Cheap plug in dimmer for fan speed

[tjcole50]

Anyone know of a cheap dimmer or some other rheostat(potentiometer) than is rated to handle a blower motor? I see all kinds of light dimmers on amazon and I would preferably buy from amazon. But I know a light dimmer probably would not hold up to long if at all. But with the soon to be nc-30 sitting halfway inside of my fireplace I would like a simple plug in variable speed control to operate the blower. If anyone knows of a trusted preferably under 20$ unit let me know please

 

[Hoozie]

I got this one last week, and it seems to work so far on the small blower on my 30. It doesn't appear to have a rheostat internally, since the measured power draw goes down when I adjust it. With a rheostat, the fan/switch combo should continue to draw the full amount since the rheostat just drops some voltage across itself.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000BYEF6/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[brogsie]

Anyone know of a cheap dimmer or some other rheostat(potentiometer) than is rated to handle a blower motor? I see all kinds of light dimmers on amazon and I would preferably buy from amazon. But I know a light dimmer probably would not hold up to long if at all. But with the soon to be nc-30 sitting halfway inside of my fireplace I would like a simple plug in variable speed control to operate the blower. If anyone knows of a trusted preferably under 20$ unit let me know please

I got a router speed control at a woodworking store, worked well.

 

[tjcole50]

I got this one last week, and it seems to work so far on the small blower on my 30. It doesn't appear to have a rheostat internally, since the measured power draw goes down when I adjust it. With a rheostat, the fan/switch combo should continue to draw the full amount since the rheostat just drops some voltage across itself.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000BYEF6/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Those are the ones I was wondering about cheap is nice but does that little light dimmer hold up to a motor? If so I will purchasing very soon. I figured the ac-16 blower that comes with the nc-30 can be set on high and a dimmer will just interrupt the path. The dimmer also shuts it off correct? Thanks!

 

[Hoozie]

Yes, the dimmer can shut the fan off. I believe this one works by trimming the AC input, rather than dividing it over a resistor. As such, at lower speeds I am getting a bit of a hum. But, I just needed a little less noise and airflow, which this accomplished.

The -16 on low draws ~44w, and on high drew just a bit more.

 

[tjcole50]

Nice for the price it's worth a shot. I hope that by having the rear of the nc-30 in the fireplace that any noise isn't amplified

 

[BrotherBart]

I have used one of these on the AC-30 and the AC-16 blowers for four or five years now and love the thing.

http://www.horticulturesource.com/product_info.php?products_id=1643

 

[jrems]

Dimmers don't work good with motors. Get a harbor freight router speed control- Item#43060. It's on sale now for $19.99. Use a 25% off coupon and get it for $15

 

[tjcole50]

Looks like one of my harbor freight gift cards will be put to good use thankyou !

 

[Woody Stover]

Dimmers don't work good with motors. Get a harbor freight router speed control- Item#43060. It's on sale now for $19.99. Use a 25% off coupon and get it for $15

Yeah, I think you are better off getting something like that, designed for the application. That's rated for 15 amps. I think the motor on my Buck is 9 A...

 

[daleeper]

Router speed controller on mine works well. Not sure what the brand is, cheap ebay purchase I think.

 

[BurnIt13]

Yeah, I think you are better off getting something like that, designed for the application. That's rated for 15 amps. I think the motor on my Buck is 9 A...

I'd be really surprised if you had a 9A motor, maybe 0.9A. 9A would give you a a 1,080W blower motor. That's pushing the size of the smaller dust collection systems.

I use the one BrotherBart posted.....works great!

 

[Woody Stover]

I'd be really surprised if you had a 9A motor, maybe 0.9A. 9A would give you a a 1,080W blower motor.

Right you are; I misread the spec chart. If I'd figured the wattage, I would have realized that it would be like running a microwave oven 24/7. That could run into a bit of money.