Variable Transformer 20A (2000VA) | 0–130VAC Benchtop Variac - SC-20M

Item working well, very helpful.

Very nice product I would certainly buy another if needed

I bought the Variac/isolation transformer combo. FOR STARTERS: NOBODY ELSE MAKES THIS COMBO with a genuine isolation transformer. And that fact that it's $200 out the door is insanity. My only advice with the unit would be to double check the voltage display against a multimeter; I find my display to be about 5V lower than the actual output and adjusted accordingly.

This item was packaged more securely than a nuclear warhead. Seriously, the packing job is a masterclass in transportation and logistical safeguards.

In short--I rarely leave reviews. I felt I HAD to for this product. If you're not sure because it's a newer item/company, don't worry. They are LEGIT and they are INCREDIBLE.
One more side note--customer service response is insanely fast also. I emailed a question on a SUNDAY EVENING and got an answer.

GREAT, domestically-owned small business I will support again.

Dan-Owner, HiFi Hopes LLC

I have not used it yet but it seems to a very quality design and construction.

The transformer worked great for our project so we bought another for the lab. The meter and dial are off a little. Make sure to verify with volt meter.

Use this to lower the operating voltage of vintage guitar amplifiers they are designed to run between 115-117AC not 120-125VAC great product!

Product has worked fine for my purposes but some of the build quality could be better. The two 120v outlets are somewhat loose/sink into the chassis when plugging in power cords but they do seem to have some sort of spring tension to return them. It would be nice if they were more sturdy and I don’t particularly want to take the unit apart to fix this myself. The small output voltage gauge is generally useless. While the numbers around the main dial are easy to read they’re somewhat off relative to the actual output. I could fix that easily by repositioning the dial, but ultimately I use a multimeter to determine the actual output voltage.

This small Variac is well made and performs well. Smooth precise voltage adjustment and the voltage range is just right for low voltage electronics experimentation.

This unit has, thus far, exceeded expectations. It's very well built, definitely "beefy" (at 19.5 Lbs. [including power cord]), handsomely 'packaged,' and of isolated construction - all at a commendably fair price.

Initial impressions were, well, pretty amazing: The unit was cocooned inside not one, not two, but *three* double-wall-thick-cardboard cartons + foam protective blocks on the inside-most container. Needless to relate, it turned out to be not only functionally impressive, but also cosmetically perfect. I have never seen a piece of electronic equipment packaged this well.

It is electrically quiet, with very little electrical noise / ripple - and as an isolation transformer, considerably safer to operate than the (albeit cheaper) competition.

To be even approximately accurate, the unit's AC voltage dial assumes an input line voltage of 117VAC. My home's voltage is a little over 125 VAC - and remained quite stable as measured while I conducted several tests of accuracy and linearity as I advanced the dial in 10 volt increments up to the max dial reading of 130 VAC.

Running the unit with input voltages anywhere in the range of, say, 110 to 130 VAC is all fine, of course, but in an effort to gauge the approximate accuracy of the dial reading vs. actual measured voltage, I 'derated' the measured output voltage readings by a 125-to- 117 ratio to better accord with the manufacturer's nominal / expected input voltage.

I measured the OCV two ways: (1) via the little digital panel meter supplied on the face of the unit, and (2) with my trusty Fluke 87V VOM. Here is what I observed, as a percentage above or below the "dial-indicated" voltage - as measured by these two methods (again, "corrected" for the difference between the supplied [125] and manufacturer-specified [117] input voltages):

Dial Setting Panel Meter Fluke 87V
0 0.0 0.0
10 +12.3% -3.6%
20 7.6 +2.0
30 6.1 0.5
40 5.3 0.6
50 4.8 1.1
60 4.5 1.1
70 3.0 0.6
80 1.8 0.7
90 3.0 0.9
100 2.0 0.4
110 3.0 1.0
120 3.0 1.0
130 3.7 0.8

Setting the dial voltage was done as carefully as I could manage, even inscribing a thin white line on the outer rim of the dial to assisting me in lining up the pointer with the indicated voltage - but no claim to absolute perfection is intended.

The messages here are pretty clear:

1. Without derating or uprating your own situation's supply voltage to the manufacturer's 117 VAC input voltage, you will be misled if you rely only on the dial setting. Don't even think of doing that unless you miraculously find you have exactly 117 V.
2. The little digital panel meter (in my example unit) is 'off' by 6 - 12% at 30v dial readings and below (even if you do 'correct' your supply V to 117V - improving to ~ 2 - 5% accuracy error above 30V dial-indicated voltage.
3. If all you are looking for is 'reasonably close,' you can make in-your-head suitable corrections and go with those. Or, best of all:
3.After all of the discussion above, if you want accuracy, just get out your quality digital VOM, plug the probes into one of the two outlets - and set your voltage in that way.

The good news is that output behavior is all quite linear, with no visible 'jumps' or 'dips' as the dial is advanced.

Also pay attention to the manufacturer's more detailed ratings (which, truthfully, could have / should have appeared in the initial / online description) - regarding necessary reductions in output wattage (VA) loads at which the unit can be safely operated when extended operation is contemplated at higher loads.

All in all: a solid unit - great addition to the bench - very pleased.

The device appears to be solid and well built. It's the only unit I've found that has both a Variac AND an Isolation transformer in one unit. It's roughly half the price of buying both units separately (not to mention the reclaimed workspace). As near as I can tell, the output is indeed isolated from the input, as claimed, including the ground. I'm just a hobbyist, not an electrical engineer, so please accept my opinion in that that context.

Nice product and works as it should.

This variac performs great for dialing down my wall voltage for a vintage guitar amplifier. I added a plug in meter with digital display and makes a perfect set up. I would buy this varian again if needed. Company also got it shipped out immediately. Great experience dealing with AC-DC Powershack!

Variable Transformer 5 Amp (500 Watts); 0~130VAC Output

Variable Transformer 5 Amp (500 Watts); 0~130VAC Output

Purchased a variable isolation transformer. Best price on the internet, good quality, well packed and super fast shipping. Great Service. Thank You

WORKS GREAT

Review

Receptacle needs more screws
To hold it in place

I purchased this as an isolation unit and got the very act as a bonus. The construction exceeds my expectations and the operation of the variac seems very accurate to the display. Works best when I go above the voltage I want and come back down.

Has done a great job so far

Variable Transformer 5 Amp (500 Watts); 0~130VAC Output

Could not be more pleased with the product and service provided. Took a while to find a product that combined a variable transformer with a true MAINS, ground isolation. Unlike most cheaper competitors offerings, the digital readout and dial for this transformer is fairly accurate when checked with a DMM. Great product for a hobbyist tech.

Perfectly fit the bill for what I needed

Works well. Beautiful construction.Great job on the business end also! Bob Gatts

I've been considering getting a variable output isolation transformer for quite a few years, but I always assumed that they were expensive. When I purchased a Japanese market synthesizer (100 volts AC power requirements), I needed a step-down transformer. During my search, I came across this little gem at a very surprisingly reasonable price. The reviews were good, so I bought it.

It was shipped right away, and arrived within 2 days. It's a wonderful unit, and it works perfectly!

I would highly recommend that AC-DC PowerShack be checked out if you're looking for this or any other product they carry. You won't be disappointed!

Item working well, very helpful.

Very nice product I would certainly buy another if needed

I bought the Variac/isolation transformer combo. FOR STARTERS: NOBODY ELSE MAKES THIS COMBO with a genuine isolation transformer. And that fact that it's $200 out the door is insanity. My only advice with the unit would be to double check the voltage display against a multimeter; I find my display to be about 5V lower than the actual output and adjusted accordingly.

This item was packaged more securely than a nuclear warhead. Seriously, the packing job is a masterclass in transportation and logistical safeguards.

In short--I rarely leave reviews. I felt I HAD to for this product. If you're not sure because it's a newer item/company, don't worry. They are LEGIT and they are INCREDIBLE.
One more side note--customer service response is insanely fast also. I emailed a question on a SUNDAY EVENING and got an answer.

GREAT, domestically-owned small business I will support again.

Dan-Owner, HiFi Hopes LLC

I have not used it yet but it seems to a very quality design and construction.

The transformer worked great for our project so we bought another for the lab. The meter and dial are off a little. Make sure to verify with volt meter.

Use this to lower the operating voltage of vintage guitar amplifiers they are designed to run between 115-117AC not 120-125VAC great product!

Product has worked fine for my purposes but some of the build quality could be better. The two 120v outlets are somewhat loose/sink into the chassis when plugging in power cords but they do seem to have some sort of spring tension to return them. It would be nice if they were more sturdy and I don’t particularly want to take the unit apart to fix this myself. The small output voltage gauge is generally useless. While the numbers around the main dial are easy to read they’re somewhat off relative to the actual output. I could fix that easily by repositioning the dial, but ultimately I use a multimeter to determine the actual output voltage.

This small Variac is well made and performs well. Smooth precise voltage adjustment and the voltage range is just right for low voltage electronics experimentation.

This unit has, thus far, exceeded expectations. It's very well built, definitely "beefy" (at 19.5 Lbs. [including power cord]), handsomely 'packaged,' and of isolated construction - all at a commendably fair price.

Initial impressions were, well, pretty amazing: The unit was cocooned inside not one, not two, but *three* double-wall-thick-cardboard cartons + foam protective blocks on the inside-most container. Needless to relate, it turned out to be not only functionally impressive, but also cosmetically perfect. I have never seen a piece of electronic equipment packaged this well.

It is electrically quiet, with very little electrical noise / ripple - and as an isolation transformer, considerably safer to operate than the (albeit cheaper) competition.

To be even approximately accurate, the unit's AC voltage dial assumes an input line voltage of 117VAC. My home's voltage is a little over 125 VAC - and remained quite stable as measured while I conducted several tests of accuracy and linearity as I advanced the dial in 10 volt increments up to the max dial reading of 130 VAC.

Running the unit with input voltages anywhere in the range of, say, 110 to 130 VAC is all fine, of course, but in an effort to gauge the approximate accuracy of the dial reading vs. actual measured voltage, I 'derated' the measured output voltage readings by a 125-to- 117 ratio to better accord with the manufacturer's nominal / expected input voltage.

I measured the OCV two ways: (1) via the little digital panel meter supplied on the face of the unit, and (2) with my trusty Fluke 87V VOM. Here is what I observed, as a percentage above or below the "dial-indicated" voltage - as measured by these two methods (again, "corrected" for the difference between the supplied [125] and manufacturer-specified [117] input voltages):

Dial Setting Panel Meter Fluke 87V
0 0.0 0.0
10 +12.3% -3.6%
20 7.6 +2.0
30 6.1 0.5
40 5.3 0.6
50 4.8 1.1
60 4.5 1.1
70 3.0 0.6
80 1.8 0.7
90 3.0 0.9
100 2.0 0.4
110 3.0 1.0
120 3.0 1.0
130 3.7 0.8

Setting the dial voltage was done as carefully as I could manage, even inscribing a thin white line on the outer rim of the dial to assisting me in lining up the pointer with the indicated voltage - but no claim to absolute perfection is intended.

The messages here are pretty clear:

1. Without derating or uprating your own situation's supply voltage to the manufacturer's 117 VAC input voltage, you will be misled if you rely only on the dial setting. Don't even think of doing that unless you miraculously find you have exactly 117 V.
2. The little digital panel meter (in my example unit) is 'off' by 6 - 12% at 30v dial readings and below (even if you do 'correct' your supply V to 117V - improving to ~ 2 - 5% accuracy error above 30V dial-indicated voltage.
3. If all you are looking for is 'reasonably close,' you can make in-your-head suitable corrections and go with those. Or, best of all:
3.After all of the discussion above, if you want accuracy, just get out your quality digital VOM, plug the probes into one of the two outlets - and set your voltage in that way.

The good news is that output behavior is all quite linear, with no visible 'jumps' or 'dips' as the dial is advanced.

Also pay attention to the manufacturer's more detailed ratings (which, truthfully, could have / should have appeared in the initial / online description) - regarding necessary reductions in output wattage (VA) loads at which the unit can be safely operated when extended operation is contemplated at higher loads.

All in all: a solid unit - great addition to the bench - very pleased.

The device appears to be solid and well built. It's the only unit I've found that has both a Variac AND an Isolation transformer in one unit. It's roughly half the price of buying both units separately (not to mention the reclaimed workspace). As near as I can tell, the output is indeed isolated from the input, as claimed, including the ground. I'm just a hobbyist, not an electrical engineer, so please accept my opinion in that that context.

Nice product and works as it should.

This variac performs great for dialing down my wall voltage for a vintage guitar amplifier. I added a plug in meter with digital display and makes a perfect set up. I would buy this varian again if needed. Company also got it shipped out immediately. Great experience dealing with AC-DC Powershack!

Variable Transformer 5 Amp (500 Watts); 0~130VAC Output

Variable Transformer 5 Amp (500 Watts); 0~130VAC Output

Purchased a variable isolation transformer. Best price on the internet, good quality, well packed and super fast shipping. Great Service. Thank You

WORKS GREAT

Review

Receptacle needs more screws
To hold it in place

I purchased this as an isolation unit and got the very act as a bonus. The construction exceeds my expectations and the operation of the variac seems very accurate to the display. Works best when I go above the voltage I want and come back down.

Has done a great job so far

Variable Transformer 5 Amp (500 Watts); 0~130VAC Output

Could not be more pleased with the product and service provided. Took a while to find a product that combined a variable transformer with a true MAINS, ground isolation. Unlike most cheaper competitors offerings, the digital readout and dial for this transformer is fairly accurate when checked with a DMM. Great product for a hobbyist tech.

Perfectly fit the bill for what I needed

Works well. Beautiful construction.Great job on the business end also! Bob Gatts

I've been considering getting a variable output isolation transformer for quite a few years, but I always assumed that they were expensive. When I purchased a Japanese market synthesizer (100 volts AC power requirements), I needed a step-down transformer. During my search, I came across this little gem at a very surprisingly reasonable price. The reviews were good, so I bought it.

It was shipped right away, and arrived within 2 days. It's a wonderful unit, and it works perfectly!

I would highly recommend that AC-DC PowerShack be checked out if you're looking for this or any other product they carry. You won't be disappointed!

Item working well, very helpful.

Very nice product I would certainly buy another if needed

I bought the Variac/isolation transformer combo. FOR STARTERS: NOBODY ELSE MAKES THIS COMBO with a genuine isolation transformer. And that fact that it's $200 out the door is insanity. My only advice with the unit would be to double check the voltage display against a multimeter; I find my display to be about 5V lower than the actual output and adjusted accordingly.

This item was packaged more securely than a nuclear warhead. Seriously, the packing job is a masterclass in transportation and logistical safeguards.

In short--I rarely leave reviews. I felt I HAD to for this product. If you're not sure because it's a newer item/company, don't worry. They are LEGIT and they are INCREDIBLE.
One more side note--customer service response is insanely fast also. I emailed a question on a SUNDAY EVENING and got an answer.

GREAT, domestically-owned small business I will support again.

Dan-Owner, HiFi Hopes LLC

I have not used it yet but it seems to a very quality design and construction.

The transformer worked great for our project so we bought another for the lab. The meter and dial are off a little. Make sure to verify with volt meter.

Use this to lower the operating voltage of vintage guitar amplifiers they are designed to run between 115-117AC not 120-125VAC great product!

Product has worked fine for my purposes but some of the build quality could be better. The two 120v outlets are somewhat loose/sink into the chassis when plugging in power cords but they do seem to have some sort of spring tension to return them. It would be nice if they were more sturdy and I don’t particularly want to take the unit apart to fix this myself. The small output voltage gauge is generally useless. While the numbers around the main dial are easy to read they’re somewhat off relative to the actual output. I could fix that easily by repositioning the dial, but ultimately I use a multimeter to determine the actual output voltage.

This small Variac is well made and performs well. Smooth precise voltage adjustment and the voltage range is just right for low voltage electronics experimentation.

This unit has, thus far, exceeded expectations. It's very well built, definitely "beefy" (at 19.5 Lbs. [including power cord]), handsomely 'packaged,' and of isolated construction - all at a commendably fair price.

Initial impressions were, well, pretty amazing: The unit was cocooned inside not one, not two, but *three* double-wall-thick-cardboard cartons + foam protective blocks on the inside-most container. Needless to relate, it turned out to be not only functionally impressive, but also cosmetically perfect. I have never seen a piece of electronic equipment packaged this well.

It is electrically quiet, with very little electrical noise / ripple - and as an isolation transformer, considerably safer to operate than the (albeit cheaper) competition.

To be even approximately accurate, the unit's AC voltage dial assumes an input line voltage of 117VAC. My home's voltage is a little over 125 VAC - and remained quite stable as measured while I conducted several tests of accuracy and linearity as I advanced the dial in 10 volt increments up to the max dial reading of 130 VAC.

Running the unit with input voltages anywhere in the range of, say, 110 to 130 VAC is all fine, of course, but in an effort to gauge the approximate accuracy of the dial reading vs. actual measured voltage, I 'derated' the measured output voltage readings by a 125-to- 117 ratio to better accord with the manufacturer's nominal / expected input voltage.

I measured the OCV two ways: (1) via the little digital panel meter supplied on the face of the unit, and (2) with my trusty Fluke 87V VOM. Here is what I observed, as a percentage above or below the "dial-indicated" voltage - as measured by these two methods (again, "corrected" for the difference between the supplied [125] and manufacturer-specified [117] input voltages):

Dial Setting Panel Meter Fluke 87V
0 0.0 0.0
10 +12.3% -3.6%
20 7.6 +2.0
30 6.1 0.5
40 5.3 0.6
50 4.8 1.1
60 4.5 1.1
70 3.0 0.6
80 1.8 0.7
90 3.0 0.9
100 2.0 0.4
110 3.0 1.0
120 3.0 1.0
130 3.7 0.8

Setting the dial voltage was done as carefully as I could manage, even inscribing a thin white line on the outer rim of the dial to assisting me in lining up the pointer with the indicated voltage - but no claim to absolute perfection is intended.

The messages here are pretty clear:

1. Without derating or uprating your own situation's supply voltage to the manufacturer's 117 VAC input voltage, you will be misled if you rely only on the dial setting. Don't even think of doing that unless you miraculously find you have exactly 117 V.
2. The little digital panel meter (in my example unit) is 'off' by 6 - 12% at 30v dial readings and below (even if you do 'correct' your supply V to 117V - improving to ~ 2 - 5% accuracy error above 30V dial-indicated voltage.
3. If all you are looking for is 'reasonably close,' you can make in-your-head suitable corrections and go with those. Or, best of all:
3.After all of the discussion above, if you want accuracy, just get out your quality digital VOM, plug the probes into one of the two outlets - and set your voltage in that way.

The good news is that output behavior is all quite linear, with no visible 'jumps' or 'dips' as the dial is advanced.

Also pay attention to the manufacturer's more detailed ratings (which, truthfully, could have / should have appeared in the initial / online description) - regarding necessary reductions in output wattage (VA) loads at which the unit can be safely operated when extended operation is contemplated at higher loads.

All in all: a solid unit - great addition to the bench - very pleased.

The device appears to be solid and well built. It's the only unit I've found that has both a Variac AND an Isolation transformer in one unit. It's roughly half the price of buying both units separately (not to mention the reclaimed workspace). As near as I can tell, the output is indeed isolated from the input, as claimed, including the ground. I'm just a hobbyist, not an electrical engineer, so please accept my opinion in that that context.

Nice product and works as it should.

This variac performs great for dialing down my wall voltage for a vintage guitar amplifier. I added a plug in meter with digital display and makes a perfect set up. I would buy this varian again if needed. Company also got it shipped out immediately. Great experience dealing with AC-DC Powershack!

Variable Transformer 5 Amp (500 Watts); 0~130VAC Output

Variable Transformer 5 Amp (500 Watts); 0~130VAC Output

Purchased a variable isolation transformer. Best price on the internet, good quality, well packed and super fast shipping. Great Service. Thank You

WORKS GREAT

Review

Receptacle needs more screws
To hold it in place

I purchased this as an isolation unit and got the very act as a bonus. The construction exceeds my expectations and the operation of the variac seems very accurate to the display. Works best when I go above the voltage I want and come back down.

Has done a great job so far

Variable Transformer 5 Amp (500 Watts); 0~130VAC Output

Could not be more pleased with the product and service provided. Took a while to find a product that combined a variable transformer with a true MAINS, ground isolation. Unlike most cheaper competitors offerings, the digital readout and dial for this transformer is fairly accurate when checked with a DMM. Great product for a hobbyist tech.

Perfectly fit the bill for what I needed

Works well. Beautiful construction.Great job on the business end also! Bob Gatts

I've been considering getting a variable output isolation transformer for quite a few years, but I always assumed that they were expensive. When I purchased a Japanese market synthesizer (100 volts AC power requirements), I needed a step-down transformer. During my search, I came across this little gem at a very surprisingly reasonable price. The reviews were good, so I bought it.

It was shipped right away, and arrived within 2 days. It's a wonderful unit, and it works perfectly!

I would highly recommend that AC-DC PowerShack be checked out if you're looking for this or any other product they carry. You won't be disappointed!