Question

During a reflux, if the VARIAC is set to 50 on the knob, will the heating mantle will rise to 50 degrees Celsius?

Answer 1

VARIAC is a variable autotransformer automatically regulate voltages for industrial equipment. However, variable autotransformers do not provide the electrical insulation between their windings like regular Transformers do. Hence when VARIAC is set to 50 C, heat losses will occur and that will cause the temperature of the mantle less than 50 ^oC. As the VARIAC converts electric energy (voltage ) to heat (temperature) the loss is around 10%. losses occurs from the windings of the metal coils due to lack of insulation.