I want to cut speed 50% for noise reduction on portable 3spd fan - typical Lasko inexpensive mass mkt Asian product. I want an in line 120v plug-in device, not a permanent l wall switch speed control. I've searched forums and found no direct answer. I'm told it is not safe to use "dimmer" controls, reostat etc.

Is it true you must reduce 60cycle rate to reduce speed on a plug-in 120v device?


What kind of motor am I dealing with? There is no info label on this fan. I bought used 2nd hand - works great if you don't mind living in general aviation ramp. I see fans advertised costing ten times as much with virtually the same noisy over-speed problem. Why this ridiculous buzzing minimum speed? Something to do with USA UL standards or what?


What kind of speed control do I need? I realize the control will probably cost more than the fan.

Will this device do it?
Amazon.com: Speed Bully Motor Fan Speed Controller: Home Improvement

Thanks in advance - any advice will be helpful

 

Welcome to the forums.

What happened to the three speed control that 99.9% of those fans come with ?

 

Deal with it. Fans move air, moving air makes noise. A $400 ceiling fan will still make some noise, what do you expect from a $20 box fan?

 

Maybe you just need to put a piece of padding or something under the fan to stop the vibration. The round type seem to be more quiet than the square. Otherwise, I don't find them that noisy.

 

It's a good thng I live in an industrial city with lots of well educated and experience professionals. I guess this "on-line" experiment failed. Yes these fans have three speeds. 1. annoying 2. excessive 3.destructive. That's the whole point. A large heavy five blade pedsestal fan on a padded carpeted floor has no detectable vibration. Just a lot of unnecessary noise. It has design capability to push plenty of air at half the annoying "low" speed. I expected an "ex-spurt" to identify the type of motor and the method of speed reduction.

 

I do have a three speed ceiling fan but it doesn't do much. Ceiling fan is nice supplemental to general HVAC but is not directional. My desire is direct but quiet air flow. A large heavy pedestal fan of this type should have better design. Yes I've epent years in clean room fabs with air handlers and understand moving massive amounts of air makes noise. This Q required a veryl simple answer and I even provided a link for someone who has some home electrician expertise. What kind of motor - what methiod to slow down. NoGo. I will find a professional who can answer.

OK - quick quiz for Gunguy - what is the historic connection between steam cars and S&W firearms?

 

Good luck with that! If you did find one (which you won't), he won't answer for free. And he'd tell you it can't be done and that maybe you should just buy a new fan, which is much more quiet, than your old, used, 2nd hand one. I have a Lasko Cyclone fan (round one that sits on the floor) and it's pretty quiet.
If there were an answer for you, the pros here would have told you (and for free, too). So if you didn't get an answer you wanted, that's cuz there is none.

 

Well jalex, I'm not a historian of firearm inventors/innovators (or a Google searcher)...but since you already know the answer, why not enlighten me? I'm more of a semi-auto type person, not revolvers.

I hope you find your air movement answer, but clean rooms with remote air movers and residential applications are 2 different animals.