How To Build A Twin Variac & ATC 800 + Fan Speed Controller

[crazycatz2012]

Awesome Tutorial Bud lightyear...Looks tha Dogs Boll#@ks! just looked on FleaBay for some the parts..not that much $$ and gonna have to build one now...

Again Awesome!

[crazycatz2012]

hi peeps just find this on FleaBay - think its the right one?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UK-Local-D...item232ee2b3e4

Oops forgot to upload Pic!

Attachment 224651

£27.99 + £4.99PnP

gonna try track down other bits n will post if find em, and Links n prices

Peace

[Bud Lightyear]

The ATC controller is the only bit i will have to pay out of my own pocket so i do apologise, you are correct, it's not cheap, although as the poster said, in terms of price/quality it will win hands down. Although i would recommend avoiding this if you don't have any experience, a tiny bit should be enough but none at all i wouldn't attempt.

A few questions if i may

I see you don't have a sensor wired up, i assume it is built in and the pins are for a seperate more remote sensor if you wish?

Since you need to adjust the variacs manually, i can only assume the controller is a simple on/off at certain temperatures and doesn't adjust the fans speed at all?

Just to clear a few things up for myself and hopefully a few others, cheers again!

I didn't illustrate the sensor because its self explanatory really. The ATC comes with a sensor on a 2 meter lead.
It just connects to terminals 5 & 6 on the ATC unit. You can have your unit outside of the grow room and the probe inside.



The way the controller works is.... you set your target temp on the ATC unit lets say 25c
When the temps are below the set 25c the extraction fan will slow down to a level determined by variac 1 causing the temps to rise.
When the temps exceed 25c the extraction speeds up to a level determined by variac 2 causing the temps to drop off.
It continues to cycle like this maintaining optimum temperatures for your growing environment.

You could have a single variac that would just have a settable low idle speed and go full tilt when temps exceed your target.
With the twin variac you can use a much bigger fan for your extraction and not have it screaming when it goes full tilt.

Regards BL

[Bud Lightyear]

hi peeps just find this on FleaBay - think its the right one?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UK-Local-D...item232ee2b3e4

Oops forgot to upload Pic!

Attachment 224651

£27.99 + £4.99PnP

gonna try track down other bits n will post if find em, and Links n prices

Peace

Yeah, thats the one mate.

Regards BL

[Rory Breaker]

Good job Bud mate.. if i didnt have an ecotechnics evolution for free i would be all over this

[thecapn]

Ah i understand now, i assumed the other variac was for a heater that you weren't using, makes sense now, cheers again for an excellent How-to

[jimmi420]

Nice bit of DIY`ing m8.

[timothio]

For anyone that thinks they'd never be capable of building one of these, think again. I made one but followed a wiring diagram from another site, my knowledge of electrics extends to wiring a plug and nothing else, I managed to get it up and running first time. Mounting everything in the box is easy, when it comes to the wiring just print the diagram out and tick every connection off as you make it. If it doesn't work, check and check again. If it still doesn't work, blame the OP...

Brilliant tutorial Bud... I wish more people would get away from their horrible whiney sms controllers and learn to love variacs, such marvelous things! Big and chunky too, I like that. Just one thing I wanted to ask, the diagram I used had a couple of fuses, a 1a between the mains supply and the relay, and a 2a between the relay and the fans. I put them in because they were in the diagram but I notice you haven't put any in. Are they needed?

[Bud Lightyear]

For anyone that thinks they'd never be capable of building one of these, think again. I made one but followed a wiring diagram from another site, my knowledge of electrics extends to wiring a plug and nothing else, I managed to get it up and running first time. Mounting everything in the box is easy, when it comes to the wiring just print the diagram out and tick every connection off as you make it. If it doesn't work, check and check again. If it still doesn't work, blame the OP...

Brilliant tutorial Bud... I wish more people would get away from their horrible whiney sms controllers and learn to love variacs, such marvelous things! Big and chunky too, I like that. Just one thing I wanted to ask, the diagram I used had a couple of fuses, a 1a between the mains supply and the relay, and a 2a between the relay and the fans. I put them in because they were in the diagram but I notice you haven't put any in. Are they needed?

I can't see the point in having a fuse @ the relay supply as this would be adequately be covered by a 3 amp fuse in the mains plug.

The ones you mention between the relay and the fans are not need either as the fan plug also has a 3 amp fuse. If you look at mine I have a double socket on the output, this is to run two fans a ruck 180L(high power) for extraction and a ruck 180 (normal power) for intake, so 3 amp fuses will be fine.

It would be a good idea to have 1 amp fuses between the "E" terminal and the relay. I did not include this in the build because I am looking for a trip device to do the job, otherwise will use conventional fuses.

Regards BL

[Percy Greenage]

Nice build.

I would say don't use a variac on a permanent split phase capacitor type motor like Vortex, Fantech, Canfan or most Centrifugal type inline fans.
So a fused secondary winding is important to protect from burning out windings.

The relay fuse ain't needed.


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