Thread: Motor Speed Control Help Needed

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Several fellow haunters suggested that I could slow down a ceiling fan motor to run an Axworthy Ghost by using a router speed control available at Harbor Freight. I stopped by to pick one up and found they are not truely variable speed, but instead simply reduce the top speed to three settings. Since you use it with the fan on the high spped, it really is no differet that just using the fan speeds.

I've finished attaching a large pulley (made from serving platters) directly to the ceiling fan. Works great except it go way to fast. Anybody know how to slow it down without using a Harbor Freight router speed control?
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Most router speed controls actually allow you to adjust the speed from zero to full speed like this one.

You can buy a variable speed control made for ceiling fans and Lowes or Home Depot. That should slow it down for you. They are about $20 and look just like a slider light dimmer.
Lighting & Fans - Ceiling Fans & Accessories - Specialty Parts & Accessories at The Home Depot, here is a link Hope it helps. I would be happy to answer any questions you might have. Keith

Yes, i agree, if it is an AC motor then you should be able to control it with a dimmer switch. I have a variable power supply for bench work and use that for experimenting as well. I picked it up at a garage sale some time ago.

Thanks for the replies. I tried a standard dimmer, didn't work. Also, as I read the fine print on the fan control, it too only has 3 settings.

Originally Posted by Doc Doom

Thanks for the replies. I tried a standard dimmer, didn't work. Also, as I read the fine print on the fan control, it too only has 3 settings.

Doc, I know for certain Home Depot used to stock the Leviton rotary fan speed controllers that do give infinite control just like a standard dimmer. Here is one I found on Amazon.....[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Leviton-611-06616-00I-Trimitron-Speed-Control/dp/B00004YUP0/ref=sr_1_22?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1269785080&sr=8-22]Amazon.com: Leviton 611-06616-00I Trimitron Fan Speed Control, Ivory: Home & Garden[/ame]

Hopefully that ceiling fan motor will still provide enough torque at that low speed to power your project.

I use the Dayton speed controller it has worked flawlessly for over 10 years. More expensive than a fan controller but I thought this the best option and it has proven it's worth

Grainger.com

DAYTON 4X797
Grainger Item # 4X797
catalog pg 37
$50



-PB

I did some more looking, this one looks like it is rotary not 3 speed but I could not tell, you could give them a call. TPI Variable Speed Control for Ceiling Fans | Fan Accessories | Northern Tool + Equipment My understanding is that you want to run it at lower than the lowest speed. Have you thought about just gearing it down with a simple pully and a larger wheel on the FCG? It would probably be cheaper than a motor control.

Originally Posted by soundmankkc

I did some more looking, this one looks like it is rotary not 3 speed but I could not tell, you could give them a call. TPI Variable Speed Control for Ceiling Fans | Fan Accessories | Northern Tool + Equipment My understanding is that you want to run it at lower than the lowest speed. Have you thought about just gearing it down with a simple pully and a larger wheel on the FCG? It would probably be cheaper than a motor control.

Went to both HD and Lowes today without any luck. All fan controlers are three speed, which the fan already is. I may try to step down the speed by using the pulley I attached directly to the fan to drive a bike wheel. Or say to heck with the whole concept and buy a wiper motor.

Doc, just a thought. When you wire up a ceiling fan that has not speed control with one of those 3 speed jobs, the new control is obviously lowering the voltage to the fan as its output is connected to the single hot leg feeding the fan. What if you connected one of these to your fan and also placed your on fan speed control to the lowest setting thereby reducing the voltage even further? Might work, not sure. I would listen carefully to the motor as it turns to make sure it is not laboring too hard. Like I said, just a thought. Keith