Yahoo Answers is shutting down on May 4th, 2021 (Eastern Time) and beginning April 20th, 2021 (Eastern Time) the Yahoo Answers website will be in read-only mode. There will be no changes to other Yahoo properties or services, or your Yahoo account. You can find more information about the Yahoo Answers shutdown and how to download your data on this help page.
Trending News
What type of potentiometer to install for a box fan?
I'm building a powder coat booth, and I need a fan to pull out the dust and powder left behind as I am shooting. I've got a cheap Wal Mart box fan that I want to install a potentiometer on so I can fine tune the air speed. I've found out that the rotary switch with the "1-2-3-Off" is just that; a switch. The resistance is actually in the motor. On the "3" wire going to the motor (the "high" setting), there is appx. 37 ohms. I was thinking of getting a potentiometer that goes from 0-100 ohms and installing it on the "3" wire. That way I can still go lower than the fan could before if need be, or go wide open like it was originally designed to, all the while having total control over air speed. Are there any specific potentiometers I should look for? Voltage ratings, wattages, anything specific?
1 Answer
- LarryLv 41 decade agoFavorite Answer
I don't think that using a potentiometer directly to an AC motor is going to work very well. It would have to dissipate a lot of heat. (would need to have a large watt rating). You might try an autotransformer that would work for the voltage and current your fan needs. Even then, it may not be good for an AC motor to run at a reduced voltage, it might get hot. It might be simpler to just run at the 3 setting and use a gate to divert some of the air output away to reduce the amout of airflow going into your booth.
