This is a switching power supply with linear post-regulation. It's quite a complex design, but the OP is lucky to have a very good service manual with excellent circuit descriptions, block diagrams, testing and troubleshooting tips, and schematics with parts lists. Few service manuals much better, maybe only pre-90's HP ones.
The TRIAC mentioned by coromonadalix is used in a soft-start circuit. At power-up, a PTC limits initial current into the large filter capacitors, and a short time later the TRIAC shorts the PTC, providing essentially a direct path.
I'd recommend using a "dim-bulb" tester when powering the questionable supplies. A variac to limit voltage can cause strange behavior with switching supplies, while not actually limiting current per se. The dim bulb tester (a 100 W or so incandescent light bulb in series with the load) limits short-circuit current and power to the load, while allowing most power supply type circuits to operate normally when they have no faults and no load.
Beware that a significant portion of the internal circuitry (and at least one very large heatsink) is connected to mains and can have very high voltages present, without the benefit of transformer isolation. This is a major shock hazard.