Hello,
I want to control a 12 volt DC fan speed via its voltage. I have a potentiometer which is 50 ohms, 5 watts.
I connected 12 volt from power supply to the left terminal of potentiometer, and the negative from power supply to the right terminal of potentiometer. I connected the middle terminal of the potentiometer to the positive wire of the fan. (I connected negative wire of the fan to the negative of power supply.)
The fan's speed is controlled successfully from 0 up to its full speed.
But the problem is that the potentiometer heats up.
1. What can be done to prevent this heating up?
2. Does this heat-up show that I have done something wrong?
3. How much heat is ok?
Good luck
Ghobar
I want to control a 12 volt DC fan speed via its voltage. I have a potentiometer which is 50 ohms, 5 watts.
I connected 12 volt from power supply to the left terminal of potentiometer, and the negative from power supply to the right terminal of potentiometer. I connected the middle terminal of the potentiometer to the positive wire of the fan. (I connected negative wire of the fan to the negative of power supply.)
The fan's speed is controlled successfully from 0 up to its full speed.
But the problem is that the potentiometer heats up.
1. What can be done to prevent this heating up?
2. Does this heat-up show that I have done something wrong?
3. How much heat is ok?
Good luck
Ghobar