Fully Variable Speed Control Unit for Lasko 2155A Window Fan

[Martin Levac]

Hello,

I have a Lasko 2155A window fan with integrated 3 speed control unit
(links at the end of this post). I want to be able to fine tune the
speed so I want a fully variable speed control unit that I would attach
to the power cord, and control the speed from there instead.

The operator's manual states that the fan must not be used with a solid
state speed control device. I understand that to mean that I must not
simply attempt to vary the voltage, i.e. from 120VAC to 90VAC for
example. I understand that this may cause the amperage to rise, and all
sorts of nasty things may occur after that.

I read a little about the problem and I believe that the integrated
speed control unit controls the speed by varying the AC frequency while
maintaining the same voltage, i.e. from 120VAC 60hz to 120VAC 50hz and
so forth. Though I don't actually know.

I sent a request for information on how to do what I want but I got the
standard "don't do it" reply. As if by some magical mysterious way, I'm
going to change my mind. So no luck from the manufacturer.

I've looked at the Air King 9155 model and I believe it's the same as
the Lasko 2155A. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong. I also believe Lasko
doesn't actually manufacture that model, they only sell it. So that
might explain why I got the standard "don't to it" reply from them. I'll
ask Air King next to see if I have better luck with them.

If any of you have experience with this kind of thing, please advise me
on how to proceed. If there's already a device that I can buy and just
plug in, that would be best. If there's some tinkering to do, it would
depend on the depth and complexity of that tinkering.

Actually what would be best is if I found a similar window fan with an
integrated fully variable speed control unit. Alas, the available choice
of window fans pretty much stops at Air King. Though I understand that
there's a slew of window fans that are not made anymore, like the
Vornado for example, so that might be an option. However, my primary
consideration of any window fan remains a fully variable speed control unit.

Thank you


Martin Levac

http://www.laskoproducts.com/fans/model_2155a.html
http://www.airkinglimited.com/pages/industrial/window1.html

 

[Tom Biasi]

"Martin Levac" wrote in message
Hello,

I have a Lasko 2155A window fan with integrated 3 speed control unit
(links at the end of this post). I want to be able to fine tune the
speed so I want a fully variable speed control unit that I would attach
to the power cord, and control the speed from there instead.

The operator's manual states that the fan must not be used with a solid
state speed control device. I understand that to mean that I must not
simply attempt to vary the voltage, i.e. from 120VAC to 90VAC for
example. I understand that this may cause the amperage to rise, and all
sorts of nasty things may occur after that.

That's not what it means. It means they don't want any speed control devices
on their fan.



I read a little about the problem and I believe that the integrated
speed control unit controls the speed by varying the AC frequency while
maintaining the same voltage, i.e. from 120VAC 60hz to 120VAC 50hz and
so forth. Though I don't actually know.

That may be so. But it's their design and I don't know what they are doing.

I sent a request for information on how to do what I want but I got the
standard "don't do it" reply. As if by some magical mysterious way, I'm
going to change my mind. So no luck from the manufacturer.

Expected.

I've looked at the Air King 9155 model and I believe it's the same as
the Lasko 2155A. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong. I also believe Lasko
doesn't actually manufacture that model, they only sell it. So that
might explain why I got the standard "don't to it" reply from them. I'll
ask Air King next to see if I have better luck with them.

If any of you have experience with this kind of thing, please advise me
on how to proceed. If there's already a device that I can buy and just
plug in, that would be best. If there's some tinkering to do, it would
depend on the depth and complexity of that tinkering.

Don't do it. Unless you don't mind the consequences.

Actually what would be best is if I found a similar window fan with an
integrated fully variable speed control unit. Alas, the available choice
of window fans pretty much stops at Air King. Though I understand that
there's a slew of window fans that are not made anymore, like the
Vornado for example, so that might be an option. However, my primary
consideration of any window fan remains a fully variable speed control unit.

Thank you


Martin Levac

http://www.laskoproducts.com/fans/model_2155a.html
http://www.airkinglimited.com/pages/industrial/window1.html

 

[Martin Levac]

That's not what it means. It means they don't want any speed control
devices on their fan.

That may be so. But it's their design and I don't know what they are doing.

Expected.

Don't do it. Unless you don't mind the consequences.

Had nothing better to do tonight huh, Tom?

 

[Martin Levac]

The motor is an induction motor, as far as you are concerned this
means the speed is locked to the frequency of the AC line. There are
some tricks in rearranging some connections to the stator winding to
get some different speeds but 3 different speeds are about the limit.
I haven't looked but I bet if you google variable speed induction
motors you will get a lot more info.

Jimmie

Since the speed of the motor is locked to the AC frequency, and since
I'm not about to fiddle around the insides of that motor, then it means
I want a device that controls the AC frequency at the power cord. Any
idea how to proceed, Jimmie?

 

[Martin Levac]

@Martin:

You can not turn a consumer appliance with a cheap induction motor
into a perfectly adjustable device with the same precision of a VFD
motor...
First off, the variable frequency controller would cost more than the
fan
you want to run with it...

The cheapo motor the fan is currently equipped with has several
windings
in it which are energized in the same way a 3-way light bulb is
configured...
Low setting is a smaller winding -- Medium speed is a larger winding
and
Hi speed is all windings on at once...

The bigger question here is why you need to have a totally adjustable
window fan unit -- and just how insane you would be trying to obtain
something which just doesn't exist...

~~ Evan

From where I'm standing, you're no help at all, Evan. Which brings me
to my next question, can you turn a perfectly useless usenet poster into
a productive and useful usenet poster? And just how insane you would be
trying to obtain something which just doesn't exist...

 

[Martin Levac]

Evan, I think you missed ^ this part when you replied.


The OP has indicated that it would take magic to change his mind.
Unless you're feeling up on your mojo, I'd give this one a pass.

R

Oh the irony. You do realize that you just told somebody "don't do it"
it being him telling me "don't do it", and on newsgroups that deal with
subjects that have pretty much zero tolerance for that kind of bullshit,
right?

 

[Martin Levac]

WHERE DO YOU LIVE, IN A GHETTO?
PUT UP AN AIR CONDITIONER LIKE NORMAL PEOPLE DO.

IF THAT OFFENDS YOU THEN PUT YOUR FAN ON HIGH AND ADD YOUR CRAZY SPEED
CONTROL GADGET, IF THAT WINDING BURNS OUT SWITCH IT TO MEDIUM, AND
WHEN THE MEDIUM SETTING BURNS OUT, SWITCH IT TO LOW.......AFTER THAT
YOU CAN THROW IT OUT SPENT AND INSTALL AN AC.
YOU BUMB!
TGITM

WASSAMATTAH, CAPS KEY STUCK DUMBITCH? WHY DONT YOU BUY A KEYBORED LIKE
NORMAL PEUPLES DO? YOU DUMS!!!!!!111111

IF THAT OFFENDS YOU... **** ME, YOU TOOO DUMB TO BE OFFENDED DUMBICH!!111

 

[Martin Levac]

The problem is that you can't simply continue to lower the frequency
as the lower the frequency the less effective the induction is. Also
you will find that variable frequency controllers are pricey.

Your best bet is to find a motor with brushes that you can vary the
speed of with common speed controllers.

I did find that. Cheapest VFD at a glance was $325. Although I don't see
why they should be. Maybe these things are too specialized to be made
cheaply.

It's a fan and there's little I can do about its design. It must be
quiet and that is partly why I want full control over the speed.

 

[Tom Biasi]

"Martin Levac" wrote in message

That's not what it means. It means they don't want any speed control
devices on their fan.

That may be so. But it's their design and I don't know what they are
doing.

Expected.

Don't do it. Unless you don't mind the consequences.

Had nothing better to do tonight huh, Tom?

You are not obligated to consider anything that I say.

 

[Martin Levac]

There's little you can do? Come on, Sparky! Design and build one
yourself. It's not magic. Build a bank of 12v computer fans -
they're quiet enough. Or spring for a fan that does what you want
without 'fixing it'.

BTW, I'd never tell someone not to do something that has the potential
of keeping me entertained.

R

We all know what you did. It wasn't your smartest move.

 

[Martin Levac]

YOU ARE NOT going to find a cord control capable of what you want to
do... You could build a controller to do what you want but it would
need
to be in a large metal box like the motor controllers for industrial
motors and
HVAC equipment get installed in... Remember (Variable Frequency
Drive)...

You are asking something along the lines of "how do I install cabinet
rated
electrical equipment into an extension cord control"...

Get the picture ?

~~ Evan

Nope, still no help at all. Get the picture?

 

[Martin Levac]

Consider a piece of cardboard and some duct tape. Jeeze!

That would have been funny 5 minutes ago. Alarm clock broken? Well, you
know what to fix it with at least.

 

[Martin Levac]

SO YOU HAD TO GO THERE YOU LOWLIFE SCUMSUCKING MARTINETTE.
HAVE IT YOUR WAY FOOL.......YOU ARE LIKE A COCKROACH INVESTATION
JAMMING AND MUCKING UP YOUR KEYBOARD AND THIS GROUP...OH AND DONT TALK
ABOUT YOUR MAMMA THAT WAY, ASSHOLE!
TGITM

TGITM

YOURE DOIN A MIGHTY FINE JOB OF CRAPPIN ALL OVER YOURSELF DUMMYY!!!1!!!

I AM WRITING SLOWLY BECAUSE I KNOW YOU DO NOT READ VERY FAST DUMBICH!!!!111

YOU DONT HAVE TO BUY RAT PORN YOU KNOW JUST LOOK DOWN!!11!!!!

DUMBICH!!!!!!!!!!!11!!!! YEA!!!!!111

 

[Smitty Two]

BTW, I thought Eddie Lebec was one of yours.

R

Yeah, never seen him on a.h.r. before, regardless of whether he's Martin
or Eddie.

 

[SMS]

Your most effective solution, barring finding a fan with a non
induction motor, would be to replace the motor. That will probably
involve some minor fabrication unless you are really lucky. Another
option would be a DC motor and a variable output dc power supply.

There's a lecture here <

> that
talks about speed control of induction motors.

He can buy something like this:
<http://compare.ebay.com/like/350324043938?var=lv&ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar&_lwgsi=y>
to do the job.

 

[Rich.]

Just set your internal fan switch to high and use one of these:
http://www.harborfreight.com/router-speed-control-43060.html

 

[SMS]

Just set your internal fan switch to high and use one of these:
http://www.harborfreight.com/router-speed-control-43060.html

What part of "Works with any universal AC/DC brush-type motor, 15 amps
and under" don't you understand?

A $10 fan doesn't have a brush motor.

I'd buy enough of these
<http://www.allelectronics.com/make-a-store/item/CF-320/48VDC-120MM-COOLING-FAN/1.html>
to replace the innards of the Lasko fan. Power it with a variable
transformer
<http://www.allelectronics.com/make-a-store/item/SC-3M/3_AMP_VARIABLE_TRANSFORMER/-/1.html>
and a bridge rectifier and somehow prevent the variable transformer from
going below 24V or over 48V.

 

[Rich.]

A ceiling paddle fan is an induction motor. Get a paddle fan speed control,
install it in a box along with an outlet and a cord.
Like one of these:
http://www.amazon.com/BestFan-Speed...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1308854747&sr=1-1-catcorr

 

[Don Kelly]

"Martin Levac" wrote in message

The problem is that you can't simply continue to lower the frequency
as the lower the frequency the less effective the induction is. Also
you will find that variable frequency controllers are pricey.

Your best bet is to find a motor with brushes that you can vary the
speed of with common speed controllers.

I did find that. Cheapest VFD at a glance was $325. Although I don't see
why they should be. Maybe these things are too specialized to be made
cheaply.

It's a fan and there's little I can do about its design. It must be
quiet and that is partly why I want full control over the speed.
------------------------------------
One problem with using a solid state voltage controller (fairly cheap in
small sizes) is that you have to set the minimum possible speed to some
reasonable value in order to avoid stalling/overheating. It may not be quiet
enough at that setting.
Depending on the nature of the controller that is built in , there could be
a problem if the built in controller was set to its lowest setting and the
external controller limit was set for the case of the built in controller at
a higher setting. in any case using an external controller, might not give
you any advantage over the lowest speed setting built in.

There is also the possibility that the manufacturer is covering its legal
ass.

Don Kelly
cross out to reply

 

[Martin Levac]

The OP here isn't interested in any information from people who
know what they are doing -- he/she/it/they are looking for something
which does not exist (a cord mounted VFD control) to try and
precisely regulate the speed of a $35 dollar consumer grade window
fan...

Let the OP figure it out on his own -- clearly doesn't like being
informed that his desired device doesn't exist, or that the fan
he wants to control won't work with the controller or that the
motors which work with VFD controllers are expensive...

The OP is ignoring all of that and is therefore a troll...

~~ Evan

Correction, Evan, the OP (as it happens, that's me) wants information,
information which you refused to provide outright. So Evan, **** off.