Can I slow down my ceiling fan??

[gerrymoore]

With this hot weather and sultry nights I started to use the ceiling fan I fitted in the bedroom...but... it's too fast and too loud so I can't sleep with it on .....or off

It has 3 speeds on a pull cord but even on the 'slowest speed' if it was a helicopter it would take off!!

I'm no sure how these fans work with the 3 speed pull switch ...is it something to do with the windings?? Could I use some sort of 'triac' or 'thyristor' type speed control to slow it down??

I just want some air movement like you see in the old black and white movies with the fan only doing about 5 rpm rather than 1000 rpm ..... anyone know......he asked tiredly??

BTW I'm out all day so won't see answers (if there are any) until tonight ...thanks Gerry

 

[frank horton]

living in Crete we use fans all over the house....most of the summer..... March while Oct.....
it's the high end fans that are quiet.....
3 speeds mean 3 seperate windings I'm afraid.....
ur guess is as good as mine for the speed control....
u will get used to the noise....sorry.....
trouble is, summer in the UK is for just a few weeks.....

 

[frank horton]

forgot to say, I don't think u'll be able to run them as slow as the movies tho....
dif windings.....now it's all SPEED as J Clarkson would say.....

 

[bigegg]

Outside the box:
"Alexa, play 'rain on a tent' "
White noise to drown out the fan.

 

[Master-of-none]

My 3 speed fan uses switched capacitors to achieve the control, something like 2.5uf, 4uf & both together. The capacitor induces a phase delay between 2 windings.
In simple terms, a large value capacitor increases the speed, (to a limit) smaller ones make it slower.
Reduce the smaller capacitor too much and the motor may not be able to start, so you may have to start on fast and then reduce when it's moving.
I also have a remote control module fitted, which probably uses a thyristor or similar to reduce the power to the windings. The instructions require the switch (existing capacitors) to be on full speed.
Google or similar will find a "ceiling fan remote module"

 

[pedrobedro]

There are dimmer type switches for fans but the ones for lights are different. A friend of mine fitted one to his bedroom fan and it does the job.

 

[RWD3M]

They're not just for the workshop!

I've been using them at night for years to muffle the wife's snoring!

I can't help with the speed but if it's because it cools you too much, use a sheet!

 

[Blobber]

One of these would do the job I should think, just leave the fans switch on full speed, there used to be loads about, Fantasia is one of the big brands that have been about for years

Airvent ceiling fan controller | Just Fans Ltd

Speed control suitable for the Airvent ceiling fan range. Continuous speed adjustment, Off, forward and reverse switch. Controls up to 5 fans.

www.justfans.co.uk

 

[Gareth J]

Might sound silly but first off, clean and polish the blades. A layer of dust can make a surprising difference.

You could then probably get away with using a Variac to slow it a bit more, so long as the motor didn't get too hot.

 

[gaz1]

i gave up on those things years ago there too noisy

instead i made my own up

computer fans are really quiet and low voltage but they still have a drone to them even this drone on the fan bugs me

now i built a box and stuck 2 fans in it with a hole for the air to escape now i can tell you it works well easy to repair and its loverly and cool blowing across the whole bed

the other one i will tell you is ever remember the air hockey table ever remember how cool it felt over the table

 

[gaz1]

same thing to a degree

 

[Gritineye]

Clever cos the bottles are venturi, the air passing through them cools as it exits.

 

[gaz1]

ive had loads of fun with an air hockey table as i own one myself

the ladies are very competitive

so a choice between an eletric light fan and an over bed cooler with low port im going with a low port cooler blowing over the bed

ive had that box with a single hole blowing over the bed its loverly just using a computer power supply and 2 computer fans set at low speed there cheap

total cost for me was free as i had all the materials for someone else make it out of what you can get your hands on just make sure you seal it so only flows one way

computer supply 12.00 2 fans 2.00 the box whatever you want to build it out of be aware it has a drone so seperate the fan from the box using a rubber as it will also seal as well

 

[gaz1]

computer fan type air hockey but gives you all a good indea how to make an over bed air cooler

 

[gerrymoore]

Just back home ... thanks everyone I'll read all replies and pick one I can use .... someone suggested I tie the cat to the fan to slow it down ... now where's the cat

 

[gaz1]

id just come back from scotland when i built this up as id climatist to there temperature while they was cooking at home and i was taking the mickey

that was until i returned back home

so i built this I didnt care how it looked as long as it cooled which it did i aimed it at the bed far enough away from it to cover the whole bed in a light cool breeze and laid on top of it

it was a nice light casual cool breeze wafting over your skin



now these fans have 3 speeds to select on them as i dont like noise at all to sleep with a constant drone does my head in just as bad as a light driping water tap

i also needed a center bar as i found that both fans hitting each other didnt direct the flow of air just warning you of it

you also need a switch or a piece of wire to keep the power supply on with a pc power unit you will find that info via youtube

like i said its cheap to build and so is the parts