duct blower "hummm" when speed reduced?

J

jakesnake

Active Member
Why does my duct blower "hum" if I go below HIGH on my speed controller?

This shit is just too loud, I moved it to my addict, mounted to a rafter with bungies and added insulated R8 ducting (super thick shit) and still too loud for me AND it's only a 4".

If the "hum" is abnormal I'm just gonna go with my fan fucking sucks (in a bad way).
 
I think the problem is the speed controller is not a variac and hence when you turn the speed down the power goes up and causes it to buzz. Need to buy a variac controller, fantronix do them in 1 and 2 amp versions i think, google them. For a 4inch fan i would assume that a 1amp variac controller will do.

Some people buy them of e-bay and assemble themselves as a good varic conroller is close to £70 and similar price to the fan. SMSCOM and a few others are simply not using the variac controllers insode so buzz like crazy. When they sell you the fan controller they forget to mention the difference between your one and a variac, pleanty of hum and will burn the fan out quicker, some would even say this is not a safe way to control a fan unfortunatly, tis the same princaple with dimmable lights in your home, they buzz like crazy too, go buy the variac from fantronix or similar. Peace
 
If you live in europe then heres the link otherwise go to another local company near you-

http://www.fantronix.com/acatalog/Silent_Fan_Speed_Controller_-_1-Phase.html

Sorry dude but if some hydro shop sold you this controller and forgot to mention the obvious buzzing noise id go and have a word with them for a refund quick and use the money to buy the proper variac controller.

Sucks that people sell these things, the buzz can be louder than the fan sometimes. Peace
 
Kingrow1 said:
I think the problem is the speed controller is not a variac and hence when you turn the speed down the power goes up and causes it to buzz. Need to buy a variac controller, fantronix do them in 1 and 2 amp versions i think, google them. For a 4inch fan i would assume that a 1amp variac controller will do.

Some people buy them of e-bay and assemble themselves as a good varic conroller is close to £70 and similar price to the fan. SMSCOM and a few others are simply not using the variac controllers insode so buzz like crazy. When they sell you the fan controller they forget to mention the difference between your one and a variac, pleanty of hum and will burn the fan out quicker, some would even say this is not a safe way to control a fan unfortunatly, tis the same princaple with dimmable lights in your home, they buzz like crazy too, go buy the variac from fantronix or similar. Peace
Click to expand...

The controller is VARIAC, i googled "VARIAC controller" and the first picture is the controller i have... Does this further discredit the fan itself?
 
At that price youd be lucky for it to be a variac controller, i think not unfortunatly but what is and where is the hum on the fan coming from?

Could be the type of fan also but i think most fans are fine on a variac speed controller. Peace
 
the hum is inside the fan itself, at full speed there is no hum, BUT at half speed I can't hear the fan at all over the hum...
 
Weird but maybe it is a fan problem, some arent aligned properly but is a rare occurance. Google the fan and see if anyone has had similar problems. What make and model fan is it?
 
Harbor Freight, there's the problem. Everything in that store is shit. You get what you pay for. My boss sometimes buys things from there, I throw them right in the trash. All chinese made junk store.
 
direwolf71 said:
Harbor Freight, there's the problem. Everything in that store is shit. You get what you pay for. My boss sometimes buys things from there, I throw them right in the trash. All chinese made junk store.
Click to expand...

it wasn't that exact controller, it's the "grow bright" branded -- but you can tell 100% they're made by the same manufact.
 
Kingrow1 said:
Weird but maybe it is a fan problem, some arent aligned properly but is a rare occurance. Google the fan and see if anyone has had similar problems. What make and model fan is it?
Click to expand...

was the grow bright 4" duct blower + carbon can combo off of ebay.
 
I think even with a variac type speed controller you should never go below 30% on the speed controller for safety reasons. Peace and get the 1amp variac for a 4inch fan i think.
 
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