Variable speed temp controller for fan, does it exist? where can I get one?

[1love1earth]

So I've seen products that turn a fan on or off based on a certain user set temperature, some even allow 2 temps to be set, one day, on night.

What I want is a controller that won't just turn the fan on or off, but'll actually dial it up and down to dial in a given temp.

To me, this would work much better, as I can see the simple on off controller really cycling alot on a smaller setup like mine.

So does it exist? How much will it cost (approx)? Where can I get one?

 

[Harry Gypsna]

just wait a few hours and ill be piosting up a fucking super duper one with 5 speed setting, a thermostat to turn it from selected speed to full speed when the temp rises-and another socket for abheater which will come on if the temp drops..
all this with NO EXTRA HUMMING that you would normally get from the dimmer type speed controllers most ppl use. not cheap to make but fucking worth it
If you want a cheapo version look in my sig-works fine but hums when you have the seed turned down-the new transformer controller doesnt hum and gives excellent control range. Im just doing some diagrams in paint and snapping some pics then ill post it up but if humming isnt an issue and u want to diy then check my sig..

 

[1love1earth]

is there such a thing as a non-DIY version?

I'm just looking for a device that'll speed up a fan when temps are too high, and slow it down when temps are OK.
you know just something to find that perfect equilibrium without mass on/off cycling.

helluva coincidence between my request and your DIY tutorial.

out of curiousity, can I buy a pre-made unit that will do what I'm asking? If I can, exactly how much do they run, and what are the general pro/cons?

I'm not the best at electrical DIY, or anything DIY for that matter.

How much are the parts for your build, and how much time for an electrical idiot that only knows the basics, such as positive, negative, ground, and how to make a lightbulb light up with a battery in 1st grade.

 

[Harry Gypsna]

theres lots of ready to use ones you can buy..... over here in the uk theres lots like the prima klima. Have a look at onloine hydro suppliers in your country...or swing by a growshop if you have one near....
Ill brb with some ecxamples of the sort of thing we can get here in europe

 

[1love1earth]

what exactly would they be called? I've seen ones that are "non-variable" on/off, but nothing as simple as replacing the "on/off" with a rheostat (though it probably isn't actually that simple).

I'm on the other side of the pond from you, but I'm just looking for a barebones option that'll do the variable speed (automatically of course).

Is variable speed response based on temp actually not as simple/affordable as a joeblow like myself might think?

I've been on a few popular websites, and looked at all the offerings from sentinel and CAP, and nothing seems to match what I'm looking for.

There are devices that'll run my CO2 along with an on/off switch for a fan based on temp, and even do photosensing, and simple rheostat dials for a fan, but nothing that fits the bill of being variable based on temp.

 

[Harry Gypsna]

Ok theres the secret garden controller...
http://www.progrow.co.uk/acatalog/info_3951.html
this is airforce-really gooid and the design i ripped for my new diy lol
http://www.progrow.co.uk/acatalog/info_3364.html that one just plugs in and you plug the flying lead into a thermostat or timer and it switches between fll power and speed selected....nice design-thats why i ripped it lol. That type is a variac with a relay in it-variacs are the best along with stepped transformers as they dont hum...
this next one is the most commonly used in britain id say...it is dimmer so it hums but it does have a remote sensor for the stat so can be mounted outside the growroom with just the sensor hanging inside...
http://www.progrow.co.uk/acatalog/info_1711.html thats the prima.... I guarantee you will have something like that prima avaliable in growshops near you.....
Theres always the CAP and greenair stuff-good quality but ficking expensive and i think greenair are out of business so no warranties...
Just google hydroponic climate control and narrow it for your locale and youll get something up....

 

[Harry Gypsna]

it would just be variable speed tempearture controller i guess....
the simple on off ones-can be added to with a speed controller like a potentiomenter- thats what my cheapo diy does with a cheap diy shop ceiling fan controller wired into a central heating thermo.... Looking in my thread at my diagram for the compnents i used may give youan ida of how to wire a speedo into those on/opff thermos you mention

 

[1love1earth]

the prima looks nice, but in an initial google search, seems limited to the UK, time to do some digging.

been to a few of the "big name" USA hydro sites and so far no luck at bghydro, gchydro, etc.

Maybe I don't know it when I see it, but looking at the details of every product, they are all simple on/off, they might do CO2, humidity, and everything else under the sun, but for cooling, it's just on/off.

 

[Harry Gypsna]

thats surprising.... id have thought thered be something.... looks like youll have to diy afterall.... If you dont feel confident in doing tht you could always buy a cooling stat and a speed control and take them to an electrician-telling him what you want....

 

[gregor_mendel]

High 1love1earth

High 1love1earth

http://www.phason.ca/fhc1d.htm

Exactly what you want. Sentinel is the only US company working on one, but its not ready. They pointed me to Phason, a Canadian company.
Farmtek is an online US distributor. Retail is about 230 USD. Give Phason a call if you have any questions; they're very friendly.

 

[1love1earth]

http://www.phason.ca/fhc1d.htm

Exactly what you want. Sentinel is the only US company working on one, but its not ready. They pointed me to Phason, a Canadian company.
Farmtek is an online US distributor. Retail is about 230 USD. Give Phason a call if you have any questions; they're very friendly.

so farmtek would be the source for this item?

Any issues with it, works good for you?

 

[gregor_mendel]

Farmtek is the source. I delayed purchase for lack of funds.

 

[pHaroaH]

I got a hold of a couple of the Phason VTC-1D at a farm surplus sale. They are like the FHC-1D, but lack the heating interlock. I haven't gotten a fan for it yet. You can not use any old fan, they require a variable speed fan. I am interested in what Harry has come up with for use with my Dayton and Vortex fans.

 

[Harry Gypsna]

dayton, they are like the squirrel cage fans right... My setup will run that and the vortex no problem...any type of centrigugal fan this will work with this
and the temp unit has a heater socket.... and I made it so both units can used independant of one another...so if you get something else for climate control, and want to control a chiller and tank heater in ur hydro system-then the temp unit will do it....... the fan speed unit with flying lead input to the relay inside could be used with any existing on off growrrom climate controller. so the greenair or CAP ones that just do on/off thermostat control for fans, plug the flying lead from this sppedo into ur greenair/ecotechnics/CAP or whatever and bingo-now youve got the thermo controller with speed selection... And no fucking Humming!!!!!!