MY VARIAC IS SCARING ME !!! HELP !!

MARCO · Post by **MARCO** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 3:40 pm

So I am turning on my amp and all of a sudden I start hearing crckling oises coming from my Tenma Variac. I turn my head and the inside where the coils (at least they look like coils) are sparking!! WTF!!! Is there something wrong with it?? I usually move the dial anywhere between 90v and 110 when I use my amp. Any help or thoughts!!??

Smokin Tone · Post by **Smokin Tone** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 5:37 pm

Possibly dirt on the contacts. Has it been setting for a while? Try rotating the dial back and forth a few times with it off. Then try it again.

guitar007 · Post by **guitar007** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 10:06 pm

Don't risk harming your amp. Have it looked at or get another one.

jcs · Post by **jcs** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 10:15 pm

it just needs cleaned

.

take it to a tech if you dont want to clean it yourself,but its easy to do.

mine did it a few times years ago, i pulled the cover sprayed it with deoxit i think and its been fine since.

they are very simple devices you will see once you pull the cover off

MARCO · Post by **MARCO** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 1:36 pm

cool thanks guys

NY Chief · Post by **NY Chief** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 1:47 pm

Do yourself a favor. Check the actual output voltage with a meter. I found that the Variac (Chinese!?!?!?) I got a Fry's is not accurate on the bulit in meter. EX: built in meter shows 100V, DMM show 110V.

jcs · Post by **jcs** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 2:02 pm

absolutely monitor the volts with a meter,dont trust the dial!

i had the same problem with mine,the actual volts coming out dont match the dial,but hey with the way wall volts vary around here its no surprise to me.

i pretty much have my variac set where its measuring 110 to 112 or so, if the wall volts go way up to say 128 at least what is coming out of the variac is still under 120 volts with the same setting.

so i guess i have the variac set to about 10 volts less than wall volts all of the time

.

Sparky · Post by **Sparky** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 5:31 pm

I have a Tenma vairac that used to shoot sparks out of the front part where the switch, linecord and fuse are. Turns out the solder joint going to the fuse holder barely had any solder on it. Pathetic. Cleaned up the joints and it has been working ever since.