single phase capacitor start a/c fan speed switch wiring, is this possible?

nonamedman420

Well-Known Member
anyone have experience wiring a off/low/medium/high switch to an a/c motor? i have a vortex s-line 6" inline fan that i used for a few years and had to disassemble to clean it, which btw they make nearly impossible with the rivets into plastic. anyways it's a ebm-papst m2e 068-bf 79-c01 ec single phase capacitor motor, 4 wire, with TOP wired internally. photo from ebm for wiring. i'd like to use something along the lines of a ceiling fan speed switch, like the pull chain type, or any actually, if possible. using a fan speed controller makes it sound weird, like a noise that must not be good for it. the right controllers (pwm style i believe) cost a lot. house box fans have similar high/med/low/off switches, which is what gave me the idea.

can it be done? i have pictures of the fan wiring as it comes from the factory, with the wiring diagram from ebm, but honestly would rather not fry it trying it out without at least asking some of the more experienced members here. any help would be appreciated. if it works, i am willing to do a diy tutorial with as many pics as are needed.

thank you in advance in advanceScreenshot_20180524_103119.png !!!
 

nonamedman420

Well-Known Member
guess not. oh well, i thought it was something that, if answered, could help others. a fan speed switch , in my eyes, is better than a fan controller that makes fans hum.
 

Roger A. Shrubber

Well-Known Member
i'm not an electrician by any means, but i think for that kind of switch you need a dual phase motor, or it'll just cut off on anything but high
 

nonamedman420

Well-Known Member
yeah, i'm just hopeful hahaha. i hate those cheap fan speed controllers. maybe i'll try a cheap variac. costs almost as much for the transformer as it costs for the s-line fan. i need quiet, my neighbors are nosy as fuck.
 

Roger A. Shrubber

Well-Known Member
could put the fan in a box with some foam padding around it. i have several old towels taped around mine, cuts the noise considerably. also have it mounted to a board that's sitting on a double layer of old exercise mat.
you should also look into the "mufflers" they make if the exhaust noise might be a problem, you hook it up right at the exit and it quiets it down going outside quite a bit.
https://www.amazon.com/Muffler-Inline-Silencer-Reducer-Carbon/dp/B06X6BY19D
don't know about that particular one, just using it to demonstrate what i mean
 
like what robert suggested make a box to put it in. i used plywood to make frame cut holes for inlet and stuffed to brim with fiber glass insulation. cut down sound considerably. this along with the use of insulated duct and you will be golden
 

SwiSHa85

Well-Known Member
could put the fan in a box with some foam padding around it. i have several old towels taped around mine, cuts the noise considerably. also have it mounted to a board that's sitting on a double layer of old exercise mat.
you should also look into the "mufflers" they make if the exhaust noise might be a problem, you hook it up right at the exit and it quiets it down going outside quite a bit.
https://www.amazon.com/Muffler-Inline-Silencer-Reducer-Carbon/dp/B06X6BY19D
don't know about that particular one, just using it to demonstrate what i mean
Best thing i've found so far is memory foam. Sounds weird but the way that stuff is made it's amazing for sound deadening. Fan inside a tote with holes on each side for duct. Wrap the fan in memory foam put the lid on tote and you will barely even hear the damn thing. I didn't wrap mine, I ripped up an old memory foam mattress topper into little chunks and completely filled the tote. My 8" hurricane is 745cfm so it's pretty loud on it's own. Works great.
 

nonamedman420

Well-Known Member
could put the fan in a box with some foam padding around it. i have several old towels taped around mine, cuts the noise considerably. also have it mounted to a board that's sitting on a double layer of old exercise mat.
you should also look into the "mufflers" they make if the exhaust noise might be a problem, you hook it up right at the exit and it quiets it down going outside quite a bit.
https://www.amazon.com/Muffler-Inline-Silencer-Reducer-Carbon/dp/B06X6BY19D
don't know about that particular one, just using it to demonstrate what i mean
this is what i do. box the filter/fan and keep it out of the tent. but i'm in a quest for low power. limited income is killing it for me. every watt saved helps tremendously. i appreciate the responses. thank you all.
 
Top