how to keep a variac happy?


If i have a power amp that draws AC from a variac set to 85 volts, is it problematic if the incoming AC from the wall fluctuates from 116-121?
tortilladc
Sorry but isn't that the whole point of the variac? To take variable voltage in and stable voltage out?
If the variac is simply a variac (i.e., an autoformer intended for manual adjustment of AC voltage), for any given setting the output voltage will vary in the same proportion (i.e., by the same percentage) as the input voltage.

Some variacs, however, are contained in instruments which also include mechanisms and circuitry that automatically adjusts their setting such that a stable output voltage is maintained. Although those adjustments, when required, will not be instantaneous, and may be accompanied by a significant amount of mechanical noise.

Regards,
-- Al
If you are running it at 85 VAC for long periods, I would make sure that it was overspecced by 50%. That is, if you have a 1000 W load, I would use a 1500 W Variac.