old Sun VAT 40

[Wyomingcowboy]

I would love to get my hands on an old VAT 40 made by Sun. I know Snap On is now Sun and I know that VAT 40 hasn't been made in a long time. I love the analog readout and the carbon pile to load up the amps. I can show kids how to test alternator output, starter current draw, battery load testing, etc etc. Snap On wants to sell me the Solus but I don't know if that can do the same sort of load testing like the VAT 40 can, but I certainly know that the price is out of my range for this year.
Does anyone know of a machine similar that will do the same things as the VAT 40? Or, maybe you know someone/someplace who has an old one for sale?

 

[Bob4x4]

I have no idea of the age of the vat 40,I remember using them as far back as 77 iirc.Now using a gr-8 from Midtronix.It does all the same functions just using newer technology

 

[Wyomingcowboy]

Can you test starter and alternator current draw/output with that machine?

 

[Bob4x4]

It does test both but the results are pass/fail not the way you see all the numbers on the Vat 40

 

[Bob4x4]

I kind of miss seeing the smoke coming out of the Vat when load testing on a cold day

 

[Wayne M.]

Indeed the VAT 40 is a great instrument and teaching tool! A quick ebay search found one VAT, and knock offs of the Marquette carbon pile like I use at my shop. The VAT has an inductive amp clamp which indicates actual current flow. This is very good for diagnostics. Sometimes technology forces us backwards. The new midtronic type tester is good too, but the analog carbon pile has it's own place.