Slow down exshaust fan

[Chbronco]

I want to slow down my 6"exhaust. Ran a cheap house dimmer switch between the fan and the Amazon variable control box which blow the box fuse how do I hook it up properly?

 

[Herb & Suds]

You don’t need a dimmer on a 4 inch fan
In fact most fans need a motor controller not a dimmer switch

 

[pahpah-cee]

You’re trying to build a speed controller with a dimmer?

 

[Chbronco]

I think it's been done before.

 

[Herb & Suds]

I think it's been done before.

And it is notorious for burning up fans

 

[Lenin1917]

Fuck, just spend the like $10 on a fan speed controller, quit improvising every little thing

iPower Variable Fan Speed Controller Adjuster Cordless for Duct Inline Exhaust Vent Blower, HVAC, 350W, 1 Pack, Black https://a.co/d/aYTmzMe

 

[Chbronco]

I wanted to run the fan slower than what it would with the controller, thought would work.

 

[DCcan]

I wanted to run the fan slower than what it would with the controller, thought would work.

You need a variac transformer

 

[thumper60]

I wanted to run the fan slower than what it would with the controller, thought would work.

So you have a speed controller on it already but you want to slow down the fan more? My 15 dollar controller i got at the hydro shop goes from zero to full blast been running my inlines for yrs with them.

 

[thumper60]

You need a variac transformer

No need for that hydro farm sells a speed controller for under 20 bucks.

 

[DCcan]

No need for that hydro farm sells a speed controller for under 20 bucks.

I got 3-4 in a box, they usually come with a fan. Just makes too much noise for me indoors.
They clip the voltage, gives the motor a hum that gets louder as it goes slower.
It's like kicking the motor 60 times a second vs spinning it slower. They also work for hotplates, drill presses.

 

[thumper60]

I got 3-4 in a box, they usually come with a fan. Just makes too much noise for me indoors.
They clip the voltage, gives the motor a hum that gets louder as it goes slower.
It's like kicking the motor 60 times a second vs spinning it slower. They also work for hotplates, drill presses.

I hear ya i dont grow in my house so a little noise doesnt bother me here.

 

[visajoe1]

No need for that hydro farm sells a speed controller for under 20 bucks.

not the same thing, the cheap ones will make fans whine. variac is the only proper way to do it

 

[solakani]

Variac transformer. Now I need one. The fans on my network switch screams louder than jet engines but I was able to slow them down with resistors

 

[Star Dog]

Ac speed/environment controllers buzz/hum badly at lower speeds, a variac is absolutely silent 0-100% power.

 

[futurebanjo]

Slightly different thought on this...

You can get mechanical plug timers with 15min intervals/over 24hr, so you could just flick off every second pin for 15mins on/15mins off?

https://www.amazon.com/Century-Plug-Mechanical-Timer-Grounded/dp/B00MVFF59S/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=15+minute+interval+timer&qid=1659268069&sr=8-5

 

[coreywebster]

Slightly different thought on this...

You can get mechanical plug timers with 15min intervals/over 24hr, so you could just flick off every second pin for 15mins on/15mins off?

https://www.amazon.com/Century-Plug-Mechanical-Timer-Grounded/dp/B00MVFF59S/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=15+minute+interval+timer&qid=1659268069&sr=8-5

But then you would have an unstable temp and humidity and only negative pressure half the time , meaning leaking smelly grow room the other half.

 

[Star Dog]

A variac and a quality relay effectively give you a hybrid fan controller that cost £200/250+ for a basic model without speed control.

A variac and a dual/twin relay will cost you around £70 and it's a straightforward wiring job if you're diy savvy.

 

[hillbill]

Fuck, just spend the like $10 on a fan speed controller, quit improvising every little thing

iPower Variable Fan Speed Controller Adjuster Cordless for Duct Inline Exhaust Vent Blower, HVAC, 350W, 1 Pack, Black https://a.co/d/aYTmzMe

That little number takes me from 104 watts all the way to low at 80 watts.
Worthless

 

[DCcan]

Thats what those triac speed controllers do to the sine wave, which is what it's doing to the motor and creating all those loud harmonics.\
They don't work bad for small reductions in speed, but really suck at low speeds.

A variac just reduces the amplitude, keeps a nice clean sqiggly line to the motor.