Question about using a variac for first startup

I always thought variacs were overkill for powering up a new build, just flip the switch and hope. Then my last 5F1 build started smoking on the first power up and I lost a $40 output transformer. Is a variac actually necessary or did I just get unlucky?

2 comments

2 Comments

angela_coleman12d ago

Blew a 5F1 tranny myself. Variac saves money, not just time.

sethc1212d agoOG Member

Man that really stinks. I've been there with a fried output transformer and it's such a bummer. You sink all that time into the build and then one slip and poof goes the magic smoke. A variac is one of those tools you don't think you need until you really, really need it. I started using one after my second build went sideways and it's saved me more than once. Hope you get it sorted without too much hassle.