a question about variac

leftwinger57

I thought this machine was used only to bring tubes to life slowly and then test them.Cruising E-Bay and looking at some Carver 4000 pre/amps one that's going strong w/ 21 bidders. In the description text the guy says it's been stored away for years and one should not just plug it in but bring it up slowly on the Variac. Does the machine work for solid stae gear also? I don't think the #4000 has any tubes. In any case the pre does look great and I always wanted that or a Mac c-28.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Phase-Linear-4000-Autocorrelation-Preamplifier-/271366956033?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item3f2ebb2401#ht_200wt_908

I can and will Google but it's better hearing from you dudes and your differing slant on stuff...

bikezappa

I would expect the seller to test the preamp with a variac if it is needed. I don't think a variac is recommend for start up for SS electronics.

leftwinger57

I did Google the thing and it's a autotransformer that can go from 0% to 100% of voltage taken from the wall w/ a primary and secondary winding combined into one .Some machines I believe military and labratory issued can go to higher %s.What it's not is a tube tester as I can tell. Don't quote me on this but I believe you can plug any 110v device into it and start from 0 and bring up the voltage slowly hence the warning in the E-Bay listing.
bikezappa, you have a conficting answer there.You say the seller should test the pre w/a variac then say variacs aren't used for ss gear? Personally I don't know either way that's why I asked in the 1st place.

bikezappa

You are correct regarding the conflict. I was just pointing out that if the seller suggests that a variac is needed to start the electronics then seller should do this. But I don't think using a variac is a wise method starting SS equipment.

Bottom line the equipment has not been tested for operating and should be considered while bidding.

Speedskater

A variac can be a good way of starting audio equipment that has been on the shelf for a number of years. Note that this does not apply to units with SMPS's. It's the best way to reform the units old electrolytic capacitors.

You can do about the same thing with a light bulb tester using a small wattage bulb as a start.
(I'll post some tester links latter)

leftwinger57

BZ, gotcha.It could the best looking piece of gear that does nothing, and yeah the seller should know if it works or not and there we agree totally. The action on it makes one want to believe they have a working pre.About the device not being a tube tester I think just the one I saw was not set up for that and the other kind I have seen are clearly made just for that purpose.