Speedster fan speed controller Failure

Discussion in 'Grow Room Design/Setup' started by Don Piano, Jan 18, 2010.

  1. Anyone ever had the experience of a fan speed controller failing? I have the Control Wizard Speedster controller. I had it set on Med-high and when I went to check on my room it was 108degF and my DIY "High temp shutdown switches" had activated and killed the lights. I looked for the failure, assuming it was the green Hydrofarm ActiveAir 6" inline fan that failed. So like an idiot I went a bought a new fan because I can not wait for warranty service (well i could after I got my new one and then i would have an extra backup). I got a WindTunel and man are they quiet. I came home and hooked up the new fan and still had issues. JEEZ I'M AN IDIOT. So I looked at virtually everything; The intake's electrtonic damper, The anti-backdraft damper on the exhaust, the prefilter for my CAN, the Intake filter, FUK. Got to the speed controller at that point and figured out that it only worked on high and not on any other speed. Needless to say that this piece of junk only came with a 90day warranty and I am past now. I am going to gut it and see about fixing it, but will not use it anymore. I am going to get a grow room controlling program, sensors, and relays for my PC. I can access it from my phone with the web browser, and then activate of disable anything at any time. It can send me a message when a failure happens, and in combination with a backup exhaust fan and backup intake with damper, I can activate the backups in the event of a failure message being received. Sounds like my Fed taxes will be spent on all that. Gonna be over $2000 for all of the gear and cables, but it will be entirely automated and entirely worth it. It even has a sensor for the dirt to tell you it needs watering, or it activates your drip system. It can literally monitor and control everything.

    SO. Do not ever overlook that speed controller, things could have gotten real sour, had I not just fabbed up my diy high temp kill-switches (link in sig).

    Anyone else ever had this happen? Did you figure out what it was inside of the unit? Are there more reliable units?
     
  2. Well apparently no one has ever had a fan speed controller fail. I must be the first.
     
  3. #3 Deadman, Jan 28, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 28, 2010
    No I have not had a failure however i handwired mine onto a squad socket that controlls my movement fans aswell as my filter fan.

    I know it's not relavent but i think it's cool
    Your whole setup is amazing by the way I read through your whole build process and int your grow process you have built your room with the love care and compassion that most put into personal sportcars and single engine small recreational planes.
    Kudos to you on a job well done.. more should aspire to build such things safer and with more stealth
     
  4. Hi Don! Sorry about your speed controller failure.

    My fan didn't fail, but I walked in my room the other day, and the lights were off, but were supposed to be on.

    I checked everything out, and it appears my digital timer just went frikkin Kapooie. I have no idea why.

    I am amazed I ever get a crop with all the shit that I either do incorrectly or just plain blows up on me...LOL.

    Your room looks awesome, by the way.
     
  5. I'm a noob, so don't take my word for it, but I thought I read the following re: fan speed controllers in these forums:

    1. The fan is supposed to be one that is made for a controller (apparently not all are).
    2. Controllers have a tendency to make the fans run hot/hotter than normal.

    Not sure if this helps or not.
     

Share This Page