- Joined
- Sep 7, 2013
*cough* 3pin PWM controller *cough*
No rush, just saying.
I have to mine some more BTC first anyway, just spent most of it
-
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Fan Controller / PWM Booster / Regulator / Converter / Etc. Thread!
- Thread starter Bobnova
- Start date
*cough* 3pin PWM controller *cough*
No rush, just saying.
I have to mine some more BTC first anyway, just spent most of it
- Joined
- Sep 7, 2013
- Joined
- Jun 6, 2002
there are 3pin controllers out there....
i know we could go back and fourth on this but if one is made. i always say it should be with the reo on the gnd vs the voltage line. you get much better control of the fan with the reo on the gnd vs voltage line.
i know we could go back and fourth on this but if one is made. i always say it should be with the reo on the gnd vs the voltage line. you get much better control of the fan with the reo on the gnd vs voltage line.
OP
- Joined
- May 10, 2009
- Thread Starter
- #25
3pin would be voltage control, yeah.
For low power fans, a rheostat is fine. For slightly higher power, a BJT and a pot.
For serious fans it's buck regulator or forget it.
The reason I ask what you're after is that there are plenty of 3pin fan controllers out there that might fit the bill. If they do, they'll most likely cost less.
Now if there are features you want that aren't found on other controllers, that I need to know about
Be it small size, a specific shape, especially high power, whatever.
For low power fans, a rheostat is fine. For slightly higher power, a BJT and a pot.
For serious fans it's buck regulator or forget it.
The reason I ask what you're after is that there are plenty of 3pin fan controllers out there that might fit the bill. If they do, they'll most likely cost less.
Now if there are features you want that aren't found on other controllers, that I need to know about
Be it small size, a specific shape, especially high power, whatever.
- Joined
- Sep 7, 2013
3pin would be voltage control, yeah.
For low power fans, a rheostat is fine. For slightly higher power, a BJT and a pot.
For serious fans it's buck regulator or forget it.
The reason I ask what you're after is that there are plenty of 3pin fan controllers out there that might fit the bill. If they do, they'll most likely cost less.
Now if there are features you want that aren't found on other controllers, that I need to know about
Be it small size, a specific shape, especially high power, whatever.
Didn't even think to look.
Now here's something: My fans run at 12VDC @ 0.4 Amps = ~1500 RPM.
Anyway to make 'em even faster without killing them?
That means giving them more than 12 volts, but how many volts would be too much?
Is that even possible?
- Joined
- Jun 6, 2002
well fans have electric motors just really small, you would need to change the motor. as for electric motors voltage = rpm speed, current = torque, in this case torque might/could be related to static pressure of a fan. though the number of blades and design are a factor.
- Joined
- Sep 7, 2013
Sure but what would happen if I fed them say 14 volts?
Would that not speed them up too?
OP
- Joined
- May 10, 2009
- Thread Starter
- #29
They would speed up, it's been done. People used to use the now-removed - 5v rail as "ground" to make 17v. Fans spin fast, then overheat and die at that voltage. They're typically rated to 13.2v though, so you could get a little more out of them with a dc-dc boost regulator. Probably not much though.
- Joined
- Sep 7, 2013
Meh. Kinda what I thought.
OP
- Joined
- May 10, 2009
- Thread Starter
- #31
AC input 3pin fan controller anybody?
It'll take ~10VAC to ~20VAC input and make a 5VDC to 12VDC output at a 3pin fan header.
It'll just as happily take a ~13VDC to ~30VDC input and make that same output. In case you want to run computer fans in your car or something I guess.
Not completely done, but it'll look something like that if/when I cause it to physically exist.
It'll take ~10VAC to ~20VAC input and make a 5VDC to 12VDC output at a 3pin fan header.
It'll just as happily take a ~13VDC to ~30VDC input and make that same output. In case you want to run computer fans in your car or something I guess.
Not completely done, but it'll look something like that if/when I cause it to physically exist.
OP
- Joined
- May 10, 2009
- Thread Starter
- #33
Controlling AC fans is a very different operation. Typically (not always, but usually) you have to vary the frequency of the AC sine wave. It's certainly doable, but it's a lot more complicated.
Most AC fans are 120v or 240v, which is something I'm not touching with anybodies pole, not for sale anyway. Too easy to kill yourself or your user
The AC input option is for easy use with a transformer on a wall plug, and to be more specific it's because Sandrat wants it that way.
I may put solder jumpers on it for dedicated DC use, so as to not lose the efficiency going through the rectifier. Not sure if there's enough of a market for it to make it worthwhile.
Tested a quick design.
It did not even sort of work at all. So much for that.
Most AC fans are 120v or 240v, which is something I'm not touching with anybodies pole, not for sale anyway. Too easy to kill yourself or your user
The AC input option is for easy use with a transformer on a wall plug, and to be more specific it's because Sandrat wants it that way.
I may put solder jumpers on it for dedicated DC use, so as to not lose the efficiency going through the rectifier. Not sure if there's enough of a market for it to make it worthwhile.
Tested a quick design.
It did not even sort of work at all. So much for that.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Dec 6, 2010
I just noticed you have 2 C1's silk screened on that board
1 on top side and 1 on bottom side.
- Joined
- Mar 1, 2013
There's no real point in using small AC fans. An AC motor run direct off the mains (60Hz) can only do 3600RPM while BLDC easily does a lot more than that. Not to mention that small induction motors have horrible efficiency.
Now if you had a large AC fan (e.g. in a HVAC system) or other AC motor that you wanted to control, you can do that quite easily with a VFD.
Now if you had a large AC fan (e.g. in a HVAC system) or other AC motor that you wanted to control, you can do that quite easily with a VFD.
OP
- Joined
- May 10, 2009
- Thread Starter
- #37
I want to make a VFD just to have made a VFD, not so much for a practical reason
EDIT: Though making a VFD juicy enough to run a standard household box fan and cranking the frequency up might be entertaining. Literally overclock a fan!
EDIT: Though making a VFD juicy enough to run a standard household box fan and cranking the frequency up might be entertaining. Literally overclock a fan!
- Joined
- Mar 1, 2013
I'm actually working on hacking (more like rebuilding) a 2000W Harbor Freight inverter into a battery operated VFD. However, I'm aiming more for "underclocking" motors.
Back in the days (25 years ago or so), some inverter manufacturer (Tripp-Lite?) had an interesting feature on their high end inverters where you could flick a switch to drop the output voltage and frequency (to something like 100V/50Hz) and thereby get more runtime from the batteries, albeit it only works on resistive and motor loads, not electronics. Nowadays, high end Samlex inverters have something similar, but for a very simple feature, they sure charge an awful lot!
Back in the days (25 years ago or so), some inverter manufacturer (Tripp-Lite?) had an interesting feature on their high end inverters where you could flick a switch to drop the output voltage and frequency (to something like 100V/50Hz) and thereby get more runtime from the batteries, albeit it only works on resistive and motor loads, not electronics. Nowadays, high end Samlex inverters have something similar, but for a very simple feature, they sure charge an awful lot!
OP
- Joined
- May 10, 2009
- Thread Starter
- #39
Interesting, I like the concept.
I've only worked with inverters as high power (5HP to 15HP) three phase 440v spindle drives on CNC routers. No worries on power consumption there, though lots of speed (hence, voltage and frequency) control. We didn't crack them open (other than to wire them into machine and controller), if/when they went BANG we replaced 'em with new units.
I've only worked with inverters as high power (5HP to 15HP) three phase 440v spindle drives on CNC routers. No worries on power consumption there, though lots of speed (hence, voltage and frequency) control. We didn't crack them open (other than to wire them into machine and controller), if/when they went BANG we replaced 'em with new units.
- Joined
- Sep 7, 2013
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