MoJoeCoffeeRoaster Senior Member Joined: 19 Aug 2011 Posts: 12 Location: Vegas Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Tue Oct 16, 2012, 9:55am Subject: Help with variac please
I was looking to get a variac to control my heat gun on my corretto roaster. I was looking at a 175 dollar one on amazon it is rated for 2000 watts and 20 amps. The problem is when i turn down the heat the fan will slow down.
So my question could i re-wire the heat gun so the fan just plugs into the wall and the heating element runs off the variac?
Also what power variac could i use if it is just running the heating element? There is a 3amp one on amazon for 50 bucks or so
Posted Tue Oct 16, 2012, 1:17pm Subject: Re: Help with variac please
There's a cheaper way to reduce down the power to the heater if you are going to be playing around inside your heat gun to separately power the fan and heater - either install a 1500W lighting dimmer control, or buy an adjustable heat gun ($60-95 on homedepot.com ?). Either should be much much less than $175.
Almost all of the power of the heat gun will be used by the heater, so you'd still need a 1500W capable controller.
MoJoeCoffeeRoaster Senior Member Joined: 19 Aug 2011 Posts: 12 Location: Vegas Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Tue Oct 16, 2012, 2:12pm Subject: Re: Help with variac please
That's great advice, I did think about that after I posted that and did some more research. I definitely don't need the variac, the setup full blast has plenty of power, just need to something to turn it down.
oldgearhead Senior Member Joined: 25 Jan 2010 Posts: 353 Location: Go Colts! Expertise: I like coffee
Grinder: Virtuoso by Baratza Drip: Chemex,Dilongi DCM900 Roaster: 1/2K Fluid-bed
Posted Wed Oct 17, 2012, 12:11pm Subject: Re: Help with variac please
...but, if you are going to continue with you experiments, a varible-autotransformer is very, very, nice to have. Especially one with some voltage boost...also, a good router speed controller is a bit nicer than a dimmer to deal with... http://www.harborfreight.com/router-speed-control-43060.html
Posted Wed Oct 17, 2012, 12:13pm Subject: Re: Help with variac please
oldgearhead Said:
...but, if you are going to continue with you experiments, a varible-autotransformer is very, very, nice to have. Especially one with some voltage boost...also, a good router speed controller is a bit nicer than a dimmer to deal with... http://www.harborfreight.com/router-speed-control-43060.html
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