Tornado on my porch, Almost. Fan speed control ???

[DeathGrip]

I bought a 30" pedestal fan from harbor freight for the back porch. Man that thing moves some air. Even low it's blasting.


I got to thinking. Could I use a Variac to reduce the voltage safely? Should I get a 500W or a 1000W?


Don't get to tec on me.


Cheers and thanks in advance.

 

[HARDWARE]

i was just thinking the same thing the other day. i have one of those and its so loud you cant hear anything over it.

unfortunately, regulating fan motors is not as simple as one would think.

i was contemplating a dimmer switch in lieu of the existing 3 position... but thats a no go

 

[paulh]

Proper rated rheostat should do it.

 

[Rustyt1953]

I had a variac that was built by my friend from the neighborhood Seymour Duncan. I used it for a long time until I showed it to Dweezil. I blinked first and let it go. I still have a Bad Cat "the Leash".

Thanks for the flashback.

 

[DeathGrip]

I had a variac that was built by my friend from the neighborhood Seymour Duncan. I used it for a long time until I showed it to Dweezil. I blinked first and let it go. I still have a Bad Cat "the Leash".

Thanks for the flashback.

I have Duncans for my Vox Hurricane/Spitfire. Vintage strat, Flat strat and Quarterpounder. I need to get off my duff and put a new nut on it for starters.

 

[soFlaNative]

I have Duncans for my Vox Hurricane/Spitfire. Vintage strat, Flat strat and Quarterpounder. I need to get off my duff and put a new nut on it for starters.

"Don't get to tec on me. "
Yeah... right...
Get an extension cord and stick your fan out in the yard

 

[DeathGrip]

"Don't get to tec on me. "
Yeah... right...
Get an extension cord and stick your fan out in the yard

Not in this weather.

 

[rwsmith]

Does the type of motor......

Does a variac work with all kinds of AC motors? I've heard of a Variable Frequency Controller that I believe changes frequency as well as voltage. It just seems I remember that some motors aren't suitable for variable rpms.

Another option might be to 'tap' the motor in places with a switch to provide levels of RPMs.

Wow, I can't believe a fan doesn't come with 3 speeds.

 

[DeathGrip]

"Don't get to tec on me. "
Yeah... right...
Get an extension cord and stick your fan out in the yard

For the tec part of that post

The hurricane is a Vox (British company) guitar made in Italy in 1968. Seymour Duncan is best know for his custom wound guitar pickups.





As Rusty alluded to, The Viriac was loved by musicians. They used it on large tube amps to limit the output and still keep the overdrive sound.

 

[snubbyfan]

Maybe try a remote speed controller for a router?
I use one on my homemade router table and it works well for that.
I'd think it'd also work for a fan?

 

[DeathGrip]

Wow, I can't believe a fan doesn't come with 3 speeds.

It has three speeds and the lowest is tornadic.
.

 

[Rustyt1953]

I had a tornadic once. Frozen peas helped.

 

[soFlaNative]

Perforated Hefty Bag.
Sounds like Rusty on a Naugahyde recliner after some canned tamales.

 

[ditrina]

One of these days I'm gonna learn NOT to open these kind of threads!!!

 

[DeathGrip]

One of these days I'm gonna learn NOT to open these kind of threads!!!

Like a car wreck, You have to look.

 

[rwsmith]

You gotta....

It has three speeds and the lowest is tornadic.
.

Dam! You gotta be kidding. Must be made for those 40' high porches with the columns.

I don't want to ask what the highest speed is like.

 

[DeathGrip]

Dam! You gotta be kidding. Must be made for those 40' high porches with the columns.

I don't want to ask what the highest speed is like.

Read post 1 again.

 

[rags]

It has three speeds and the lowest is tornadic.
.

Assuming you turn it on with a wall switch, they make wall switches with vari fan motor control. Pay a bit more for one with a higher amp rating and your fan won't hum at lower rev's.

 

[DeathGrip]

Assuming you turn it on with a wall switch, they make wall switches with vari fan motor control. Pay a bit more for one with a higher amp rating and your fan won't hum at lower rev's.

No switch on the wall. Just plugged in a regular socket.

 

[arjay]

Short cord to a metal 2 gang box?
one side an outlet,the other a rheostat inline before the outlet.Plug in the cord,plug the fan into the box
I'm not an electrician