Help - How to wire a fan to run at 2 different speeds?

[2buds]

Hello IC Community,
I'm my cherry here with my first thread.
I'd like to wire an exhaust fan to run at 2 different speeds.
1st-The fan will run at 100% when the lights are on.
2nd-The fan would run at say 25% when the lights are off to keep a constant supply of fresh air flowing to hopefully prevent any mold problems or excessive smells from building up.

I'm thinking possibly a photocell to detect the lights coming on or something that detects the line voltage from the lights powering up and trips a relay that switches the fan from a low to high speed. I know of these parts but not how to use them.
I'm thinking a Panasonic whisperline fan for continuous running:

Specs (FV-30NFL1): 340 cfm (0.2" static pressure), 1.7 Sones, 6" duct diameter, Voltage/Power 120VAC 60Hz, 0.86 amps, 98 watts
These things are suppose to be real quite.

The lights will have a seperate sealed ventilation system thats wired to the light timer.

Any help or direction on this would be appreciated. Any suggestions on books or anything. I'm fairly competent with understanding what I read but a rocket scientist I am not.

Merry Christmas Everybody!

 

[Guest]

you would need to have a relay on the line going to your fan... would could switch between open circuit... which would make the fan run at 100%... to a second circuit hooked up with a solid state speed control (fan dimmer) for the time the lights are of, which you can set a whatever speed is needed...

keep it green

 

[2buds]

Thanks kerozen. Do they have a special name for this type of relay?

 

[sysprog]

You can use either SinglePoleDoubleThrow(SPDT) or Double(DPDT). 120v found at Graingers ~$20.
On a double throw relay, the connection is switched between pole 1 and pole 2 when energized (unenergized=pole1 energized=pole2). On a single pole the connection is closed when energized and open when not.
I used one relay to power 5 240v lights from a 120v timer.

 

[2buds]

Thanks sysprog.

I believe I have figured this out. Here it goes, tell me if I'm wrong.

This would consist of two seperate circuits.

V1 and V2 = A feed from the power line that runs the lights would go to V1 and V2 to energize the magnet when the lights power up.

Seperate circuit suppling power to fan.
White wire would connect directly to the white wire on fan.
C: = My black supplywire would connect to C on the relay.
B: = Wire straight to fans black wire so fan runs at 100% with lights on.
A: = Wire through variable speed knob to fans black wire so that the fans speed can be adjusted.

BaddaBoom BaddaBING or BaddaBoom Baddabung?

Howd I do?

 

[2buds]

Hey, Does this sound like the rite relay?
Enclosed Power Relay, Coil Voltage 120 VAC, Contact Current Rating Resistive @ 28 VDC 13 Amps, Contact Current Rating Resistive @ 300 VAC 25 Amps, Power Rating @ 120 VAC 1 HP, Coil Current Rating 24 Milliamps, Power Rating @ 240 VAC 1.5 HP, Contact Form SPDT

 

[2buds]

Or does this sound better?
Square Base General Purpose Relay, Number of Pins 5, Contact Form SPDT, Contact Current Rating @ 28VDC 12 Amps, @ 120VAC 15 Amps, @ 240VAC 15 Amps, Coil Voltage Rating @ 60Hz 120 VAC, HP Rating @ 120VAC 1/2, @ 240VAC 1, LED Indicating, Push to Test

This one has a cool LED

Thanks to everybody out here in the IC community. Man I have learned a wealth of knowledge from all you guys and gals.

Peace,2buds

 

[Harry Gypsna]

Now of you wanted a normal speed controller i could have pointed your ight, but I cant help with one that differentiates between day and night... sorry....Maybe there will be something at Overslow???
Yaaay, My post is at 420pm,(according to the IC clock anyway, but here its 2 hours earlier) lol...time for a double sized bong hit....

 

[sysprog]

You got it nailed down.
Harry,
He wants the fan to run 24/7, when the lights are on, fan runs full blast. When lights are off, need to be able to adjust fan speed for differing temps (summer hotter=faster fan, winter cooler=slower fan). The relay just switches the power from fan being plugged into an outlet (relay on) or plugged into normal speed controller (relay off).

Nice idea too.

 

[Guest]

you need a Double Pole relay, so that current always goes through, but on alternating circuits... one wired directly to the fan, the other through a speed control to the fan... kinda tricky to figure out... this is why i handle mine manually... lights come on at night... so i put it on max before going to bed, and turn them down in the morning so i can acutally live in that room... lol... if i'm away i just leave it on full speed... it's essential to keep fan running 24/7, if you have a carbon filter, and want your plants to get fresh air... a plant can use up all the oxygen or co2 there is in a few minutes... what can she do the rest of the time of the cycle? well... i learned that for myself and i suggest you always leave proper ventilation...
peace

 

[2buds]

Thanks sysprog, kerozen and Harry for stopping in!

Here's a DPDT relay. Let's see if this works.

8 & 7 = Feed from line that energizes lights powers/tripps magnet in relay
6 & 5 = Supply line for power to fan (6=white/5=black wires)
4 & 3 = Direct line to fan for 100% power when relay is tripped/energized by lights
(4=white/3=black)
2 & 1 = Line to fan run through variable speed controller which is energized
when lights are off
(2=white/1=black)
Judging by the diagram terminals 2&1 would be powered unless relay is energized/tripped by

Thanks for looking over my question and helping me out fellas.

 

[sysprog]

That's correct 2buds. That diagram is for a DC relay (pos+ and neg-) so if you go that route, you need a transformer/powersupply. IME that's just another point-of-failure. I'd use a 120v relay (from Grainger or electrical supply house). Get a project box big enough for relay, mount your speed controller on the box. Would be nice and clean:
1 supply in
1 timer in (trips relay)
1 female plug (on short wire) coming out for fan to plug into.
All wiring would be contained in the project box. Safety above all else.

 

[sysprog]

Hey 2buds, did you get this up and running?

 

[2buds]

As usual the best of plans change.Thanks for checking in on me there sysprog. Peace and have a Great New Year.

 

[sysprog]

Bummer. At least you can run new circuits. I had to pull 2 20amp 120v & 1 30a 240v. I used 10g wire for all of it (20amp only req 12g but 30a req 10g). If you have the room in your panel or can replace a circuit. Light mover is nice, but not as nice as 2 lights I've been trying to figure out how to DIY a mover....the projects never end, lol.
Well good luck and I'll check yo gallery!
ps-bagseed can produce winners!

 

[Guest]

nice going 2buds... figuring out that relay thing is easy said, not easy done! yeah, running 2k of a single 120v circuit is way to much... running it on 240v is way better... how much area do you have to cover? a single 1k on a light mover can be efficient enough for a quite large area (out of my league really...) anyways, during summer the heat makes it really hard to grow inside with a lot of light... you could always think of closing of your room in half and use the relay to power a light on one side while the other is of and vice versa... using the same ballast! keep us posted... would sure like to see some pics!

peace.

 

[2buds]

Yep, the projects never end and I don't mind.
Good move on the 10g. Gives you the option to up the breaker without worrying about the heat in the wire or having to pull it twice. I'm sure you know that. I could care less about selling. Tired of dealing with folks, getting shorted on sacks. Buy a qp to make it last and these days its a q short instead of a q over. The new dealers suck. MAN I"M TIRED OF THE RIP OFF FOLKS!

 

[2buds]

kerozen, Good to here from you.
Check my gallery bro, it's all I got.

 

[sysprog]

Kool! Tiki! Haven't seen any of their gear grown out yet. Being poor and all...I got a pack of femaleseeds indoormix (sprouted one now) and I also have some nirvana and got a pack paradise belladonna. I built a cabinet (ala c22 style) that's pretty versital, it can be veg, mom, clone or bloom. Has a removable shelf for hydro (currently doing e&f tray) or take it out and do bubblers or soil/soiless with a total of 6.5' verticle space. It has a pyrex bake-a-round cooltube w/ 250hps for bloom, 2' floro tubes on 3 sides and I hang 43w cfl for veg. It's a nice compromise to veg something for either perpetual or straight to bloom after harvest.
Looking at your gallery, do you plan to use any relfective material? I used the 4x8 white insulation foam from casa dePOT (~$6 sheet) to line my room and 1 of my cabs. Man those turned into bushes from 13th to now!! Looking great!

Word is fact in regards to todays dealers (and worse middlemen)! Stealin bastards consider bag as part of weight and use heavy bags so everything is ~2g shy and virtually no breaks on them short qp! Ah well...sure wish the 70s & 80s were back.....