Any electrical experts here - Variacs and GFCI's
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I have a code issue at work that I am having difficulty getting a clear answer on. We have numerous variable auto-transformers (variacs) that are within the range where GFCI is required. These are relatively new in age so the GFCi requirements were in place at the time of installation and of course the manufacturer is no longer in business.
I have read various reasons whey they are not GFCI - GFCI is ineffective below 100 volts, GFCi will trip due to being too sensitivity incompatibilities, etc. Has anyone had any experience with this that could shed light on to why these were not connected to GFCI originally, otherwise I may need to setup a test area |
I'm assuming this is a non-isolated VAT. Could you run an isolation transformer upstream and then use a GFCI?
Or, are you trying to GFCI the output? |
Any properly wired Variac should not upset a decent GFCI breaker.....
now, turning it on/off with a power switch MAY trigger the GFCI, my electric shaver does that to the GFCI breaker in the bathroom, it is one of two on the same circuit but only the one with the shaver goes off when shaver is turned off...just reset the GFCI, and hell with it.... Obviously referring to the main power switch on the Variac.....now as to load, I dunno, not messed with that configuration.....I would be more tempted to put the GFCI on the output....but that depends on your use, and why you need either one.....:confused5::issues: |
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I would think a decent isolation transformer would get rid of the fluctuations driven by the load in the VAT draw. So 1/1 isolation transformer on the line, and then the VAT plugged into that. If everything is grounded properly the GFCI should still serve as protection, even if the problem occurs in the ultimate load, as the imbalance will show up back at the outlet. |
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So, to get this straight, you are in an industrial application here, and some code or other demands you have a GFI breaker on this appliance.....why?? what it doing? reducing voltage to some heater dealing with water??
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I think that if the load it fairly steady on the Variac, there should be no trouble running off a typical household GCFI, now it it's a switched load coming on/off all the time....all bets are off.....especially if it's an inductive load taking something like ten amps.....the kick on/off by the switch will throw the breaker almost for sure, if my silly little shaver can induce enough kick to toss the breaker, that Variac good for 15-20 amps sure as hell will.... You know, I forgot, how about a surge supressor power strip plugged into the GFCI and then to the Variac, AND maybe one into the variac output to the load plugged into the strip....... gotta kill that surge somehow.....that's watt she said..... |
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