I have some questions about the use of a variac with a Gene Cafe. I have read through this thread, not sure I have found the answer. First a little background. I am using an outlet that reads anywhere from 120v to 123v by my Harbor Freight Kill-A-Watt (KAW) knock-off device prior to turn my Gene on. While my Gene is in heating mode, the voltage often will drop to 116v, and to as low as 114v. This is to low to roast. I was able to borrow an older variac to try. The person who lent me this believes it to be 0-130v. and 22a. The variac came off a piece of Process control equipment. He has added an external on/off switch and an external duplex outlet.
So this morning I began my testing. My outlet is reading 121v prior to turning on the variac or roaster.
I connect the variac to the house outlet, then out of the variac outlet the KAW device, then the Gene.
I start the Gene on a 10 minute preheat to 482dgf. The variac was set to deliver an even 120volts. When the heater on the Gene kicks ON, the voltage reading on the KAW drops to 111v. I dial the variac up to a voltage at 118v (this has worked OK for me in the past), and it appears that the Gene is normally preheating. When the Gene reaches temp and the heater turns OFF, the voltage reading on the KAW is 127v.
This is the problem I am trying to resolve. Does the Gene input voltage requirements allow for a voltage that high (127v), or will this damage the circuitry of the Gene? When others are using their variacs, are you constantly dialing voltages up and down depending on the whether the heater is on or off? Is the variac even working correctly? I can not roast properly with the Gene unless I am getting 117v (or higher) with the heater running, and ideally 118-120volts. But there seems to be about 10volts difference when the the heater on the Gene switches from one state to another when using the variac.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.