F
ForbiddenFruit
Interesting, I think I have a triac controller for my 6" vortex. Do triac controllers damage these fans?. What is the best controller for vortex fans?.
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Is it possible to dial down inline fans?
- Thread starter agoutihead
- Start date
High commutation performance seems to indicate the specific triac design.
This was an interesting read.
http://www.jp.nxp.com/documents/application_note/FS013-014.pdf
This was an interesting read.
http://www.jp.nxp.com/documents/application_note/FS013-014.pdf
RidgeRebel
Member
Router Speed Control
http://www.harborfreight.com/router-speed-control-43060.html
we would buy this exact one from harbor freight, double the price and sell em at the hydro shop all day. a few months later hydrofarm started carrying them in their catalog (as fan speed controllers), wholesaling for double what harbor freight had em for. we still got ours from harbor freight. and, right now, they're ON SALE for $3 even less. I've used the same one for over 5 years without any problems. and this winter i used two, one on a timer for room exhaust. the other constant for the air-cooled lights, which helped a lot to raise temps a little. And yes, there seems to be a sweet spot where its no longer blaring yet draws well, when you turn it down just right.
http://www.harborfreight.com/router-speed-control-43060.html
we would buy this exact one from harbor freight, double the price and sell em at the hydro shop all day. a few months later hydrofarm started carrying them in their catalog (as fan speed controllers), wholesaling for double what harbor freight had em for. we still got ours from harbor freight. and, right now, they're ON SALE for $3 even less. I've used the same one for over 5 years without any problems. and this winter i used two, one on a timer for room exhaust. the other constant for the air-cooled lights, which helped a lot to raise temps a little. And yes, there seems to be a sweet spot where its no longer blaring yet draws well, when you turn it down just right.
Yes, it was. Thanks for the link. I didn't realize that they were referencing triac commutation rather than motor commutation. I still didn't catch a clue as to why the speedsters seem to work best with commutating motors (brush-type), though.
hmm.. thats pretty cheap. I think Imma order one just to see if it DOES work well.. if so thats an awesomely cheap alternative.
RidgeRebel
Member
you won't be disappointed.
The best I can tell is that speed control is non-linear. I am assuming that is not the case with brush-type motors. I have no way to check.
I found this article concerning phase-control of single-phase AC motors.
http://www.aircareautomation.com/data/article1.pdf
I found this article concerning phase-control of single-phase AC motors.
http://www.aircareautomation.com/data/article1.pdf
agoutihead
Member
I tried to look for some manufacturing marks on the fan & there wasn't a name or anything other than the info listed on this pic I've attached
So can I use one of these speedsters with my fan?
I would really prefer to go that route since they are the cheapest way. If that doesn't work I'll probably go with the $50 Variac 3 amp from Officebeyond.
This is just kind of a temporary setup so going with the speedster would be ideal for now.
I'll be heading to the LGS tomorrow so maybe they'll have a speedster in stock for a reasonable price.
So can I use one of these speedsters with my fan?
I would really prefer to go that route since they are the cheapest way. If that doesn't work I'll probably go with the $50 Variac 3 amp from Officebeyond.
This is just kind of a temporary setup so going with the speedster would be ideal for now.
I'll be heading to the LGS tomorrow so maybe they'll have a speedster in stock for a reasonable price.
Attachments
Variac is NOT the proper method to control inline fans with Permanent Split-Phase Capacitor motors (Vortex, Canfan, Fantech etc). The ONLY reason a variac works to control fan speed is the voltage drop causes the motor to lose torque. The motor will then try to compensate by pulling more current, in turn possibly burning out the fan motor windings.
In motors such as P.S.C. type, you MUST use a Diac fired Triac type speed controller (such as the KB Electronics one previously mentioned) to prevent the current from rising and posssibly damaging the motor windings
Also Note: The Can Max fans have a DIFFERENT type of motor than the centrifugal type inline fans
Just add some extra ducting to the intake end of the fan...the more pressure you want to reduce, the more extra distance to the ducting and / or bends in it you need.
It is a very effective and FREE means of reducing your air pressure...
dank.Frank
It is a very effective and FREE means of reducing your air pressure...
dank.Frank
fredcdobbs
Member
the more ducting you have the quieter it'll be?
TommyTwoColas
Member
Does anyone know if the link above has a built in thermostat? I.e., I set it to 80F and is goes really slow at 70F and is going full bore when it hits 80F?
In simpler terms, does the link above provide the same functionality that this does?
http://www.ehydroponics.com/grozone-tv2-multimode-speed-fan-controller.html
If it matters, I have all Valueline fans.
Thanks,
Tommy
TTC those are 2 very different devices, the variac is "like" a fancy dimmer knob that wont cause your fan to make more noise slowed down than it does full blast. every motor is different. in general the cheaper model dimmers will cause a loud humming noise in many motors... every one that I own. so I have a 10 amp variac and I buy my fans and ducting 2-4" bigger than the minimum. I have run up to 7 fans on the one variac.
normal heat days at 60% the system is very quiet. during a heat wave I have extra power if I need it.important when you are cooling using outside air and not ac.
the controller in the bottom link cycles back and forth between the 2 settings based on temperature, that's usually better than a cheaper unit that turns the fan off and on cause you always have some air moving and keeping neg pressure and smell down...
normal heat days at 60% the system is very quiet. during a heat wave I have extra power if I need it.important when you are cooling using outside air and not ac.
the controller in the bottom link cycles back and forth between the 2 settings based on temperature, that's usually better than a cheaper unit that turns the fan off and on cause you always have some air moving and keeping neg pressure and smell down...
For use with brush type motors, such as squirrel cage blowers. The Speedster will work with all exhaust fans listed within our web site, EXCEPT for the Can-Fan MAX fan.
http://www.4hydroponics.com/growroom/items.asp?ItemNo=speedster
Im using hydrofarm inlines. These are not blowers. The website says will work with all fans except Can Fan or max fan..
Is there a diferance between this one and the speedstar. This is is made by Hydrofarm active air. Im using these fans....
http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-ACS...BQ1M/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1336710738&sr=8-3
http://www.4hydroponics.com/growroom/items.asp?ItemNo=speedster
Im using hydrofarm inlines. These are not blowers. The website says will work with all fans except Can Fan or max fan..
Is there a diferance between this one and the speedstar. This is is made by Hydrofarm active air. Im using these fans....
http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-ACS...BQ1M/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1336710738&sr=8-3
Last edited:
TommyTwoColas
Member
So for my purposes (always having some degree of negative pressure even when temp doesn't need to go down), I would need the second link, correct? It seems as though the two units provide the same functionality, assuming that the first unit has a built-in thermostat, right? Or is it manual? (in which case I'd obviously need the second link from the hydro store)
And if I do need the second link, there's not a "non-growing" unit like that for half the price that someone knows about?
Currently I have a 170CFM fan pulling thru a filter that runs constantly (room is ~1300CF), and two more 6" fans that are controlled by my atmospheric controller and are turned on if the temp/humidity becomes too high.
I'd love to exchange the 170CFM fan for another 450CFM 6" on a thermostat that keeps it always running for negative pressure (gives me 1350CFM of cooling power vs. the 1070 I have now - not sure I'll need it, but might as well have it available for those 100F freakish days).
Thanks,
Tommy
D
DHF
Good call Ridge Rebel.....Used Harbor Freight router speed controllers on ALL my vortex inline intakes for many many yrs without a hitch to maintain negative pressure while pushin and pullin air exchange twice per minute......
The "Speedster" is a cheap knockoff that looks identical to the HF Router control , but I`m not sure the guts are the same because I have heard tell from time to time that folks fans were hummin and burnin up way sooner than expected with em....dunno......
I DO know vortex inlines have lifetime warranties , and although I never had 1 die on me directly plugged into the HF controllers , they`d be replaced if they did fuck up .....so....
Negative pressure with no smell leaks are waaaay more important than inline fans , so buy vortex`s and HF controllers and it`s all good......
Variac`s are "voltage controllers" and I have no experience with em , but what are the router speed controllers...dunno.....Gonna go check out that link that was posted from a non-hydro site , but for the money and dependability IME is......
Harbor Freight Router Speed Controllers ftw......Take care and good luck.....
Peace...DHF....
...
The "Speedster" is a cheap knockoff that looks identical to the HF Router control , but I`m not sure the guts are the same because I have heard tell from time to time that folks fans were hummin and burnin up way sooner than expected with em....dunno......
I DO know vortex inlines have lifetime warranties , and although I never had 1 die on me directly plugged into the HF controllers , they`d be replaced if they did fuck up .....so....
Negative pressure with no smell leaks are waaaay more important than inline fans , so buy vortex`s and HF controllers and it`s all good......
Variac`s are "voltage controllers" and I have no experience with em , but what are the router speed controllers...dunno.....Gonna go check out that link that was posted from a non-hydro site , but for the money and dependability IME is......
Harbor Freight Router Speed Controllers ftw......Take care and good luck.....
Peace...DHF....
...DHF
The Harbor Freight router speed controller is the same device as the Speedster. I have both. They must be off the same assembly line because they are identical.
AirCare Automation also has speed controllers for shaded-pole and PSC AC motors.
http://www.aircareautomation.com/text/variphase_b.html
TommyTwoColas
The Titan Mercury 4 is the same device as the Growzone TV2
Plantlighting sells the Titan for $80. Shipping might be your decider.
http://www.plantlightinghydroponics...rcury-multimode-fan-speed-control-p-3486.html
Hammerhead
Actually they are. Inline fans like the Active Air, Valueline, Vortex, etc... are just squirrel cage blowers with extra housing that redirects the air a third time. CanFan max and the S&P are hybrid axial/centrifugal.
The Harbor Freight router speed controller is the same device as the Speedster. I have both. They must be off the same assembly line because they are identical.
AirCare Automation also has speed controllers for shaded-pole and PSC AC motors.
http://www.aircareautomation.com/text/variphase_b.html
TommyTwoColas
The Titan Mercury 4 is the same device as the Growzone TV2
Plantlighting sells the Titan for $80. Shipping might be your decider.
http://www.plantlightinghydroponics...rcury-multimode-fan-speed-control-p-3486.html
Hammerhead
Actually they are. Inline fans like the Active Air, Valueline, Vortex, etc... are just squirrel cage blowers with extra housing that redirects the air a third time. CanFan max and the S&P are hybrid axial/centrifugal.
