Where to buy a variac locally?

fluckscapacitor · 28th January 2006, 05:15 PM

Does anyone have any ideas on what kinds of stores, if any, you could find a variac? i need one in a hurry and cant wait for an online purchase. i think radioshack used to sell a variac, but i dont think they do anymore. no luck in the home depot / lowe's either.

poobah · 28th January 2006, 05:19 PM

Look in the yellow pages for electronic surplus or salvage. I typically see those things in boneyards... and they're way less than the 300-400 bucks a new one will set you back..

anatech · 28th January 2006, 05:54 PM

They sell new at Newark for $150 CDN. You don't normally need, or want a 10A model. For those, watch auctions, hamfests and surplus houses.

-Chris

Mayank · 29th January 2006, 08:11 AM

There is a "new" 5A variac on eBay - ending tomorrow (item number 7584629669).

Rgds
Mayank

testlab · 30th January 2006, 11:52 PM

How much current do you need? I have a couple.

fluckscapacitor · 31st January 2006, 12:14 PM

Thanks for the replies, I did mean I needed a variac locally, I'm aware they can be purchased online.

I was trying to slow down a motor but came to the conclusion it was not the kind of motor that would slow down just by lowering the wall voltage.

I know what I would need to do without modifying the motor, but I don't think I can find a 2000W amplifier locally =)

jackinnj · 31st January 2006, 12:35 PM

W.W. Grainger might have what you need -- they are !OUCH! expensive but even my skin-flinted relatives use them when they need a component in a hurry.

A new 3PN2210B (20A, 120V single phase) will set you back around $700 from the Variac store.

Like everyone else, I got mine off EBay -- and use it every day.

DigitalJunkie · 31st January 2006, 12:56 PM

Jeez,Are Variacs really that expensive?

I got one of the ones Radio Shack used to sell years ago,a Micronta..
I got it unused,in the original box,On Ebay for like $35..I think it's 5A.

I also have a smaller 3A? one that I got in a box of "junk" that a friend gave me..Havn't used that one yet though,it's just the variac (no case,plug,cord,etc.) but it looks brand-new also.

Dang! I didn't realise they were so much $$!

jackinnj · 31st January 2006, 01:22 PM

Can you run the motor with pulse-width modulation ? -- International Rectifier (among others) have some very nifty and inexpensive products for motion control -- www.irf.com -- search under "motion control".

anatech · 31st January 2006, 01:22 PM

Hi fluckscapacitor,
Ahhh, so you have an induction motor. They are locked to the frequency of the supply, so you need to drive them with a high power, variable frequency.

Variable pullies will be cheaper. Or a different speed motor.

-Chris

28th January 2006, 05:15 PM	#1
fluckscapacitor diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2005	Where to buy a variac locally? Does anyone have any ideas on what kinds of stores, if any, you could find a variac? i need one in a hurry and cant wait for an online purchase. i think radioshack used to sell a variac, but i dont think they do anymore. no luck in the home depot / lowe's either.

30th January 2006, 11:52 PM	#5
testlab diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Grand Rapids MI	How much current do you need? I have a couple. __________________ It's not whether you win or lose, it's how you lay the blame.

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28th January 2006, 05:19 PM	#2
poobah diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2005	Look in the yellow pages for electronic surplus or salvage. I typically see those things in boneyards... and they're way less than the 300-400 bucks a new one will set you back..

28th January 2006, 05:54 PM	#3
anatech diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Georgetown, On	They sell new at Newark for $150 CDN. You don't normally need, or want a 10A model. For those, watch auctions, hamfests and surplus houses. -Chris

29th January 2006, 08:11 AM	#4
Mayank diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Falls Church, VA	There is a "new" 5A variac on eBay - ending tomorrow (item number 7584629669). Rgds Mayank

31st January 2006, 12:14 PM	#6
fluckscapacitor diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2005	Thanks for the replies, I did mean I needed a variac locally, I'm aware they can be purchased online. I was trying to slow down a motor but came to the conclusion it was not the kind of motor that would slow down just by lowering the wall voltage. I know what I would need to do without modifying the motor, but I don't think I can find a 2000W amplifier locally =)

31st January 2006, 12:35 PM	#7
jackinnj diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Llanddewi Brefi, NJ	W.W. Grainger might have what you need -- they are !OUCH! expensive but even my skin-flinted relatives use them when they need a component in a hurry. A new 3PN2210B (20A, 120V single phase) will set you back around $700 from the Variac store. Like everyone else, I got mine off EBay -- and use it every day.

31st January 2006, 12:56 PM	#8
DigitalJunkie diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Portland,Oregon Blog Entries: 4	Jeez,Are Variacs really that expensive? I got one of the ones Radio Shack used to sell years ago,a Micronta.. I got it unused,in the original box,On Ebay for like $35..I think it's 5A. I also have a smaller 3A? one that I got in a box of "junk" that a friend gave me..Havn't used that one yet though,it's just the variac (no case,plug,cord,etc.) but it looks brand-new also. Dang! I didn't realise they were so much $$!

31st January 2006, 01:22 PM	#9
jackinnj diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Llanddewi Brefi, NJ	Can you run the motor with pulse-width modulation ? -- International Rectifier (among others) have some very nifty and inexpensive products for motion control -- www.irf.com -- search under "motion control".

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