[Joint hogger]

Finally got around to putting together a new variac controller for my veg cab, in the end up, it only took about 15/20 mins (tho, I meant to do this last summer, stoners)

right, the fan i've got is a 5" A low power ruck & is ideal for my needs but it is noticable, especially when i get the odd flat inspection

the variac im using is a maplins 0.75A & was originally in my other Variac Build (when i got it, it cost £30, theyre now £45 !)

the enclosure box is an ip56 rated abs box & the outer dimensions are 165x125x75 (LxWxD), the inner dimensions are 160x120x70 (LxWxD)
& costs a tenner from maplins, you might need to mod the box a bit too in mine, there was about 16 molded standoffs 10mm high,
i just snapped then off with a pair of snips (if you dont take them off, they catch the tip of the variacs brush arm & you wont be able to adjust it )


heres the 0.75A variac dimensions & the wiring diagram.







heres the abs ip56 box, i used a 20mm wood drill bit to cut the holes & fitted the 2 grommets (they cost £1.50 a pair).










heres the Lid, i used a 8mm bit for the main dial hole & a 4mm for the 2 screws.
like the electrical sticker i stuck on the box ? safety first, esp if stoned







here i've fitted the variac to the lid & you can see the clearance inside the box, i'll be running the fan at 50%
& will keep a check on the variacs temps, if it gets to hot, i'll replace it with something bigger.



i've found another few Gewiss boxes online (150 x 100 x 140 for £5) & another box of the same size with a clear lid for (£10)

(hxxp://www.csedistributors.com/acatalog/gewiss.html)

[Joint hogger]

heres the side on look.




& here you can see the dial without the knob & is held on by 2 screws.



heres how you wire it up, connect the incoming earth & the outgoing earth together with some connector block, the variac doesn't need an earth.
so, you wire the live & neutral onto the variac with 6.3mm spade connecters, the incoming & outgoing Neutrals are connected to terminal 1,
the incoming Live is connected to terminal 2 & the outgoing Live is connected to terminal 3, (no3 is 240v & no4 is 270v) so dont get them mixed up







here, i've wired the outgoing power into a double socket & a 47mm surface box, it does the job but i think i'll change it to a
smaller single outdoor socket to tidy things up. (i'll get one from ebay for about £4)

i've got the variac set to 100% & the plug tester says everythings ok




& heres the finished article, just need to screw it to the back of my cab.



so,not bad for about £50, its pity maplins have put their prices up by £15.

[altommo]

really nice idea man so how does it run ? and do you think id need a bigger variac for a 250mm hvk ?

Altommo

[Joint hogger]

altommo

its working great, i've got it set to 60% power & you can hardly hear it

tho, i wouldnt use a 0.75A variac with a 250 fan tho, your better getting the 1A or even 2A variac instead,
check the label on the fan to see what its power requirements are. i use a high power 6" (150) fan for my outtake
& at the 0.75A variac was running a bit hot, so i changed it for a 1A version from wattbits (model no 1F-1) & its been
working great. you'll also need a deeper enclosure for the bigger variac too, the 1A version is about 90mm/100mm deep,
so your best with a box measuringsomething like 170x140x120.

if you do put one together, can you take some pics & post them in the diy section, cheers.

JH

[Cocogrower]

Nice guide mate.

[Joint hogger]

thanks coco

hopefully it'll help others to make their own, it really is a piece of piss to put together.


atb JH

[ludacris]

thanks mr hogger

[davemarx]

is this the 1 i need or is it as good £33.99 on the bay

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[Joint hogger]

it depends on what size of fan/s you plan to control is that the 075A or the 1A variac ?

[davemarx]

Joint hogger, on Jan 3 2011, 03:08 AM, said:

it depends on what size of fan/s you plan to control is that the 075A or the 1A variac ?

its the 1 amp variavc...i'll be using it with a 5 inch ruck (hopefully) .

[Topo]

What a great thread dude. very easy to follow. I've been looking at a LOT of threads on here about fan speed controllers and variacs. And was genuinely fecking stumped at what was being said it was all sounding gobbledygook to me, going way over my head.

To the point I was thinking to hell with it, just put the fan on a timer to come on for 15 minute every hr to suck the air out. because of sound problems.

but after reading this thread and how clearly it explains it all. I now feel confident enough to go a head and put one together.....cheers dude

Never been one for saying “this thread should be a sticky” but hell it should be and in big bold letters..

Just to clarifythe 0.75A variacs in maplins would it be adequate to use with a 6” rvk fan. And how would I add on a thermostat to the set up....

[Joint hogger]

Topo, on 01 March 2011 - 11:32 PM, said:

What a great thread dude. very easy to follow. I've been looking at a LOT of threads on here about fan speed controllers and variacs. And was genuinely fecking stumped at what was being said it was all sounding gobbledygook to me, going way over my head.

To the point I was thinking to hell with it, just put the fan on a timer to come on for 15 minute every hr to suck the air out. because of sound problems.

but after reading this thread and how clearly it explains it all. I now feel confident enough to go a head and put one together.....cheers dude

Never been one for saying “this thread should be a sticky” but hell it should be and in big bold letters..

Just to clarifythe 0.75A variacs in maplins would it be adequate to use with a 6” rvk fan. And how would I add on a thermostat to the set up....

hi topo

a 6" fan geta a bit hot with the 0.75a variac, your better of with a 1A version (model no 1F-1)

you can use a relay & holder similar to the one i used in my twin variac build & wire a thermostat to it

[kif004]

I'm tempted to opt for the easy option and buy an Encapsulated Type variac. I won't be fitting a thermostat, and they're less than £60 from Wattbits atm, Can anyone tell me if the WB1VX-1 is at all different, (apart from being encapsulated!), to the 1F-1. And also whether or not an STR fan controller would be do the job just as well.

I feel a bit lazy, but guess that' because I am . Thanks in advance, K