Variac Isolation Transformer. Are Variacs Isolated?

This Variac isolation transformer has stirred up controversy. Is it really isolated? Let’s do some tests and open it up.

NOTES & MORE CONTROVERSY: New models with the genuine Variac brand seem to be no longer sold. In 2004, Instrument Service Equipment obtained the name Variac. They sell Variable AC transformers under the name Staco. The unit shown in the video is from PHC. http://www.phcenterprise.com/isolation.html The word Variac is printed on the front, but I’m not certain it’s an officially brand-licensed product or they’re using the word generically.

The term Variac is often used generically, and often as a substitute for autoformer. This is incorrect. Variac intended the name to mean variable AC (Vari-AC) not necessarily autoformer.

Also, thanks to some viewers, it was brought to my attention that the dial on the Variac in the video may actually be using a “percentage of input voltage” scale and not an output voltage scale. In other words, at the “100” mark, voltage will be 100% of input voltage (about 120 volts) and not an output of 100 volts.

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