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These devices could, in theory, be interchangeable. Variac is a (typically single coiled) variable transformer, whereas rheostat is a variable resistor. Although they may look just the same, they differ in one aspect - wire resistance. It should be as low as possible for variac, but it can differ on rheostats. So-you can use wire rheostat as a low efficiency variac and you can use wire variac as ridiculously huge rheostat, resistive range of which serves no practical purpose.

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12y ago

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A variac is a variable transformer that changes voltage levels, while a rheostat is a variable resistor that changes resistance levels. Both can be used to adjust voltage or current in a circuit, but they operate in different ways.

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11mo ago
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Q: What is the difference between a variac and a rheostat?
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