You don't have to get to saturation to get into trouble, but if you do it just
makes things worse.
I used to use old variacs as "Flexiable transformers" by removing the core
of broken ones which sometimes may have had a few burnt turns which I removed
and
then wrapping them with tape. I could wind a secondary on them and if get around
.3 to .5 volts per turn. By putting spacers between the core and secondary they
could
be used for high voltage filament transformes or low capacitance filament
transformers for
grounded grid applications.
73
bill wa4lav
________________________________________
From: Fuqua, Bill L
Sent: Sunday, July 17, 2011 4:41 PM
To: jfor@quik.com; doc@kd4e.com
Cc: 'Boatanchors List'
Subject: RE: [Boatanchors] Are 400 Hz variac's good for anything but a real
'boat anchor'
The inductive reacatance is about 1/7 at 60Hz.
With no load the transformer will draw 7 times the current from the
120 volt ac supply. This this means the the power dissipated in the
coil during no load alone is 49 times greater than at 400Hz.
That means that there will be lots of heating just due to primary current at 60
Hz.
Any current drawn from the tap will increase this considerably, unless it is
set at 100%,
since that current is not just reflected to the "primary" but shared with it
1:1.
So the part of the primary that carries the output current is also carring the
no load
input current. At 50% setting and 8 or 10 amps it is really going to get hot.
Again don't forget
power is proportional to current squared.
Hotter than a firecracker on the 4th of July.
73
Bill wa4lav
________________________________________
From: boatanchors-bounces@puck.nether.net [boatanchors-bounces@puck.nether.net]
On Behalf Of J. Forster [jfor@quik.com]
Sent: Sunday, July 17, 2011 1:05 PM
To: doc@kd4e.com
Cc: 'Boatanchors List'
Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] Are 400 Hz variac's good for anything but a real
'boat anchor'
> I am math-challenged, or more precisely, algebra-challenged.
>
> Are you saying that a 400Hz device operating at 60Hz has
> to be downgraded 6.5:1?
The allowable input voltage has to be decreased by 60/400.
> So if he stayed with 120vac and the device was rated 65A @ 400Hz
> it would be good for 10A @ 60Hz?
The current rating stays the same as for 400 Hz and 60 Hz. The max
allowable current is determined by the wire size, not the core.
> So one rated at 10a @ 400Hz would be good for ??? @ 60Hz?
10 A @ (60/400)*120 V at 60 Hzs.
> I am interested because I have a pair of selsyns/synchros that are
> rated at 400Hz and finally have a purpose where I can see if they
> are functioning correctly and can handle a little torque (turning
> a big roller inductor).
You can apply 60/400 of the allowable 400 Hz voltages at 60 Hz.
A big rollerductor is likely to need more torque than a selsyn can supply.
-John
===============
>> The issue is core saturation. If you run it at a lower input voltage, 18
>> V
>> or so you can still run it at 10 amps out. It's still not too useful,
>> but
>> you could use it with a transformer for a variable filament supply or
>> low
>> voltage power supply.
>>
>> 60/400*120V = 18V
>>
>> John,KU6X
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