So I got a sweet deal on Craigslist on a big 30", 1/3hp industrial TPI fan for my garage. Problem is that it only has 2 speeds, tornado and hurricane. Is it possible to re-wire it or get a new 3 speed switch so I can have a 3 speeds? I need it to go slower than it does now. The model number is IHP30-H. Here is a link to the fan. http://www.tpicorp.com/Catalog/INDUSTRIALFANS/Circulator-IndustrialAssembledHeadsMounts/cat.pdf
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Making a 2 speed fan a 3 speed fan...
- Thread starter bmwguru
- Start date
sberry
Banned
Probably not.
Piper
Well-known member
oh ya, that won't be a problem. What you need to do is get a rheostat controller for it. Essentially you'll put the existing fan switch to high and then install the rheostat before it. I've done the same thing on 2 different in wall applications and it works fine. Look up a motor repair place in the yellowpages and ask for a 3 or 4 position switch.
P
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nadogail
Well-known member
I don't think a rheostat (variable resistor to drop voltage) will do what you want. A variable frequency drive, assuming the motor can handle it, probably would if it will not be cost prohibitive.
Piper
Well-known member
to the OP, all I can tell you is I was in exactly the same situation as you are. Had a 2 speed motor that I wanted 3 speed control. I went to my local motor repair guy and he sold me a box that I wired 110 volts into and out of that came 3 speeds. I turned the fan's switch to "high" and then ran from the motor control I bought into the fan. Voila, 3 speed. The controller cost $16.00. So, maybe it's not a rheostat, though that's what the guy at the repair shop called it, but it definitely is 3 speed.
FWIW, my 2 cents.
P
FWIW, my 2 cents.
P
That's a nice fan. I don't know the spec on the fan motor but a Lutron NTFS series 6a fans speed control might work well for you. Here's a link to the spec sheets:
http://www.lutron.com/novat/?s=17000&t=17200#fanspeed
It is recommended for shaded pole or permanently-split capacitor motors and the TPI tech help will probably be able to advise you on what to use/not use.
http://www.lutron.com/novat/?s=17000&t=17200#fanspeed
It is recommended for shaded pole or permanently-split capacitor motors and the TPI tech help will probably be able to advise you on what to use/not use.
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rinny_tin_tin
Well-known member
So I got a sweet deal on Craigslist on a big 30", 1/3hp industrial TPI fan for my garage. Problem is that it only has 2 speeds, tornado and hurricane. Is it possible to re-wire it or get a new 3 speed switch so I can have a 3 speeds? I need it to go slower than it does now. The model number is IHP30-H. Here is a link to the fan. http://www.tpicorp.com/Catalog/INDUSTRIALFANS/Circulator-IndustrialAssembledHeadsMounts/cat.pdf
Induction motor speed is dictated by the number of poles and the line frequency. When rheostats work in such cases it is by taxing the motor with reduced voltage - sort of like tying a cement block to a horse's legs. The motor will overheat. Rheostats can be applied in high rpm, low torque applications where the speed reduction is only a few %. Variable frequency drives (VFD) are more correctly used - however, the motors are usually VFD rated.
Yeah - a rheo may work for awhile - or maybe longer in your case - but I bet ya it gets real real hot.
A correction is in order here: What everyone here is calling a rheostat, myself included, is a standard dimmer ckt - that is a SCR/Thyrister assembly, and not really a rheostat proper (variable wirewound resistor). Such dimmers are not suited for rpm adjustment.
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The TPI website says the motor is a "2-speed, 120V, 1 Ph., ball bearing, totally enclosed, permanently lubricated, permanent split capacitor." The Lutron speed controller you linked says its for use with a permanent split capacitor motor. So I should be good to go right??That's a nice fan. I don't know the spec on the fan motor but a Lutron NTFS series 6a fans speed control might work well for you. Here's a link to the spec sheets:
http://www.lutron.com/novat/?s=17000&t=17200#fanspeed
It is recommended for shaded pole or permanently-split capacitor motors and the TPI tech help will probably be able to advise you on what to use/not use.
rsanter
Well-known member
go to lowes of home depot
they have theses multispeed fan switches that are for ceiling fans. you leave the fan on high and then the switvh has a 'stepper' circuit in it that very quickly turns the electricity on and off. it does it so fast that you wont even know and the motor will run at a lower speed. I the one I installed in the family room has 4 speeds (as well as off, is zero a speed?)
bob
they have theses multispeed fan switches that are for ceiling fans. you leave the fan on high and then the switvh has a 'stepper' circuit in it that very quickly turns the electricity on and off. it does it so fast that you wont even know and the motor will run at a lower speed. I the one I installed in the family room has 4 speeds (as well as off, is zero a speed?)
bob
I use a lamp dimmer cord with a box fan all the time. I don't know if it would work in your situation or not. Basically the dimmer cord plugs into the wall and the fan plugs into the dimmer cord and you set the fan to high and control the fan speed with the dimmer slide control. Make sure you get a dimmer control that can handle the amps the fan will **** up when it's on high
Torque1st
MEMBER EMERITUS
Those "stepper" circuits or lamp/light dimmers are Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) devices. They effectively reduce the voltage to the motor or the lamp they control. This method of control works best with Universal DC motors such as found in drill motors etc. They can be used to control Permanent Split Capacitor induction motors but the user may or may not be happy with the results. I have tried it and it worked most of the time. I can not tell you what type of motors it was working with either. Some had a capacitor and some did not. I can not tell you what it did to the current draw because I have not measured it. I did not have the motors under power for long periods of time either. I did not use a "lamp" dimmer. I used a light dimmer meant for a wall switch mounted in a box with an outlet and power cord. In other words caveat emptor.