23 Apr
2020
23 Apr
'20
11:20 a.m.
On 4/23/20 10:53 AM, Robert via cctalk wrote:
I'm under caffeinated and not really with it yet,
having recently gone semi
nocturnal, so you'll want to double check this with someone who's actually
awake.
That said, variacs aren't a universal panacea and can sometimes be harmful
rather than helpful. My disorganized memory is offering TVs as an example,
but take that with a pinch of salt. I've only ever used them with tube
radios and amps, so have nothing further to offer, save this caution.
My own experience is that they're pretty much useless when a siwtch-mode
power supply is involved.
If you're dealing with a linear power supply, a good first move, in my
experience, is to hook a high-wattage (say, 100W) in series with the AC
line for first power-up.
--Chuck