How can I speed control my fan? Or at least reduce noise...

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flonomendo

Active Member
haole420 said:
sorry for late response. lt. dan is correct: it'll work. i'm using a similar fan.
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So wait, you use a variac also on a fan? Or you are just using a fan similar to mine with the 3speed switch?
I will have money on Friday, so I think I am honestly gonna try the Hunter 3 Speed Ceiling Fan switch idea first, simply because it's cheaper and seems like a good way to do it...

Any last minute input on Variac vs Hunter 3 Speed Ceiling Fan controller? Obviously, the variac can do multiple speeds since you can limit the voltage, but if the Hunter switch would work too I only need to run my fan on low MAYBE medium in the summer time. Thank you.
 
haole420

haole420

Active Member
im just using the hunter 3-speed 2-wire ceiling fan controller. im sure the guts are identical to what a lot of hydro shops sell. it seems that medium setting is 1/2 the speed of high setting and that low setting is 1/2 of medium speed (1/4 or low setting). at least thats my gut impression. the controller that hydro shops sell is also a 3-speed, but im wondering if the frequency is any different. maybe someone that has one can comment on the difference between low-med-high settings on those units...
 
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flonomendo

Active Member
Alright, so I think it all comes down to these 3 options:

1) VSC-DNe. Should throttle my fan with no hum at all?
2) A Variac. The only one I know of is (LINK): http://www.officebeyond.com/va-130-0300.html: And I assume that this would work without a hum or problem as well?
3) Getting the Hunter 3 Speed switch to work. This is my cheapest option, and have heard other reports of it working without any humming. I just can't seem to get it to work... (wired correctly)

Anything you recommend over the other? The variac is AC/AC, so it should handle the fan just fine. The VSC-DNe looks like a great product, I'm just afraid that I will spend 80 dollars on something that still makes my fan motor hum or doesn't work at all. The Hunter 3 Speed would probably be perfect, but I haven't been able to test the speeds that it provides yet.
 
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new smokey

Active Member
I didn't read through the whole thread, so if this has been brought up sorry for the double post. They make a muffler for your fan that drops the decibles of the exhaust somewhere around 25 to 40%. you can also build 1 pretty eaily by taking a 8" peice of ducting lining it with sound deadening foam(the kind they use in recording studios). Then taking 2 8" to 6" reducers and place them on both ends. I've seen the designs for these and you can make 1 for around $20 compared to paying the 60 they want for them.
 
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flonomendo

Active Member
The muffler is a good idea, but I am aiming more towards controlling the speed of my fan so the airflow isn't so intense. I got this fan in the first place because I made a series of threads looking for a fan and everyone said I could use some crappy rheostat to control the fan so I got it thinking that I could... now I just realize that it's going to cost me probably more than 60$ to be able to do this...

Once again:

flonomendo said:
Alright, so I think it all comes down to these 3 options:

1) VSC-DNe. Should throttle my fan with no hum at all?
2) A Variac. The only one I know of is (LINK): http://www.officebeyond.com/va-130-0300.html: And I assume that this would work without a hum or problem as well?
3) Getting the Hunter 3 Speed switch to work. This is my cheapest option, and have heard other reports of it working without any humming. I just can't seem to get it to work... (wired correctly)

Anything you recommend over the other? The variac is AC/AC, so it should handle the fan just fine. The VSC-DNe looks like a great product, I'm just afraid that I will spend 80 dollars on something that still makes my fan motor hum or doesn't work at all. The Hunter 3 Speed would probably be perfect, but I haven't been able to test the speeds that it provides yet.
Click to expand...
 
Beagle

Beagle

Well-Known Member
Try suspending your fan with bungee cords. Make sure its not touching anything solid (IE: Floor, Ceiling, wall, frame, table).
 
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flonomendo

Active Member
I have my fan hanging from bungees, and that does help cut down the normal vibration from fan operation. But I am trying to actually slow down the fan blade speed, so the CFM is not so great.

flonomendo said:
Alright, so I think it all comes down to these 3 options:

1) VSC-DNe. Should throttle my fan with no hum at all?
2) A Variac. The only one I know of is (LINK): http://www.officebeyond.com/va-130-0300.html: And I assume that this would work without a hum or problem as well?
3) Getting the Hunter 3 Speed switch to work. This is my cheapest option, and have heard other reports of it working without any humming. I just can't seem to get it to work... (wired correctly)

Anything you recommend over the other? The variac is AC/AC, so it should handle the fan just fine. The VSC-DNe looks like a great product, I'm just afraid that I will spend 80 dollars on something that still makes my fan motor hum or doesn't work at all. The Hunter 3 Speed would probably be perfect, but I haven't been able to test the speeds that it provides yet.
Click to expand...
 
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Shadowhand

Active Member
I have a sunleaves windtunnel 6" that humms like a fool when used with the CAP Fan controller similar to the Speedster. Ive been hunting around for options as well to turn down the actual speed of the fan rather than simply silence the airflow. The other day I emailed Officebeyond.com about using a 3amp Variac for the fan control. I asked if the units were rated for continuous operation and was told they are not. After hearing that im Skeptical of using one. Dont want to have any fires over a hot angry transformer.
Anyone know anything about the Titan Controls Mercury 3 & 4 Controllers ? They seem to have some sort of Fan Speed dial in feature.
 
WeeGogs

WeeGogs

Active Member
i have 8" 1015 cmh fans and you think yours was loud i had to build a box around it from 18mm thick mdf, i got 2 speed controllers, i bought acoustic ducting from ebay, i filled the inside of the box with cut up old cotton t shirts and closed it off each end the noise reduced was fantastic, the box got rid of the high frequency buzz, and the accoustic ducting got rid of the buzz and the anecoic chamber noise of rushing air in the duct, you must make sure your duct has no bends at least a metre near the exit and entrance because bends cause high circulating air flow which is noisy as hell, after i did this i let my grow room buddy hear it and he was totally amazed. here is a picture of the fan before i added the cut up clothes and accoustic ducting, you also have to hang your fan from rubber to stop vibration entering the walls, ceilings, i used a lenghth of car engine radiator hose thats the blue stuff i cut it and added it between fan and ceiling, i am going to remove them and use rubber exhaust hanging rings. i will take a new picture shortly with the new ducting added.
a link as a guide to the ducting and this ducting is as light as a feather and easily held up.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/150MM-X-10M-AC...item19c3e900bd

this stuff is amazing, you must cut tape off and seal both ends at the edges to stop fibreglass particles entering your airspace .

continue next post :

the set up in the picture below is totally useless.

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