Anyone use a speed controller on a vortex fan?

[clowntown]

I use the solid state speed controller that I bought with my 6" Vortex. No humming, no problems whatsoever. At any given speed the sound of air is always louder than the sound of the motor. When I get all set up I'm going to be running smooth straight ducting with insulation, and possibly a muffler so we'll see how that goes.

 

[steve green]

enter the VORTEX

enter the VORTEX

man, i have to jump in on this thread....
i also just bought a 6inch vortex blower...i had no idea it would be this loud!?
im thinking of buying this speed controler....
http://www.bustan.ca/product_detail.asp?menuID=1&SID=13&PID=896


should i also buy some kind of muffler and scrubber?
how affective do u think these things will be with a vortex 6inch?
i feel there's a plane taking off everytime i go to my cab.. HELP!!!
anymore ideas or experiences quieting vortex or similar fans would be great ....

 

[clowntown]

Doesn't say what type of controller it is, but it looks more or less like mine and I'd bet it's the same solid state control. I'd contact the seller to make sure before buying. A bit expensive at $35, though. Then again it's CDN ... isn't $35 CDN something like, $0.17 USD?

Anyways, I got my controller with my Vortex at MD Hydro, $25 USD option I think. See the other posts on other products, like the DIY controller or the other big yellow version for the same price that can handle a higher load.

 

[steve green]

yeah so u think it will cut down the sound by alot? should i get some kind of muffler or what? its hanging with bungee cords and it still super loud....yeah thats 35$ CDN ,,my friend...lol gotta love it, but its worth it if it will do the job..

 

[Xtbudda]

man, i have to jump in on this thread....
i feel there's a plane taking off everytime i go to my cab.. HELP!!!
anymore ideas or experiences quieting vortex or similar fans would be great ....

I added an insulated hose to my exhaust, and it quieted down my Hurricane Inline fan. Now it sounds more like a cessna compared to a 747 hahaha
Dont expect miracles but it will at least help a little.

 

[MTF-Sandman]

Yeah, I hung a 2' chunk of insulated ducting on the output side of my 8" elicent and it made a drastic difference in the noise levels...it's still alot of air moving, but you can't hear it through the wall anymore.

 

[clowntown]

I'm going to buy a duct muffler and install smooth ducting with insulation sleeves. We'll see how that goes.

 

[CarpeNoctem]

My Input on quieting down those big ass air movers is insulated ducting of course, and wrapping the fan with as much used carpet as you can get around it. Carpet is dense and when wraped tightly it absorbs vibrations(eats up sound for breakfast). You can usually get old carpet from new carpet places that install new carpet and have to take the old carpet away to throw it away, or have fat stacks for you to take. Just cut it in to pieces that you can work with and wrap and tape in place the more layers usually the better.Carpet and duct tape your new best friend.

 

[Xtbudda]

My Input on quieting down those big ass air movers is insulated ducting of course, and wrapping the fan with as much used carpet as you can get around it. Carpet is dense and when wraped tightly it absorbs vibrations(eats up sound for breakfast)..

Its funny, you mentioned this method.
Here is what I did. I have my fan inside my dual cab, and cut a hole big enuf for the exhaust to fit and on the outside, i put the insulated hose. To get a tight fit in the hole I had older work wool socks with holes in them, I was saving as rags, so i wrapped those around the exhaust up against the inside wall of the cab, this also brought the vibration noise down. Aside from the hanger that holds up the fan and rope, this keeps the fan solid into the side of my cab. Of course, to keep the socks in place, a good wrapping of duct tape works. hahalolol

 

[steve green]

ahhh duct tape..one of life's greatest treasures!!
i dont know about adding used carpet,,just seems like it would take up space too much and looks super nasty... yo SANDMAN ,,u said u put a 2foot ducting for exhaust?(is insulated better?but im scared off a fire catching with insulated ducting) pointing wich direction? i have ducting for exhaust, but its like 8 inches..u think i should make the exhaust ducting longer to quiet it more?
i will ventually build a carbon scrubber to attach that exhaust ducting too..and i will get a speed control...hopefully all these things will quiet this VORTEX down... all input,,helps..i had no idea what i was in for when i bought this fan....thnxs for all the help

 

[VanGrow]

hi....i use a speed controller on my vortex....i had the same problem and concerns..got it at discount hydroponics . com ...ive bought alot of stuff from them over the years..safe discreet etc.......no wiring,plug vortex right in.....cost 25$....works as it should....
VanGrow

 

[mosca negra]

Another thing you may want to try is hanging your fans with small rubber bungie cords. I did this to reduce the inline fan vibration noise. You will find the sound will be greatly reduced. I hang the bungie cords from hooks in the ceiling wrapped around. You must check these on a regular bases but it's well worth the silence!

Peace, Mosca Negra

 

[MTF-Sandman]

yo SANDMAN ,,u said u put a 2foot ducting for exhaust?(is insulated better?but im scared off a fire catching with insulated ducting) pointing wich direction? i have ducting for exhaust, but its like 8 inches..u think i should make the exhaust ducting longer to quiet it more?
i will ventually build a carbon scrubber to attach that exhaust ducting too..and i will get a speed control...hopefully all these things will quiet this VORTEX down... all input,,helps..i had no idea what i was in for when i bought this fan....thnxs for all the help

Mine is just hanging off the end of the fan pointing down and stops about 8" from the floor. Since the ducting hangs, it naturally stays as smooth as possible on the interior which also helps reduce turbulences that cause noise. I'm running a sealed setup tho, so the way my ducting is run to cool the lights and scrub the air may not be applicable in your setup...

There's no real risk of fire from the ducting...it's intended to send heated or cooled air around your house after all.

Longer will make it quieter as long as it's not restrictive...if it's undersized it could make the problem worse

 

[TheSource]

Whats the company name on the box you recieve from discount hydroponics?

 

[steve green]

thanx for the reply sandman,,,im doing a sealed unit cab grow. (well im trying)
but my exhaust isnt insulated and it only comes out of the cab like 8 inches or so and blows against a wall .. so u think i should just run the ducting down to almost the floor for sound reduction? i'll definetly try...any new ways to sound proof this beast of a fan is great... ...>>>oh ,mossca i have it already on bungees already hanging inside my cab..but more work is needed.thnx

 

[Xtbudda]

i will ventually build a carbon scrubber to attach that exhaust ducting too..and i will get a speed control...hopefully all these things will quiet this VORTEX down... all input,,helps..i had no idea what i was in for when i bought this fan....thnxs for all the help

If you forked out for the vortex, go the extra mile and slap a CanFilter on it, it is so much better because of the flanged fit and quiets down the beast.
For years, I did the diy/carbonscrubber because i didnt have the inline fan and this is much easier and less dirty.

 

[steve green]

what up budda!?!
i had planed on buying a carbon filter,but after reading sooooo much info latley..i fell like i should try and make one myself.. i saw some great DIY threads ..very helpful and seems super cheap.... it would cost me like 90% LESS then a store bought one,,...i love those D I Y ..there should be more on this site...

 

[Xtbudda]

The DIY scrubber will be cheaper due to not having to buy the filter itself as you can use anything from a laundry basket to a cardboard box like I used to use, however, the price of the activated charcoal will outweigh the startup cost of a CanFilter in 2-3yrs.
I had thought it was cheaper myself but after seeing how often I have to change the charcoal out in my Canfilter, I am now convinced if you are going to do this for any period of time, the Canfilter/vortex setup will win in the end.

I use to pay approx $20 for activated charcoal every 3 months, to keep an odor free setup with my previous cardboard box diy scrubber. It will cost me about $25 to refill my canfilter and that is easily going to last approx 1-1.5yrs. I have had mine for a year now and is still good, and I expect at least another 6months out of it.

So in 3yrs diy scrubber cost = free box + $80 per yr for charcoal= $240
Canfilter= cost $90 + $50 (2x refills)= $140
Of course you have to factor in the inline fan, so we can give it a value of $20 per year, as it has a 10yr warranty and cost approx $200........
So at these values, in 3yrs, the diy cost $240 to maintain and the inline/canfilter setup cost approx $200, so you are fiscally saving and peace of mind with an odor free setup tops it.

I love my inline/canfilter setup due to its odor free capability.
I can open up my dual cabs, and my gals will stink the room it is in out in no time, but once i close it up, it will cycle the air and in approx 1-2hrs the whole room will be odor free again.
My next purchase will be the speed controller, as this will bring my night time temps where i want them, and should extend the life of the charcoal even further. Right now, my temps range from 62-74/night-day. but in the dead of winter, night temps can drop to 58 and my gals dont like it, when it gets that cold.
Xtbudda...

 

[steve green]

thanx for the reply budda,,ive seen all kinds of the filters like canfilter u talk highly of,, but dont u have to change the carbon in that approx. the same amount of times as a home made one...? and u dont have to re fill them for atleast 3-4months right?....check this out...
http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=31679&highlight=diy
the one he made looks great and works well... i think the price of carbon will be the biggest cost..and thats ok... for me.. i think i will give that method a try....
DUrbon PoISON seems to have his running smoothly and looks good.. BIG shout out to POISON and his very helpful DIY!!!

 

[Xtbudda]

but dont u have to change the carbon in that approx. the same amount of times as a home made one...? and u dont have to re fill them for atleast 3-4months right!!!

The activated charcoal that is in the canfilter types is pellet type and is compressed, so it lasts longer.
The activated charcoal at petstores is chunks basically and need exposure to work, not compressed. Before I grabbed a mfg filter, I tried the pellet charcoal as it is cheaper by pound, but it needs the force from the inline fan to literally push it through or if there is not enuf force it will just absorb what it can on the outside of the pellets. I found without the inline fan, it last maybe 3/4 what it would with the activated charcoal using my diy scrubber.
I have had my canfilter for just slightly over a year and I havent refilled it yet.

Dont get me wrong, the diy scrubber works and do a good job. Hell, I used one for many years, but tired of the refilling, several trips a year, cost of gas to purchase, etc.
Xtbudda...