABLE AUTO-TRANSFORMER (VARIAC) WITH VOLTMETER, RATED AT 120 VOLTS INPUT, 0-140V @ 0-5 AMPS 0-700 WATTS OUTPUT, COMPLETE WITH COPY OF INSTRUCTION AND PARTS LIST SHEET, IN PERFECT, BETTER THAN NEW CONDITION COMPLETE WITH A LIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY! (SEE ALL OF THE PHOTOS FOR DETAILS, SEE LIFETIME WARRANY DETAILS BELOW, NOTE: UNIT MAY DIFFER SLIGHTLY FROM PHOTO). **** IMPORTANT NOTE: THIS IS A FULLY REFURBISHED, TOP QUALITY, AMERICAN MADE PRODUCT, THAT HAS BEEN COMPLETELY REFURBISHED INTO LIKE NEW CONDITION, NOT A POORLY MADE COPY FROM CHINA! WE ONLY SELL THE VERY HIGHEST QUALITY VARIACS FROM U.S. COMPANIES THAT ARE BUILT TO LAST A LIFETIME!


Please comment and share your experiences with variacs,
if you believe in power line voltage regulation, if this variac with a meter
and lifetime warranty seems good, even at $100 more?

Thanks. Toppscore

[Reeltarded]

Not enough amperage to handle big business.

[Toppscore]

Not enough amperage to handle big business.

Hey! My music room is BIG BUSINESS

[Toppscore]

Not enough amperage to handle big business.

Reeltarded ~What do you think about the rackmount Furman PL-Plus
with eight three-prong outlets being before or after the variac?

[Cygnus X1]

I would place the Furman prior to it.
The Furman likely has SS components that will not like low voltages.

[Reeltarded]

Conditioner variac amplifier. Yes.

Careful aboit running two medium amps with big current requirements on a 5 amp variac because THEY WERE MADE IN AMERICA TO LAST and they didn't LAST the first time. 10 to 12 amp minimum and way cheaper omfg you are making this so complicated.

[Prairie Dawg]

You paid far too much.

[rdjones]

FWIW:

The small meter on those are notoriously inaccurate, compare the reading against a known-good (ie Fluke) AC voltmeter.

A Variac or similar autoformer does not provide any "regulation", only a set percentage of increase or decrease from the incoming line within it's current capacity.

5A is adequate for 1 medium or 2 small wattage amps, I'd be cautious about stringing a whole studio's worth of gear on there.

An autoformer does not provide any isolation.

reddog Steve

[Reeltarded]

That relay tells me that thing is a toy. That was the whole rebuild, replacing the expoloded relay. The rest was windex and a napkin.

Heed the meter warning. Pretend it doesn't exist and meter the line AC with a good meter ^^^^ as mentioned.

To be clear, it only operates in line with the amp. Don't reduce voltage on anything else.

[Toppscore]

I would place the Furman prior to it. The Furman likely has SS components that will not like low voltages.

Cygnus ~ if that's the case, I'll get another power conditioner before the
variac ~ as I wanted the Furman and it's eight three-prong electrical
plugs to be managed by the variac for 110v output to my amps.

Good to know about the Furman's potential to manage brown-out levels.
I will re-read it's specs.

Toppscore



.

[Toppscore]

Conditioner variac amplifier. Yes. Careful aboit running two medium amps with big current requirements on a 5 amp variac because THEY WERE MADE IN AMERICA TO LAST and they didn't LAST the first time. 10 to 12 amp minimum and way cheaper omfg you are making this so complicated.

Thanks for the heads-up, Reeltarded.
I have more homework to do.

[Toppscore]

You paid far too much.

Prairie Dawg ~ Could be that I over paid.
I did not notice anything better at lower prices.
Help me out. PLMK the Brand/Model you are favoring. Thanks

The variac I bought:
It was the most expensive of the variacs "I liked".
I did not want Chinese made variacs.
I wanted a strong accurate analog volt meter.
I wanted a major brand ~ General Radio was a test equipment mfg.
I wanted light weight as many variacs weight 20lbs/30lbs and this variac
is seven pounds with a nice professional handle for transportation.
I wanted a USA supplier that's in the business selling USA test equipment
and who knows what they are talking about and communicates well.
I wanted a lifetime warranty.

Plus, I could have purchased variacs with 2-amp or 4-amp capacity
while this one is 5-amp and should run two amplifiers at once
in my home or one amplifier with a vintage effects chain at practice.

I paid $100 more than some other good variacs, but this one
had more of what I desired, after studying the market.


Prairie Dawg ~ Please give up the link for variacs you believe are just
as good and are much lower in price. I am going to get a second one, soon.
Appreciate your pointing me in the correct direction.

Thanks. Toppscore

[Toppscore]

FWIW: The small meter on those are notoriously inaccurate, compare the reading against a known-good (ie Fluke) AC voltmeter. A Variac or similar autoformer does not provide any "regulation", only a set percentage of increase or decrease from the incoming line within it's current capacity. 5A is adequate for 1 medium or 2 small wattage amps, I'd be cautious about stringing a whole studio's worth of gear on there. An autoformer does not provide any isolation.
reddog Steve

Thanks, Steve. I was told to expect from 0% to 5% variation(s).
I have a voltage multimeter I was told to double check the voltages.
I was told to possibly get another digital voltage meter to attach.
I have been warned. Thanks for your warning as well.


My goal is to have vintage Fender amps connected via an expensive
multi-electrical-outlet, but only one or two amplifiers active at
any given time. Solid advice. Thank you. Toppscore



.

[Toppscore]

That relay tells me that thing is a toy. That was the whole rebuild, replacing the expoloded relay. The rest was windex and a napkin. Heed the meter warning. Pretend it doesn't exist and meter the line AC with a good meter ^^^^ as mentioned. To be clear, it only operates in line with the amp. Don't reduce voltage on anything else.

Thanks again, Reeltarded.
Much appreciated