Roof Mounted Attic Fan on a Dimmer Switch?
- Thread starter Bjferri
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Speedy Petey
Licensed Electrical Contractor
NO, not a dimmer. You need a motor speed control, but it MUST be rated for the motor it is controlling.
Verify the amperage of the motor and go to a real electrical supply house and get what you need.
Verify the amperage of the motor and go to a real electrical supply house and get what you need.
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Speedy Petey
Licensed Electrical Contractor
Put the speed control last in line before the motor. You do not want to vary the voltage into the two stats.
It's a series circuit: a 120v source in series with the lamp in series with the fan.
If the fan draws 100w@120v and the lamp draws 100w@120v, then when you put them in series each will get half voltage and 1/4th the power, so the fan will move more slowly and the lamp will hardly glow at all.
The trouble is an incand. lamp has a resistance that depends on the current through it, so you should try different size incand. bulbs until you find one that gives you a satisfactory fan speed.
With 7-1/2w the lamp will probably glow full brightness and the fan won't move and with 100w the opposite will be true, depending on the fan size.
If the fan draws 100w@120v and the lamp draws 100w@120v, then when you put them in series each will get half voltage and 1/4th the power, so the fan will move more slowly and the lamp will hardly glow at all.
The trouble is an incand. lamp has a resistance that depends on the current through it, so you should try different size incand. bulbs until you find one that gives you a satisfactory fan speed.
With 7-1/2w the lamp will probably glow full brightness and the fan won't move and with 100w the opposite will be true, depending on the fan size.
Jadnashua
Retired Defense Industry Engineer xxx
Yes, until the bulb burns out, and then the fan stops. Depending on the motor controller, some act like that and generate a fair amount of heat. Some chop the output.
You might want to check the motor itself...some have multiple windings, allowing more than one speed. They save money by not wiring them up. All you may need is a 2-3 position switch, properly wired to control speed. If there are more than two wires to the fan motor, look closely at the data plate. You might be lucky. Also, there may be a set of jumpers...those may allow an alternate speed.
You might want to check the motor itself...some have multiple windings, allowing more than one speed. They save money by not wiring them up. All you may need is a 2-3 position switch, properly wired to control speed. If there are more than two wires to the fan motor, look closely at the data plate. You might be lucky. Also, there may be a set of jumpers...those may allow an alternate speed.
I'm not exactly sure what to look for but am I safe to buy a Motor Rated Fan Speed Control to replace the existing on/off switch? So long as the amps are okay?
I was also told I may be able to rewind the motor but if it's easier replacing a shutoff switch I'd rather do that. Or but a smaller motor and replace... This is not my forte...
Thanks again...
I was also told I may be able to rewind the motor but if it's easier replacing a shutoff switch I'd rather do that. Or but a smaller motor and replace... This is not my forte...
Thanks again...
ActionDave
Electrician
For the cost of rewinding the motor you could buy three fans that run at different speeds.
Is this a whole house attic fan? The kind that sound like an air plane on the runway? On the fan motor is a Horse Power rating. Find it and post it and you'll get some better advice.
Is this a whole house attic fan? The kind that sound like an air plane on the runway? On the fan motor is a Horse Power rating. Find it and post it and you'll get some better advice.
It's not measured by HP - it's an attic roof fan measured as CFM. I think my only option is to replace motor and blade assembly. I was told I could replace the on/off switch with a motor rated speed control switch but I'm not sure what it'll do to the humidistat/thermostat.
Jadnashua
Retired Defense Industry Engineer xxx
This is probably how those sensors work...they act like a switch. When they sense the proper conditions, they either close or open the switch. So, if that is the case, it's not much different than adding an on/off switch. The motor controller would either have power applied, or not as determined by the switches in series before it.
the motor probably has a data plate on it...if you post that, someone may be able to tell you what your options are.
the motor probably has a data plate on it...if you post that, someone may be able to tell you what your options are.
ActionDave
Electrician
All motors have a rating. Are you moving air out of your attic only or out of your house?
The motor rated speed control won't hurt your stats if you put it last in line in the circut but it has to be the right kind of control- not a dimmer, not a ceiling fan control, not a 100W bulb- one able to handle the size motor you have.
ActionDave
Electrician
I just saw this. Do what Speedy says and you are all set.
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