Components: Fan-Speed Controller Combines AC-To-DC Power With Control/Alarm

Dec. 16, 2004
SmartFan Inversion, a fan-speed control board, combines an ac-to-dc power supply and a dc fan control/alarm. This provides the convenience and benefits of ac input power and dc output control. Speed-controlled dc fans use 40% to 60% less power at...

SmartFan Inversion, a fan-speed control board, combines an ac-to-dc power supply and a dc fan control/alarm. This provides the convenience and benefits of ac input power and dc output control. Speed-controlled dc fans use 40% to 60% less power at reduced speeds compared to similar ac fans. The voltage-versus-flow curve of a dc fan is also more linear, increasing the accuracy of speed control. The board's supply input range is 95 to 240 V ac. It controls 24- or 48-V dc fans up to 4 A. Variable fan speed is based on temperature or a control signal input (4 to 20 mA, 2 to 10 V dc). Price ranges from $80 to $142, depending on volume and configuration.

Control Resources Inc.www.controlres.com; (978) 486-4160

About the Author

Roger Allan

Roger Allan is an electronics journalism veteran, and served as Electronic Design's Executive Editor for 15 of those years. He has covered just about every technology beat from semiconductors, components, packaging and power devices, to communications, test and measurement, automotive electronics, robotics, medical electronics, military electronics, robotics, and industrial electronics. His specialties include MEMS and nanoelectronics technologies. He is a contributor to the McGraw Hill Annual Encyclopedia of Science and Technology. He is also a Life Senior Member of the IEEE and holds a BSEE from New York University's School of Engineering and Science. Roger has worked for major electronics magazines besides Electronic Design, including the IEEE Spectrum, Electronics, EDN, Electronic Products, and the British New Scientist. He also has working experience in the electronics industry as a design engineer in filters, power supplies and control systems.

After his retirement from Electronic Design Magazine, He has been extensively contributing articles for Penton’s Electronic Design, Power Electronics Technology, Energy Efficiency and Technology (EE&T) and Microwaves RF Magazine, covering all of the aforementioned electronics segments as well as energy efficiency, harvesting and related technologies. He has also contributed articles to other electronics technology magazines worldwide.

He is a “jack of all trades and a master in leading-edge technologies” like MEMS, nanolectronics, autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence, military electronics, biometrics, implantable medical devices, and energy harvesting and related technologies.

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