DIY Thermostatic Fan Speed Controller

[Guest]

Thanx Harry...I do go a bit overboard and a programmable wall thermostat setup would work. I'm just not familiar with em. I guess it's a little more complicated than just using the stat as from what I know those use some type of relay in the mix to operate the heater/AC equipment.

 

[mysticls]

Mountain,
thanks for the help... ill go with the sentinel in each room.. seems a little easier since its plug and play and i dont have to wire up relays, flip flops, etc..ive found them online for 160$ so its about the same price as 2 419s

these stadium style grows are tight so i dont want to use 2 a/cs.. im going outside the box and doing a sealed grow as northern has never tried it but i am gonna give it a try...plus i have to put a dehumidifyer in there so its gonna take up more room

 

[Guest]

these stadium style grows are tight so i dont want to use 2 a/cs

The two AC thing was just me thinking out loud. I've only ever used one and that's really for lights off with no air flow. Glad I could help and hope it all works great for ya.

I've never done a stadium style grow but am interested in checking it out if I get a good quality strain I think can work in a fixed light distance enviro like that.

 

[Harry Gypsna]

man im loving this...its turned into a great thread....
t5 that humidity controller costs something like 60 pounds so yeah that sounds about right...... they do a nice temp one called thermocontrol pro 2...which has day night settings, can be used for heating ior cooling and a spare timed circuit-im getting one for the veg box..its only on/off controll for the fan but thats all i need in there, best thing is on the pro version it has proper plug sockets not those schuko connections common on terrarium stuff....

 

[Guest]

Haha...never thought of looking at reptile equipment as a source for grow style stuff. I've never heard anything regarding a decent inexpensive humidistat before. Thanx again Harry .

 

[Harry Gypsna]

my pleasure.....

 

[Harry Gypsna]

I just found a nice little plug in humidty controller at www.greenfinger-hydroponics.co.uk, for anyone who wants a simple humidity control....
Ive just found a thread at UK420 for a fan controller with hygrostat and thermostat, but no speed control, it just works for on off, ie light comes on>> temp rises>> fan comes on till temp drops to set level>> fan goes off. Lights go off>> humidity rises>> fan comes on til humidity drops to set level>> fan goes off.
It is a diy version of a controller avaliable on sale in the uk called the genesis climate controller. I have asked in the thread of it could be modifed to have a speed controller instead of on/off switching in the same way as my controller, if i dont get a reply within a week ill pm someone for help.
Ive definately got to add some humidity control because my RH is going up to the mid-high 70's in the dark period. Adding the fan heater til i get an oil filled radiator will help by stopping the temp dropping so much....
Once I find out if the controller design at UK420 can be incorporated into my unit(the one this thread is about lol) ill get going.... The new version will not be cheap to build either way because im going to buy variacs(thesere are what are used in the really expensive fan controllers and are serious kit) for the speed controls as opposed to potentiometers as they dont hum and offer better control, these are around 30 pounds each, the unit will work out at probably around 80-90 pounds to make which is around the proce of a Prima, but will be so much better than that anbd will blow this current unit out of the water so to speak.
Until then, Be lucky

 

[Harry Gypsna]

check out the atc800 temperature controller at www.monitors-direct.co.uk....

 

[T5GrowerNow]

I have the answer on fan speed control for NuTone or Braun fans. It wont work. I fried three motors experimenting. THey are cheap motors and have no tolerance. I posted a while back about trying these motors so I am following up. These are cheap fans sold in chain stores and the units under $50 US. Not worth fooling with. The Hunter motor seems to tolerate the speed contoller just fine. Thanks again for the DIY section, we are currently fooling with the humidity controller now and found the local reptile store models are way off on calibration. Better than 10%. I am chasing down the leads given here to see if we can fix up that part.
NuTone and Braun were very good about giving free replacements so the whole experiment was about $30 US. Hope this will help. T5

 

[Kenny Lingus]

Wow harrygypsna! THX for putting me onto this!

I first off bought an ECO Technics Evolution Digital Fan/Heater controller w/remote probe (3kW max), but it didn't do anything but turn on/off the 2 separate channels after my preferred settings. Ditched it and gonna make my own dual-speed controller as the Evolution did only turn on or off for 150Euro. (Beleive it is god for lager set ups where there's CO2 and aircooled lights)

Well well, I ramble as usual... I have all I need to make this environmet controller, but I have trouble adapting it to the items I have at hand.

Is there a principle I could follow (like coupling the speedo and thermo in a parallel diagram and hope the current choose the least "obstructed" path, or is it really a bit more complicated than that???)

How will a digital thermo controller work here???


Any relevant input would be appreciated, and I'll try to build it in here with you guys...-OK!?!

Have a nice day until I'm back from the toothpulling persian gal I have a "date" with now...

 

[Harry Gypsna]

hi mate.... Im sussing that out at the moment and have sent a pm for an opinion to someone who knows about these things.....That digi unit im looking at is basically what the evoloution does except the ev has better relays(more power) !
Once i find out if the speedo can be added ill be on the case. I should add that this electronic gizmo im looking at for 40 quid will have heating too-but heating and cooling have their own seperate power supplies going through the controller-ie 1 plug each instead of both just wiring into the unit and running of its plug. It wil be a whole new thread.
Greenfiger have a humidity cntroller for 50 quid which is about the same price a hygrostat from the growshops(or 35 +vat from tlc direct same diff ) which just plugs staright in like a digi timer..... Im either going for that or getting a hygrostat...ditching the electronic control for humidity because ive also been told that the accuracy leaves a lot to be desired...although that lucky reptil has an adjustable differential.
Dont chuck the evo, I was considering one of them too yesterday and i reckon that a speedo could be bodged onto that so the cooling output bypasses the speedo when selected temperature is reached... for 1 fan up to 0.7 amps you could use a variac from maplins to control speed without humming.... they did have 2 amp versions but stopped em. Il prolly end up getting 2 if i can find a box big enough to mount the fce unit and all this shit inside lol variacs r huge compared to cheap fan dimmers!
Are you a UK420 meber.... someone will be able to help there for sure-more uk sparks there... If you posted about the evo and said ewhat you want somone would have it(wiring diagram) done in a couple of days for you i should think.
TGgrower...... oh well it was worth a try and at least it wasnt an expensive lesson eh, lol. You can get low power centrefugal fans.... screwfix over here does a 100mm verison that only moves 110 M3/hr as opposed to 180M3/hr and it would be speedo controllable
Be lucky

 

[Kenny Lingus]

You can use both outlets on the Evo for either cooling or heating, and set them to kick in at different temperatures so maybe they can be both used to control just one single fan (or fan system). I mean by using one outlet for max and the other for minimum somehow...

I returned the unit and have analog speedo and both cheap digi and analog thermostats at hand right now.

(Btw! Systemair has nice stuff for fans, (eg: 5-step transformators, speedos, and a room thermostat with optional remote probe for duct monting, etc... aND i FIND PRICES ARE OK AS WELL...-Oooops< sorry capsing all over myself)

 

[Kenny Lingus]

Wiring help wanted!!!

Wiring help wanted!!!

How to rig these components?

Can I use just one 2-core flexi cord for remote connecting the thermo to the speedo? If it just connect L and N I mean... (Or what is the relay in the thermo actually doing?)


First up is speedo diagram, and second is the thermostat.









What I cannot figure out is where the actual output terminals are?

 

[Harry Gypsna]

a thermostat is just a switch tha turns on or off depending on the temperature.
Im no good with proper electrical diagrams..i dont understand em.. you may be able to figure it from looking at the diagrm for my version...
I cant help with the speedo, all the speedos ive used only switced the live and didnt go near the neutral....
If you post a thread youself in this equipment forum asking for help someone will be able to suss it for you.

Every1 my sig watch for the newest incarnation, with remote probe and heater control in about 10 days or so....

 

[memetic]

Ive definately got to add some humidity control because my RH is going up to the mid-high 70's in the dark period. Adding the fan heater til i get an oil filled radiator will help by stopping the temp dropping so much....
Once I find out if the controller design at UK420 can be incorporated into my unit(the one this thread is about lol) ill get going.... The new version will not be cheap to build either way because im going to buy variacs(thesere are what are used in the really expensive fan controllers and are serious kit) for the speed controls as opposed to potentiometers as they dont hum and offer better control, these are around 30 pounds each, the unit will work out at probably around 80-90 pounds to make which is around the proce of a Prima, but will be so much better than that anbd will blow this current unit out of the water so to speak.
Until then, Be lucky

seems like i have alot to read, but for now lemme just tag this thread. i have been looking for a fan controller that elimantes the hum on low speed settings nice one harry.

i'm crap at electrics but i'll try and get my head round this one as i aint got the $$$ one of the better fan controllers that do this as standard. plus i only need to 1 fan and one heater on the controller.

cheers mate, looking forward to the new and improved design

 

[Harry Gypsna]

Ill be doing the new one in about 3-4 weeks time...I was gonna do it this wek but my dog broke 3 keys off my dads laptop(actually he broke 9 off but 6 were able to go back on because the working wasnt fecked so now i gotta get the whole fecking keyboard replaced....25 quid for the board, 136 altogether for em to supply it and fix t and collect return it.....damned thieves lol and you can guarantee hell want it to go to them instead of me buying the board and letting my neighbour who fixes em for a living do it for cheap.....
The new temp controller will not work in quite the same way as this one. The new one will have a target temperature set, and then you will set a differential of say 5 degrees above or below the target temp before the unt switches on either the heating or cooling which ever is needed. There will be a toggle switch to swicth the speed controls in and out of the cooling circuit to allow simple on/off fan control so it would be suitable to ppl who use Co2 without wasting gas.
Im thinking that a target temp of 23 degrees with a differential of 4-5 dgrees wouldgive the kind of climate control we need, stop extemes of temperature swing but also allow enough variation that the stats arent constantly switching on and off and running equipment unnecessarily... I may try to add a photosensor on a lead to hang in the room to make sure the heating circuit can never come on when the light is on.

 

[Harry Gypsna]

an ebay shop called fantronix has some nce 5 step transformers..... Lke a variac but stepped control nstead of smooth complete turn of the dial.... Im thinking ll use one of these instead of variacs now....


New unit comng soon

 

[Kenny Lingus]

Hi Harry and friends!

Hi Harry and friends!



It turned out my thermostat (provided from my wisdomfree "hydroshop") was a heating stat...

Anyway, I found another electronic from a discount/warehouse store and it is for either cooling/heiting and has 10 different programs (4adjustable).

This thermo is fine as I can have 2 different comfort zones at my own preferred time of day and, even different temp periods each day of the week too. Now I use one night temp and one daytemp. And the sensitivity is adjustable as well, so I can let the temp drift 2-3 centigrades from ideal temp to reduce on/off activity. It can run both cooler and heater outputs at once, but it's not so powerful though. 5amp I think it is...

Best thing was it is so much easier to connect! Just 3 terminals (1 input and 2 outputs heat/cool) COOL HUH!?!
-Because it runs on batteries I just connected it with a flexible dual core cable, and it's 2,5m long remote from the speedo (I have it inside my tent).


UPM 1203 or something is the brand and it was half the prize of the analog one!!! 30euro or something like that, and I'm so pleased.

And again, A great thank you for putting this idea up

 

[Harry Gypsna]

no worries kenny, glad you got somethng sorted in the end...i felt bad at not really being able to help you.... Theres a programmebale thermostat like you talking about ive been looking at in the screwfix book... and the one on ebay with remote sensor is nice too-an ebay shop called coronado controls has it..
Im going mental now because ive got 3 different DIY climate controllers i really want to do and post up, and a shop ready clmate controller i really want to buy lol.....
Theres a nice climate controller on ebay now(the uk one) on a buy it now for 110 pounds...it is like the trade air3 in that it just has a temp knob and the speed adjusts automatically to keep this temp.
Im still doing the heating/cooling controller in a few weeks ...

 

[Guest]

great thread

great thread

I was looking for 1 of these ty harry will have to build 1 this weekend.