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Inline Speed Controller Help

T

The_Core

Hey looking for some help. Have a valueline inline centrifugal fan 6 inch rated at 435 CFM. Need a speed controller to slow it down. Heard that not all fan controllers are compatible with all inlines. Anyone have any experience with the valueline series or know what will work with them? I don't want to burn up my valueline motor or set my place on fire. Thanks.
 
justanotherbozo

justanotherbozo

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the gnome

the gnome

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I'm not a master elec. but i would think you could use a variac on most any fan,
but I would verify 1st.
 
D

DHF

Variac`s reduce "voltage" instead of motor speed like my harbor freight "router speed controllers" did , and can be used on any fan as far as I know.....

"Speedsters" and other controllers like the 1 Gnome listed will cause a "humming" noise to be dealt with in some fans more than others and also reduce fan life to some extent , therefore use variacs or deal with replacement fans down the road as needed.......

Peace....DHF....:ying:......
 
C

Cobra420

Member
I've used that speed controller with a newer 6" vortex, an older 6" growbright and a couple of my 4" fans. In my experience, they were hit or miss. My 6" growbright worked alright with it but when hooked to my 6" vortex or any of my 4" fans, the humming it produced was louder than the air noise I was trying to muffle. The humming also did NOT sounds good for the fan. I found a "fix" for the controller that involved wiring it a little different. After doing said "fix", I noticed no difference and the humming was still there.

In my cab setup, I'm using a variac to slow down my vortex. I have had it dialed from 100% down to 60% and it works amazingly well. I've read you shouldn't slow them down under 50% so the fans motor has enough air for cooling. How true that is, I'm unsure but it sounds plausible. With variacs, I've read mixed reviews about whether you should use them or not with fans. In my experience, it has worked better than anything else I've tried.
 
T

The_Core

DHF said:
Variac`s reduce "voltage" instead of motor speed like my harbor freight "router speed controllers" did , and can be used on any fan as far as I know.....

"Speedsters" and other controllers like the 1 Gnome listed will cause a "humming" noise to be dealt with in some fans more than others and also reduce fan life to some extent , therefore use variacs or deal with replacement fans down the road as needed.......

Peace....DHF....:ying:......
Click to expand...

DHF sounds good. Variac is the way to go it seems. 50 dollar isnt so bad either I will have to pick one up. I am trying to filter air through a Secret Jardin Propogator tent with a 435 CFM Inline. I am pretty sure the tent wont be able to take that CFM. What do you think?
 
D

DHF

Cobra420 said:
I've used that speed controller with a newer 6" vortex, an older 6" growbright and a couple of my 4" fans. In my experience, they were hit or miss. My 6" growbright worked alright with it but when hooked to my 6" vortex or any of my 4" fans, the humming it produced was louder than the air noise I was trying to muffle. The humming also did NOT sounds good for the fan. I found a "fix" for the controller that involved wiring it a little different. After doing said "fix", I noticed no difference and the humming was still there.

In my cab setup, I'm using a variac to slow down my vortex. I have had it dialed from 100% down to 60% and it works amazingly well. I've read you shouldn't slow them down under 50% so the fans motor has enough air for cooling. How true that is, I'm unsure but it sounds plausible. With variacs, I've read mixed reviews about whether you should use them or not with fans. In my experience, it has worked better than anything else I've tried.
Click to expand...
I know waaaay too many folks on the left coast with big rooms that`ve had variacs on all their inline fans with nothing but 100% performance with no fan deaths that I know of , but......

As I said earlier , the speedsters and router controls do well with smaller setups for a while if yas don`t have a big budget for variacs...Back when I ran buncha smaller flip rooms , I had like 5-6 speed controllers at each location so variacs although able to be budgeted , my tight ass stayed with harbor freight router speed controllers and never once killed a 6" vortex fan ..ever.....

Did someone say Variac`s are only 50 bucks ?....They were like 70+ back in the day , so maybe that helps budget wise...All in how much yas wanna spend on our lil hobby to do things right the first time......Few do.....most don`t....

Peace....DHF.....:ying:.....
 
justanotherbozo

justanotherbozo

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Veteran
DHF said:
Did someone say Variac`s are only 50 bucks ?....They were like 70+ back in the day , so maybe that helps budget wise...All in how much yas wanna spend on our lil hobby to do things right the first time......Few do.....most don`t....

Peace....DHF.....:ying:.....
Click to expand...

yeah bro, if you check that link i posted above it is listed at Amazon for $52.99.

...btw, thanks for all the knowledge you share and have shared over the years, i've learned more than a little reading your posts.

peace, bozo
 
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C

Cobra420

Member
DHF said:
I know waaaay too many folks on the left coast with big rooms that`ve had variacs on all their inline fans with nothing but 100% performance with no fan deaths that I know of , but......

As I said earlier , the speedsters and router controls do well with smaller setups for a while if yas don`t have a big budget for variacs...Back when I ran buncha smaller flip rooms , I had like 5-6 speed controllers at each location so variacs although able to be budgeted , my tight ass stayed with harbor freight router speed controllers and never once killed a 6" vortex fan ..ever.....

Did someone say Variac`s are only 50 bucks ?....They were like 70+ back in the day , so maybe that helps budget wise...All in how much yas wanna spend on our lil hobby to do things right the first time......Few do.....most don`t....

Peace....DHF.....:ying:.....
Click to expand...

Haha, that's great to know. In all honesty, I only read one report on this site of someone having an issue. I'm guessing because of that, people were saying not to use them, I don't know.

So far, mine has worked flawlessly non stop for the time its been running. I got mine from this site.

http://www.circuitspecialists.com/variac-variable-ac-ps05kva.html

And the price is right, this one I got was $51.95 and it appears if you buy 5 or more, you get them for $45.80 a piece. They have larger ones, but this one was more than enough.

This one is a 5amp model. Unsure if the one I posted is available though. Appears it may be on backorder. Either way, in my experience, variacs are the way to go for speed control.
 
D

DHF

Cobra420 said:
Haha, that's great to know. In all honesty, I only read one report on this site of someone having an issue. I'm guessing because of that, people were saying not to use them, I don't know.

So far, mine has worked flawlessly non stop for the time its been running. I got mine from this site.

http://www.circuitspecialists.com/variac-variable-ac-ps05kva.html

And the price is right, this one I got was $51.95 and it appears if you buy 5 or more, you get them for $45.80 a piece. They have larger ones, but this one was more than enough.

This one is a 5amp model. Unsure if the one I posted is available though. Appears it may be on backorder. Either way, in my experience, variacs are the way to go for speed control.
Click to expand...
They`re awesome....If yas don`t need 30 of em......and .....

That`s where speedsters and other comparable products fill the gap in the market......I bought cases of 24 router speed controllers from Harbor Freight for $ 300 delivered......Variacs would be round $1200 with shipping.....anyways....

All in how far yas wanna go , but guaranteed.....Variac "voltage controllers"/rheostats , whatever the fuck yas wanna call em are the shit diggity , and top shelf shit if yas got it in the budget......

Peace....DHF.....:ying:......
 
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rives

rives

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Variacs are variable transformers, and as DHF said, they work by lowering the motor voltage. Lowering the voltage results in a proportional rise in current, so the motor runs hotter than designed from the increased current while also suffering from less effective fan-cooling because the motor's cooling fan is typically mounted on one end of the motor shaft. In-line fan motors can tolerate this to an extent because the motor is suspended in the air stream - most motor applications would result in a pretty quick death from applying lower-than-nameplate voltage. Frequency drives are the most effective method of speed control, but they are very expensive and hard to find for fractional-horsepower motors.

*edit* For anyone that hasn't purchased their fan yet, they should get a look at the Fantech EC series of fans. They have an electronically commutated motor and integral speed control, are supposed to be capable of a much wider range of control with no ill effects, etc. I have one, but haven't gotten around to installing it yet. They are more expensive, but are designed expressly for this purpose and are much cheaper than a fan + frequency drive.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CFAQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffantech.net%2Fdownload%2FFG-EC-Brochure&ei=rK3BUvKLG8r0oASKjoLAAQ&usg=AFQjCNEhc1ImpiKUAplJehMH0I6iF0B9Ww&sig2=pm3sjMR41lnJVPAI4VAwAg&bvm=bv.58187178,d.cGU
 
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rives

rives

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Hold Your Fire said:
Would using these be better than using a Speedy Controller?

http://www.amazon.com/Fantech-Speed...&qid=1388523544&sr=8-15&keywords=fantech+fans
Click to expand...

That is the same triac-based speed controller that is made by KB, so they are basically the same technology as the multitude of other triac-based controllers out there. They might have a leg up regarding quality control, though - KB has been around for a long time and Fantech is unlikely to be putting their name on anything that isn't pretty high quality.
 
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