Variable fan speed controls for EKO

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Woodman1

Burning Hunk
Jan 15, 2018
179
Michigan
My rk2001 controller is starting to act flakey and I am beginning to not trust it. I think this is a fairly common issue and I have read how guys were able to fix them, but I think I want to go another direction. I really only use the controller for an on/off switch, controlling the circulator, and a count down timer for the fans. I run my boiler flat out to charge storage so I can use some pretty simple mechanical controls. I'm thinking aquastat for controlling the circulator, a timer for turning off fans, and a high limit safety switch to kill the power to the fans in case of an overheat situation. What I don't know is how can I control the fan speed? Would a simple dimmer switch work? I generally slow my fans down after an hour or so into the burn. Thanks for any ideas
 
If you're running the boiler flat-out today isn't your fan varying in speed pretty substantially when temps are pushing max? I would think that without some level of active control of the fan you'd be constantly in an overheat situation.

Aside from that I'd think a fan control would work. I think it's more of a rheostat than a dimmer...but I'm not an electrician.
 
If you're running the boiler flat-out today isn't your fan varying in speed pretty substantially when temps are pushing max? I would think that without some level of active control of the fan you'd be constantly in an overheat situation.

Aside from that I'd think a fan control would work. I think it's more of a rheostat than a dimmer...but I'm not an electrician.

My 1000 gallon storage stratifies pretty well so with a 20 degree rise the boiler stays at 160 until the bottom of the tank hits that, and then goes up to 180. At that point the burn is about done.