[Topo]

arrrr i see as simple as that cheers dude. Just thought it defeated the purpose, if the fan kicks in full pelt. i can always add a themo later if need be.

[Joint hogger]

Topo, on 03 March 2011 - 06:24 PM, said:

I'm planing on building one of these beauty's but my worry is. I don't want the fan to kick in to full power when temps rise. (thinking of the neighbours hearing the noise. So how do you set it so the fan never kicks into full power

if i remember rightly, its doable,but i think you need 2 variacs, a relay & a thermostat,
then you have 3 settings instead of just 2, you now get low, medium & high (or 50%-75%-100%)

scraglor & maybe rastajedi are the ones to ask more about it.



atb JH

[WORMwald]

would anyone have a wiring diagram with the 4 core thermostat
on it ,thanks

This post has been edited by WORMwald: 19 May 2011 - 01:35 PM

[Peter Petrelli]

Thanks for the guide, just what I needed.... So all in all to do the 2 box with thermostatic controls costs you about £110? Only a little more than my SMS but the 'no hum' is what I'm after

[Joint hogger]

and you get NO humming with a variac

the fan is now that quiet that i can sleep in the same room, no problem.

[Godspeed]

Joint hogger did you manage to get the diagrame for the thermostat sorted ?

Nice thread bro!

[tiger666tiger]

hi joint hogger, i am in the process of building 2 x 2amp variacs, 1 each in there own enclosure. i was just wondering what u use to connect the actual variac to the plastic box, i.e. what nuts and bolts do you use? do they have to be a special type as it is for plastic and holding a heavy item? sorry but cant see the parts listed in your build. tiger

[Joint hogger]

Godspeed, on 06 January 2012 - 08:53 PM, said:

Joint hogger did you manage to get the diagram for the thermostat sorted ?

Nice thread bro!

yeah eventually with a little help from the usual folk but it does work as intended,
i've got a few pics & diagrams explaining it saved somewhere, just need to find the file & i'll post them
but just to let you & other folk know tho, my twin controller is way ott for a 400 light & L tent
so if thats what your using, then your better just making a basic variac version, the only way you'd
maybe need a thermostat controller is if you used a 600w & a xl 120 tent & up

so im just in the process of planning on knocking up something more suitable & digital to the 1x1x1.8 budbox

tiger666tiger, on 11 January 2012 - 07:32 PM, said:

hi joint hogger, i am in the process of building 2 x 2amp variacs, 1 each in there own enclosure.
i was just wondering what u use to connect the actual variac to the plastic box, i.e.
what nuts and bolts do you use? do they have to be a special type as it is for plastic
and holding a heavy item? sorry but cant see the parts listed in your build. tiger

i didn't need to get any nuts & bolts, my 3 variacs came with 2 or 3 bolts screwed on to the variacs
through the holes on the metal dials. i just unscrewed the dials & used the dials as templates on the
enclosures lid where the variacs dial was going, marked the holes & drilled them out,then i fitted the
variacs to the holes, put the dial back on & bolted it on, read my post about bolting the variac on to the box Here

.....

but i know the variacs your thinking about, they come with the white holder, someone else on the site
(think it was Ak47) who got a 8 pack of nylon nuts & bolts for a few quid.

This post has been edited by Joint hogger: 12 January 2012 - 02:18 AM

[Joint hogger]

further to

tiger666tiger, on 11 January 2012 - 07:32 PM, said:

what nuts and bolts do you use? do they have to be a special type as it is for
plastic and holding a heavy item? sorry but cant see the parts listed in your build. tiger

found the thread i was thinking about.

ak47slim, on 19 October 2011 - 09:56 PM, said:

the bolts I used are M6 X 50mm you can use M6 x 30mm just a link to help you out
ebay item number 320755608602

[tiger666tiger]

Joint hogger, on 12 January 2012 - 02:27 AM, said:

further to

tiger666tiger, on 11 January 2012 - 07:32 PM, said:

what nuts and bolts do you use? do they have to be a special type as it is for
plastic and holding a heavy item? sorry but cant see the parts listed in your build. tiger

found the thread i was thinking about.

ak47slim, on 19 October 2011 - 09:56 PM, said:

the bolts I used are M6 X 50mm you can use M6 x 30mm just a link to help you out
ebay item number 320755608602

hi jh and thanks for the reply, yh my variacs were the watt-watts 1's, i actually just ended up getting normal metal bolts with nylon nuts and just put washers on too, seems fine and they work a treat, could not of done it so easy if it wasn't for your thread and pics, cheers mate i can finally leave my extraction on low at night and sleep! i built 2 x 2amp ones in ip56 gewiss boxes and cost about £120 for both all in

[pearldiver]

Great thread JH. you've inspired me to give it a go. im currently running the evolution fan controller, it makes the rvk and etaline fans buzz. haven't built anything like this before but i've gathered all the parts and i'll start putting it together at the weekend. thanks for the pics and diagrams. i'll feedback how it all went or i won't if i've fried myself...P

[pearldiver]

It worked! Sort of... Wired exactly as JHs diagram the variacs did what they were meant to ( to the table lamp tester) and all still alive. The thermostat part is weird. No joy there. After reading rumours of four core cable I tried attaching a neutral from the mains. Too any other electrical newbies out there DON'T connect the thermostat earth and neutral together in number 2. (as the picture from another thread implies) Anyway common sense kicked in after wiring it like that. Not before it tripped the mains and appears to have done the relay in. At some point in a combination of connections I DID have the thermostat working but in reverse!!! eg. below the thermostat setting full power to the light and above the setting the variacs kicked in.So close...

Does anyone have a clear idiot proof picture/diagram of how to get this babys thermostat wired correctly? If not I suspect it's just me and a bag of disposable relays
P

[pearldiver]

Quote

Godspeed

Posted 06 January 2012 - 09:22 PM
Joint hogger did you manage to get the diagrame for the thermostat sorted ?

Nice thread bro!

Quote

WORMwald

Posted 19 May 2011 - 02:04 PM
would anyone have a wiring diagram with the 4 core thermostat
on it ,thanks

alas i'm not the only one... all over the world there are people with half working fan speed controller going "yeah i'm going to wire a thermostat later..." i suspect it never happens.

if i ever get to the bottom of it all i'll post the answer! "The games afoot watson..."

[pearldiver]

it lives! 8 changes of connections, 4 blown fuses and the answer to the Honeywell thermostat issue is...Earth to Earth, neutral [from mains] to no:2, No:3 is unused, Live to no:4 and switched live to No:1

at leat thats what worked for me

Thanks to joint hogger and all those that share the knowledge. one for the thrill when it finally worked properly and two for the now SILENT running fans. 420 just fucking brilliant!
p

[sullymonster]

firstly a big thank you to the three wise men - jhs / danlads / jedi - truly inspirational stuff fellows

after buying a 200£ controller that works perfectly with 2 fans and not so much with the third i have realized that a variac is the only way to go....
i was all ready to buy 2 or 3 enclosed 0.7 units from wattbits totaling around 210£ ......then i stumbled upon the diy threads......now diy is the only way to go....... loving the idea of a thermostat controlled unit incase i can't be around 24/7.....the only problem being is that my electrical knowledge is embarrassing to say the least ......honestly the extent of my experience was wiring up my rvk !! so please excuse the lack of understanding and the illogical order of questioning ...

got a few questions that i am hoping that you could help me out with......after reading all 3 diy threads my head is mush

firstly here are the fans used :

extractor - systemair rvk 200 L1 200m 8" 950m3 230v 0.71/0.97 amp
intake has yet to be decided but own - vents tt-125 5" 280m3 0.26amp / vents vk 4" 250m 0.26amp

regarding the intake it will be one of the fans above + passive or may have to buy a 6" ruck

the thing is i am only using a 1.5m x 1.5m x 2m tent / 2x 600w aerowing ..........surely a 6"/8" combo would be over kill ?? main problem is that the tent sits in a 2m x 1.8m x 2.3m room so its almost like a box in a box, it does have a window but only the top 1/6 opens .....great when the wind is blowing in ....... but last summer temps were crazy high that i had to only use 1 x 600w.......i do in/out extraction out of the room but if the ambient air temps are high then the tent temps follow suit .......i think the only solution in the hot months would be a portable air conditioning unit .......if purchased would this render the thermostat on the variac useless ?? as the air temp going in would be near ideal .......would it be best just to get a ready made idiot proof enclosed type ??

from reading the threads it seems that a 0.7a would not be sufficient for the rvk200 high powered ......what would ?? 2a ....3a

do the enclosed type single controllers http://www.wattbits.com/cmv2e-1.html have the possibility for an upgrade to include a thermostat one day ??

the enclosed type of controllers are rated to IP22 is this enough or is 56 needed ?? also are these units kept inside or outside of the tent ?? would prefer outside

do you guys all subscribe to the 30% rule ?? that is do not run below

in the twin variac build is it possible to bypass the thermostat ?? as at night i would run both fans at the lowest possible as temps are fine

thanks in advance .....any help would be appreciated as i need to get my head round this