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DonkDBZ
anyone know how to use one of these speed controllesr to make one of these. here is pic I of generic controller I ripped apart. speedster, hydrofarm and harbor frieght all use this one basically.
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DIY Thermostatic Fan Speed Controller
- Thread starter Harry Gypsna
- Start date
northernkush
Member
What about if its too hot? Can you apply the same method and a space heater?
Hi there...been a while since i posted here...
The really spiffy digital controller(made from an ATC-800 aquarium heating&cooling controller) I posted-which was to be the super controller thread got stolen and I havent grown anything other than my hair since-that was oct 08.
Look out for the new controller threads coming soon...All that down time--Ive had a lot of time to toss around plans and ideas and Ive settled on new controller using the ATC-800(I love that thing) and will be getting going shortly on building.
Ive also got plans for a multipurpose growroom chiller(air and/or water-not pennies but deffo cheaper than a proper aircon or chiller) and will be doing a thread for the build of my new grow which will be 2 rooms with a 400(maybe a 6 Im not sure yet) lamp in each, running from a flip/flopballast with one side vertical and the other a small room for flowering out new seeds. Veg needs will be covered by a closet withpl type compact fluro tubes.
The 1st project however is going to be a grow that doesnt involve buying anything from a growshop. I might cheat for the purposes of getting a grolux or sunmaster bulb but other than that but i may well do it the old fashioned way and use halide for veg and 1st couple of weeks of bloom just so i can say nothing came from a growshop. I really want to demo a grow for the person who is super para about growshops lol and demonstrate that while useful-they arent essential. Back to basics, light, air and levington tomorite LOL
Anyway, glad to see this thread still gets read. Sorry I never came through on the super controller of total controller threads but watch this space...
The really spiffy digital controller(made from an ATC-800 aquarium heating&cooling controller) I posted-which was to be the super controller thread got stolen and I havent grown anything other than my hair since-that was oct 08.
Look out for the new controller threads coming soon...All that down time--Ive had a lot of time to toss around plans and ideas and Ive settled on new controller using the ATC-800(I love that thing) and will be getting going shortly on building.
Ive also got plans for a multipurpose growroom chiller(air and/or water-not pennies but deffo cheaper than a proper aircon or chiller) and will be doing a thread for the build of my new grow which will be 2 rooms with a 400(maybe a 6 Im not sure yet) lamp in each, running from a flip/flopballast with one side vertical and the other a small room for flowering out new seeds. Veg needs will be covered by a closet withpl type compact fluro tubes.
The 1st project however is going to be a grow that doesnt involve buying anything from a growshop. I might cheat for the purposes of getting a grolux or sunmaster bulb but other than that but i may well do it the old fashioned way and use halide for veg and 1st couple of weeks of bloom just so i can say nothing came from a growshop. I really want to demo a grow for the person who is super para about growshops lol and demonstrate that while useful-they arent essential. Back to basics, light, air and levington tomorite LOL
Anyway, glad to see this thread still gets read. Sorry I never came through on the super controller of total controller threads but watch this space...
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TheTimeKeeper
Member
Wiring Help?
Wiring Help?
Hey Harry Gypsna,
Great thread - just read through it all and have found a thermostat I can get off ebay (which actually looks exactly the same as the ATC-800 in one of your pics). I'm not great with wiring, and could try the old tial and error method, but considering the klnowledge on this forum thought you (or somoene) might be able to show/tell me how to wire this thing up to suit your 'base' design?
See pics...
Wiring Help?
Hey Harry Gypsna,
Great thread - just read through it all and have found a thermostat I can get off ebay (which actually looks exactly the same as the ATC-800 in one of your pics). I'm not great with wiring, and could try the old tial and error method, but considering the klnowledge on this forum thought you (or somoene) might be able to show/tell me how to wire this thing up to suit your 'base' design?
See pics...
yeah thats th ATC mate--brilliant pice of kit, and pretty versatile as you can use it a couple of ways. The wiring diagram I got with the one I had(It was stolen) wasnt very good but i got a better one from another grow forum. Ill dig the box out and see about posting it, but its really very straightforward.
Do you want the plan for the setup that got stolen, like my picture.
That unit worked like an "Airforce"(a uk brand of good fans and controllers) thermostatic controller and speed unit(sold separately and very expensive but very heavy duty)-I jacked their design.
Basically the way my super unit worked was the speed controller is in a seperate box from the temp controller. The speed unit has a relay mounted with it, connected to a kettle socket. The temp controller is in another box and has the power cord with 3 pin plug, and 2x 3 pin outlets-one for heating(you can plug a heater into this and one for cooling-wired to the corresponding contacts on the ATC. Now the relay in the speed unit is wired to the kettle socket, and I bought a kettle lead with a kettle(IEC) plug at one end and a normal 3 pin power plug on the other. This can either plug into the cooling outlet on the ATC unit, or you can plug it into a timer or even a socket on the lighting timer/controller to give you low speed when the lights are off and high when they on-not ideal but better than full whack 24/7, , you can make the speed unit, use it with a timer or a cheap thermostat like iIused in the 1st controller-the original one this thread was about until you have built an ATC based unit to operate it, or you could make a photosenser cable and have fan switch to higher speed when the lights come on like that. Its a great setup and worled like a charm while I had it. This setup could also be use to control res heaters and chillers too-thats what the atc is made for. The diagrams are up on the forum where I got help to make it...but i dont think Im allowed to mention the name anymore.google ATC800 groroom and i bet youll get it. I was helped by a poster called scraglor and another called Whazzup so google scraglor and atc800 and your bound to get it. Ill dig the diagrams out for you myself when I get into my storage. Look for the airforce fan controllers to get a good idea of how this controller works. because I know I suck at explaining things. Ive got another diesign that goves you 3 speed settings using the same speed controller and ATC, but you lose the option to use a timer to switch fans.
Do you want the plan for the setup that got stolen, like my picture.
That unit worked like an "Airforce"(a uk brand of good fans and controllers) thermostatic controller and speed unit(sold separately and very expensive but very heavy duty)-I jacked their design.
Basically the way my super unit worked was the speed controller is in a seperate box from the temp controller. The speed unit has a relay mounted with it, connected to a kettle socket. The temp controller is in another box and has the power cord with 3 pin plug, and 2x 3 pin outlets-one for heating(you can plug a heater into this and one for cooling-wired to the corresponding contacts on the ATC. Now the relay in the speed unit is wired to the kettle socket, and I bought a kettle lead with a kettle(IEC) plug at one end and a normal 3 pin power plug on the other. This can either plug into the cooling outlet on the ATC unit, or you can plug it into a timer or even a socket on the lighting timer/controller to give you low speed when the lights are off and high when they on-not ideal but better than full whack 24/7, , you can make the speed unit, use it with a timer or a cheap thermostat like iIused in the 1st controller-the original one this thread was about until you have built an ATC based unit to operate it, or you could make a photosenser cable and have fan switch to higher speed when the lights come on like that. Its a great setup and worled like a charm while I had it. This setup could also be use to control res heaters and chillers too-thats what the atc is made for. The diagrams are up on the forum where I got help to make it...but i dont think Im allowed to mention the name anymore.google ATC800 groroom and i bet youll get it. I was helped by a poster called scraglor and another called Whazzup so google scraglor and atc800 and your bound to get it. Ill dig the diagrams out for you myself when I get into my storage. Look for the airforce fan controllers to get a good idea of how this controller works. because I know I suck at explaining things. Ive got another diesign that goves you 3 speed settings using the same speed controller and ATC, but you lose the option to use a timer to switch fans.
TheTimeKeeper
Member
Hey Harry Gypsna,
The guide to wiring I'm looking for is pretty much as the design on your first posts of this thread, the fan controller and thermostat will sit side by side, mounted in the custom built cabinet, with the probe running in the grow area and placed just under the top of the canopy.
I'd like to basically have the fan on a lower speed set by the speed controller at all times when lights on, and for it to go to 100% speed when temps hit the thermostat set temp. With regards to having the fan on during lights off, this will simply be timed on a digital timer to come on a couple of times during the lights out times... no need for fancy lights on/lights off speeds for me (this cab will be small).
Thx for your assistance! TTK
The guide to wiring I'm looking for is pretty much as the design on your first posts of this thread, the fan controller and thermostat will sit side by side, mounted in the custom built cabinet, with the probe running in the grow area and placed just under the top of the canopy.
I'd like to basically have the fan on a lower speed set by the speed controller at all times when lights on, and for it to go to 100% speed when temps hit the thermostat set temp. With regards to having the fan on during lights off, this will simply be timed on a digital timer to come on a couple of times during the lights out times... no need for fancy lights on/lights off speeds for me (this cab will be small).
Thx for your assistance! TTK
OK Ill see what I can dig up...I still havent been to my storage, but ive got a folder full of wiring diagrams and ideas on bits of paper so ill see if theres one for the atc in there. What Im planning is basically the same as what you want, but Ill have 2 lower speeds and full speed.
What sort of speed controller do you have because that makes a difference regarding wiring it in with the ATC, if it is a cheap ceiling fan triac type controller like used in the origional unit I made this thread about, then you could just use that diagram and replace the thermostat with the atc.
~EDIT~
OK, The cooling contacts on the ATC are 3 and 4..number 4 is the power into the cooling section and number 3 is the power out of the cooling section going the whatever is doing the cooling-in this case an outlet for your fan. 8 and 9 are the power input for the whole atc unit * is the neutral and 9 is the live/hot.
Please bear in mind, Im not an electrician so you should double check everything I say is correct. I dont want to be responsible for anyones house burning down.
What sort of speed controller do you have because that makes a difference regarding wiring it in with the ATC, if it is a cheap ceiling fan triac type controller like used in the origional unit I made this thread about, then you could just use that diagram and replace the thermostat with the atc.
~EDIT~
OK, The cooling contacts on the ATC are 3 and 4..number 4 is the power into the cooling section and number 3 is the power out of the cooling section going the whatever is doing the cooling-in this case an outlet for your fan. 8 and 9 are the power input for the whole atc unit * is the neutral and 9 is the live/hot.
Please bear in mind, Im not an electrician so you should double check everything I say is correct. I dont want to be responsible for anyones house burning down.
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TheTimeKeeper
Member
Thanks for that, though still having trouble getting my head around it 
, so I knocked up a quick diagram maybe it will help you explain and me understand!
, so I knocked up a quick diagram maybe it will help you explain and me understand!
TheTimeKeeper
Member
Maybe this is getting a little closer?
TheTimeKeeper
Member
Or this.. based off attached image...
ok, i cant really say about the speed controller as it is different to either of mine, but the connections on the ATC look correct.
Have you started a thread to get more help... I would bet there are lot more people with electrical knowledge on ICmag now than there were 2 and a 1/2 years ago when i quit posting. Sorry I cant be more help.
I really like the transformer based speed controllers like I used-the 5 step one that got stolen as they dont add any humming buzzing noises like the dimmer switch/cieling fan type controllers do--and they all do even if they advertise and not doing, IME they do
Have you started a thread to get more help... I would bet there are lot more people with electrical knowledge on ICmag now than there were 2 and a 1/2 years ago when i quit posting. Sorry I cant be more help.
I really like the transformer based speed controllers like I used-the 5 step one that got stolen as they dont add any humming buzzing noises like the dimmer switch/cieling fan type controllers do--and they all do even if they advertise and not doing, IME they do
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