Speed Control for inline fan? No Hum!

They have inline fan "silencers" (same concept as the ones used on guns) that attach to the inline fan to keep it quiet. I use one on my 8inch inline fan and it makes a world of a difference.

So I was looking at this :
Here is the controller I use on my CanFan and my Elicient inline. Works absolutely wonderful with no hum (the speedster hummed bad).
http://aeroponicsnmore.com/climate-c...setpoint-p-181
In comparison to this:
http://www.growwurks.com/c-a-p-controllers-vsc-dne-variable-fan-speed-contoller-day-night.aspx
For use with a 6in. Vortex High Output not the wussy one.
The obvious difference is the price and I attribute that to the wattage each device is able to handle respectively.
The Temp-2V comes in a variety of other models which are mostly on and off switches vs. a variable speed. It seems for double the money you get to set the idle speed?
Oh, here is a site that carries a variety of this paticular brand of controllers
http://ncwgs.com/grozone_temp_controller.php
So now I guess I am wondering who else is using one of these controllers and does it create the hum (which is apparently associated with motor wear) ppl are complaining about?

Vortex comes with limited 10 year war. which is the longest I've seen. Guess I should start a thread with fan comparisions...comming soon <------

I have one of the grozone v2 controllers listed in the link, it hums just as loud as the speedster i also have.
I also tried one of the variac style controllers but removed it on my electrician friends recommendation. He told that controlling a fan with one of those lowers the imput voltage to the motor and will raise the amp draw of the fan itself. The motor in the fan is designed to get a set voltage and when your lower it bad things happen, mostly heat. I didn't notice it on my inline because motor is not exposed. He had me hook it up to two different blowers(shaded pole with motor outside the air box of the fan) and bigger that shit the motor was too hot to even touch, no hum but HOT.
Im sure it's not as bad for an inline because the the air flow through it cools the motor by design but don't think for a second the motor is not getting hotter than it should.

With all that i did what i should have done in the first place........... i went sealed

*most people need at least some fan running full time to contain the smell*

pazuzu420 said:

So I was looking at this :
Here is the controller I use on my CanFan and my Elicient inline. Works absolutely wonderful with no hum (the speedster hummed bad).
http://aeroponicsnmore.com/climate-c...setpoint-p-181
In comparison to this:
http://www.growwurks.com/c-a-p-controllers-vsc-dne-variable-fan-speed-contoller-day-night.aspx
For use with a 6in. Vortex High Output not the wussy one.
The obvious difference is the price and I attribute that to the wattage each device is able to handle respectively.
The Temp-2V comes in a variety of other models which are mostly on and off switches vs. a variable speed. It seems for double the money you get to set the idle speed?
Oh, here is a site that carries a variety of this paticular brand of controllers
http://ncwgs.com/grozone_temp_controller.php
So now I guess I am wondering who else is using one of these controllers and does it create the hum (which is apparently associated with motor wear) ppl are complaining about?

Vortex comes with limited 10 year war. which is the longest I've seen. Guess I should start a thread with fan comparisions...comming soon <------

Click to expand...

I have the C.A.P day night temp controller it makes my 4in 179 cfm and my sunleaves 6in 409 crfm fan hum just as loud as the speedster that I have.

I finally pulled the trigger and ordered a variable speed/voltage unit off ebay for 60 bucks. Thing has a badass voltage gauge and a 5amp fuse.

Ive got it set at half power (50 or so volts) instead of plugging it straight in and giving it 110. The thing is SILENT. Turned my 6in can fan from a monster pussy into a tame kitty. Dont need the extra juice until im drying or have a full house of stinky girls.

Nicedreams said:

He told that controlling a fan with one of those lowers the imput voltage to the motor and will raise the amp draw of the fan itself. The motor in the fan is designed to get a set voltage and when your lower it bad things happen, mostly heat. I didn't notice it on my inline because motor is not exposed. He had me hook it up to two different blowers(shaded pole with motor outside the air box of the fan) and bigger that shit the motor was too hot to even touch, no hum but HOT. Im sure it's not as bad for an inline because the the air flow through it cools the motor by design but don't think for a second the motor is not getting hotter than it should.

Click to expand...

I'm not sure what your electrician says applies to all types of fans. What kind of fans did your friend try the variac on w/ u? I believe that for fans that are brushless, you absolutely need to use a variac because the speedster even says on the side not for use on brushless motors. Speedster can burn out certain fans that aren't compatible with it. I'd rather the fan be hot(it's cooled by air passing inside) than it burning out on me and burning my ladies in the process. My only question is what is the difference between speedster(pwm) and a rheostat(?)?

pazuzu420 said:

Well it seems after all the research I have been conducting I've read numerous posts about ppl complaining about a 'hum' when using the speedster or equivlant device on a can fan or the s&p, or any two speed motor out there. I personally haven't heard anyone complainig using a vortex fan which is what I wax looking at buying myself and controlling it with a speedster but am now leary. Does anyone else use a vortex with this controller.
After researching I've decided that I will prob go with this because it gives me both of the options I was looking for variable speed with temp control, which will be very important in my cabinet since we have very high fluctuations between day and night time temps. Oh and the Vortex fans also state that they are completely variable speed controllable, could that make a difference?
Here is the link for the controller I'm going to use unless I get some other input real soon
http://www.growwurks.com/c-a-p-controllers-vsc-dne-variable-fan-speed-contoller-day-night.aspx

Wake~~n~~Bake

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I've been running a Speedster with a 6" Vortex for my air cooled hood for a few years now. No hum, no probs. I run it to keep the noise and power consumption as low as possible while keeping temps low, works great for me. I read somewhere (the Vortex manual maybe) not to run the fan at less than 40% speed. If you try to run it that slow, you can hear the fan "cogging" (not sure if that is hum). But if you run it at 50% or better, it runs really smooth. I'm pretty particular (wife uses another less flattering term) about hum and vibration and stuff, so I think I'd notice it. Anyone else balance the fan blades on their oscillating fans?...
Anyone else with a Vortex/Speedster?

Found this on Growery.org

II. Know More About Your Fan
AC fans use many types of motors but three types are important to us cabinet-bedroom size growers, shaded pole induction motors, permanent-split capacitor (PSC) motors, and AC-DC Universal motors (Brushed Motors). For a list of motor type based on manufacturers, see numeral III. Shaded pole induction motors are simple single phase motors known for low starting torque and long duty cycles. PSC motors are also single phase motors but unlike shaded pole motors, PSC motors use a capacitor to help them start. AC-DC Universal motors are general purpose motors found in many household appliances like power drills and vacuum cleaners; their short service life makes them an unattractive option for fans. There are other types of AC motor that have been used for ventilation purposes, but aside from shaded pole, PSC, brushed motors, and three phase motors (which are beyond the scope of this course), ac motors are unable to be speed controlled without serious modification and/or risk.
There are primarily two ways to control the speed of these motors, voltage control and frequency control; see numeral IV for more information.

III. Fan Manufacturer List
This information is relevant as of march 2009 but always be sure to double check by contacting your retailer or fan manufacturer! Using the wrong type of control with your equipment puts the fan and your controller at risk. This section is always in need of additions and corrections so if you have anything to add, post it or send me a P.M. and I'll be sure to include it.

Permanent-Split Capacitor
-Dayton squirrel cage blowers (Generally PSC motors, but they also make a shaded pole version)
-S&P Mix-Vent TD line
-Grainger squirrel cage fans

Shaded Pole Motor
-Vortex
-Can-Fan
-Valueline
-Elicent
-Active Air

IV. AC Speed Control Methods

Voltage
-Rheostat (Old dimmer switches): Poor choice, excess power converted to heat.


-Triac (New dimmer switches): Poor choice, inherent problems with triac controls risk fan lifespan.


-Triac w/ Snubber circuit (Fan speed controllers, Solid state controllers): Good choice, snubber circuit removes most of the risk to the fan. Still not the best because it can cause some motors to hum.


-Capacitance level control (No hum fan speed controllers, 3 speed controllers): Good choice, only limited by the discrete speed choices, no infinite control.


-Variable autotransformer (Variac): Better choice, continuous sine wave of a lower voltage (unlike a triac which chops up the sine wave to acheive a decreased voltage) allows fan operation with no hum.



Frequency
-Varable Frequency Drives (VFD, AFD): Best choice, complex circuitry senses changes in the motor allowing it to vary frequency of the AC source as well as the voltage which maintains a constant torque, unlike voltage regulation.


V. DC Speed Control Methods
DC speed control is much simpler than AC speed control. In order to lower the speed of a DC motor we must lower the voltage, this is accomplished in various ways. Linear voltage regulation relies on resistors, and diodes to remove the excess voltage as heat. Pulse Width Modulation sends bursts of energy to the fan and the averaging effect results in a lower net voltage and reduced energy use.

hey fan pro's....(or i hope anyway)
so I scored a 6" sunleaves dura fan, 120watt, 435cfm for $35. its a little more then i need at the moment exausting a 2x2x4 tent w\o a carbon filter, so ya, its a little overkill, i realize.
So i got a blueprint fan speed control (also a sunleaves product) to slow it down a bit, and it works great. no hum. i do notice a high pitched squelch, very faintly. i realize these controllers put a strain on the motor. It says right in the instructions NOT to use on a fan that already has speed settings, (mine does not) and the fan used with it should be within 100w-150watts.(mines 120w) It also says not to use it under 50% power. i notice that squelch gets more noticable the lower the %, so I only decrease to about 75% from 100 to be on the safe side, but even tho its the same company and witin the requirements, i'm still a little concerned.
I'm just curious how bad these are on the motor? is there a rule of thumb regarding longevity when using them?
thanks all.

You need a variac that adjusts voltage. The cheap controllers start and stop the fan. Its hard on them. I have this one.


http://www.amazon.com/Variac-Variable-Transformer-300va-Output/dp/B006NGI8VS

BudsworthII said:

You probably need to go edit the other thread on this page pimping out the Speedster. While you may well have no problem with your particular fan...that controller burns out motors.

I'm sure you'd feel horrible if some anonymous person on the internet burned out their $200 inline fan because of your insistence on telling people that it's what they need to control their fan speed.

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I use this speed controller and have never burned a motor up. all my fans work flawlessly and have for several years now. Also, i'm not getting any noise not to be expected. Novice growers need to realize that lights, fans, ballasts, pumps, ect all make noise. There are things that can be done to control some of the noise but you will never eliminate it completely. Just ain't gonna happen. The fact of the matter is that not all people have a place to grow that is condusive with safe growing. If you live with yo momma, in an apartment, townhouse, ect you may want to rethink and hold off till u have a place that is more private and suitable to growing. GL

this is the setup I'm using. the speed controller works great. I slowed it down by half, and sometimes less then that when its really cold outside. reduced the exhaust noise by a lot. Turns out it doubles as a way to control temperature in the room also. The charcoal filter works very well. Inside the room it smells of weed. outside, there is no smell. Just a little hum of the exhaust. The house laundry dryer is louder.