How do I find out if the controller is sending out 120v ac or 120v rac?
I wish I had any test equipment available to me besides a ryobi multimeter and a no name brand basic one.
With what I have available how can I test the output of the controller.
I'm new too, and I'm not sure of the answer. But as you haven't gotten any other responses, I'll give it a shot.
An oscilloscope would *show* you the wave, and it would then be clear what you're dealing with. But a scope is not available.
If you mean rectified AC in the sense that both halves of the sine wave are >0V, vs half being >0V and the other being <0V (like normal AC), perhaps your multimeter could kind of give you a hint?
Measure it with the meter set to AC, and with the meter set to DC. If you read, for instance, 120V AC (when set to AC), but 0V DC (when set to DC), I'd guess it's just standard AC. If you measure 0V or low-voltage AC (when set to AC), but maybe ~60-120V DC (when set to DC), I'd be more inclined to think it's rectified AC.
The engineer you talked to might be able to shed some light on a way to test it, or what you're looking for.
DISCLAIMER: This is based only on my simple understanding, and may well be wrong. There are people here that can doubtless give you a good answer. The first two lines of the picture at this site may help illustrate what you're (presumably) dealing with. Half-phase rectified waves would look different than full-phase rectified waves. Sorry I can't be of more help.
https://www.nde-ed.org/EducationResources/CommunityCollege/MagParticle/Physics/MagnetizingCurrent.htm