Solid State Fan Speed Control

[A/A Fuel GTX]

Just installed an industrial ceiling fan that had a label on it stating " for use with a solid state speed control ". Are most fan speed controls solid state or does the control specifically have to say solid state?

 

[mopowr steve]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but solid state controls would consist of electronic components such as SCR's, Triacs, etc. usually found with full control speed controls unlike speed controls utilizing split capacitance (or capacitors which use a di-electric oil within, therefore not solid state) which are typically controls of set speeds.

 

[A/A Fuel GTX]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but solid state controls would consist of electronic components such as SCR's, Triacs, etc. usually found with full control speed controls unlike speed controls utilizing split capacitance (or capacitors which use a di-electric oil within, therefore not solid state) which are typically controls of set speeds.

So a speed control that has a slide, like a dimmer with full range, would be solid state?

 

[goldstar]

So a speed control that has a slide, like a dimmer with full range, would be solid state?

I think an electronic speed control has three set speeds (L-M-H). If you use a dial type rheostat the fans have a tendency to hum. Also, if the fan itself has a selector switch speed control built in make sure it's on high.

 

[drcampbell]

If this is a 3-phase fan, a label stating "suitable for use with a solid state speed control" would suggest that it contains an inverter-duty motor. If it's not an inverter-duty motor, it's probably suitable only for fixed-speed operation.

 

[kwired]

If it is a three phase ceiling fan it is likely a 8 foot diameter or larger fan, probably is sold with a VFD. A company called "Big Ass Fans" makes these, but there probably is others as well.

Otherwise your smaller ceiling fans are typically permanent split capacitor motors. If you put a resistive control in line with them you control the voltage across the motor and it produces less torque - but is inefficient and the resistance gives up lost energy as heat.

If you use solid state controller then it is clipping off the peaks of the AC current wave resulting in less torque but is more efficient then a resistive control method. Heat is still lost in the controller but not as much as the resistor that would be necessary to give same performance.

 

[A/A Fuel GTX]

This is just a standard, 56" industrial ceiling fan. 120.V/ 1Amp. I have some Lutron Quiet fan controls that I'd like to use. These are rated at 1.5A.

 

[kwired]

This is just a standard, 56" industrial ceiling fan. 120.V/ 1Amp. I have some Lutron Quiet fan controls that I'd like to use. These are rated at 1.5A.

They should work fine. They are solid state, all they do is block part of the current during part of each cycle. The more they block the less power is sent to the motor, the less torque it produces, the less speed you get out of the fan.

 

[Jraef]

The issue is, some motors, often older ones, will not like how a solid state controller works and you had to use a rheostat type dimmer. That has now become rare, almost all dimmers are solid state now. That label is just telling you it's fine to use them.

 

[mopowr steve]

So a speed control that has a slide, like a dimmer with full range, would be solid state?

Yes, that's what I'm referring to. As the typical fixed speed controls are primarily designed for shaded pole motors (typically most residential paddle fans and small commercial fans which have current draws less than 1.5 amps) unlike induction motors of larger sizes which would have current draws higher and would require speed controls that are designed for the higher currents.

But I would have to agree that the size fan your using I would think should work fine with a set speed control.