[Elecraft] variac question

[Phil Kane]

On 1/24/2015 9:33 PM, John Cooper wrote:

> I have a 2000VA chinese variac off ebay looks similar to a staco(.
> No schematic.  It works fine when used normally.  Varies my voltage
> from 0-148V.  But when its switched off and left plugged in I have 0
> V between and neutral and 120V between hot and ground and neutral and
> ground.  Is this normal for a variac?

Absolutely not!  This is not only dangerous, it is potentially lethal.
If there is a "UL" label on it, no doubt it is counterfeit.  II have
been using real Variacs and its competing US-brand devices for decades
and have never run across something as egregious as that.

Were I in your shoes I would cut off the cord and throw the device in
the metal recycle bin.  You have no idea what other dangerous things
were incorporated by accident or by intention.

This is not personal - but you get what you pay for.

73 de K2ASP - Phil Kane
Elecraft K2/100   s/n 5402
Registered Professional Engineer (Electrical)

>From a Clearing in the Silicon Forest
Beaverton (Washington County) Oregon