I've got a few Vornado fans which are 120v 60hz but now i am in singapore which is 230v 50hz. I've done a quick fix to get them running here which is to splice a fan speed controller (which i assume is a snubbed TRIAC) which works but makes the shaded pole motors on the fans hum a bit.
So i was wondering if i could just replace the fan speed controller with a series capacitor instead? I remember enough about electronics that because the load is mostly inductive the capacitor would have reactance which would create voltage across it but i cant remember how to do the math or if i would need to change capacitance for each speed setting of the fan (fan changes speed by energising additiinal coils on the motor)
So i was wondering if i could just replace the fan speed controller with a series capacitor instead? I remember enough about electronics that because the load is mostly inductive the capacitor would have reactance which would create voltage across it but i cant remember how to do the math or if i would need to change capacitance for each speed setting of the fan (fan changes speed by energising additiinal coils on the motor)
It depends on the current drawn by the motor but yes a capacitor will be fine. Start with a 470nF 250v AC capacitor. If too low power increase the capacitance.
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