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weekend project - making my box fan smart (lemmy.world)

submitted 2 weeks ago by Smokeless7048@lemmy.world to c/homeassistant@lemmy.world

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Heyo

In the summer, I stick box-fans in the windows, pulling in nice cool air and pushing off the use of AC by a couple months

Of course, since these are cheap CT fans, all they have is a rotary dial (0-3), and no real ability to automate.

I decided to add a 3 channel controller on AliExpress

Since my goal is high WAF, everything needs to work via the orinal controls. This allowed me to still use the original rotary dial, while giving me a HA override

Installation was fine, largest annoyance was the fan was original a switched neutral. Once I figured that out, I moved to a switch hot layout, and the tested. Turned on fan... Err, fine.

Threw in shoe glue as adhesive, and wire protection, and put 'er back together

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[–] PatrickYaa@feddit.org 7 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

You should turn them to push air amout the window, not suck it in. That will create higher airflow. ("Source")

[–] Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafe 3 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I've tried both approaches, even some in/some out, etc.

It really depends on the space, as box fans can't generate much pressure differential so their effect tends to be pretty localised.

In my current space I've found using outward in a specific window works best for overall cooling for the rest of the house overnight, but that room has a markedly higher temp.

If that fan is inward-facing, that room is 5-10 degrees (F) cooler (than using outward), again overnight.

Now if you can get a fan that handles pressure differentials (e.g. a compressor fan) then it's a different game.

Overall I've found a combination of inward/outward to work best (I suspect because of the weak pressure differential of box fans), so targeting a consistent air flow velocity is what works for them.

[–] harmbugler@piefed.social 4 points 2 weeks ago

Like your house is a big, complex PC case.

[–] limelight79@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Interesting idea. I have one that I use with my indoor cycling setup, but I just have it on a Sonoff S31, so I can turn it on (the knob is set to top speed) as I warm up while riding. Then the script that starts the program on the computer also shuts off the fan when the program exits (gotta work in automation somewhere!). I like the idea of being able to control the speed.

[–] clay_pidgin@sh.itjust.works 0 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (1 children)

Now I'm imagining a speed-Controlled fan with an automation linking it to the speed of your stationary bike (or a treadmill) to simulate the air you're moving through. That could be fun.

Though, I guess you don't need HA for that and could do it pretty simply with a relay or two.

[–] limelight79@lemmy.world 1 points 5 days ago (1 children)

There actually is a fan that does that already. It connects to the game and adjusts flow based on your speed.

Similarly, there's also a device that adjusts the angle of the bike based on the angle of the hill you're on at the moment.

The fan is $320. The other device is $700.

I just use a box fan and ride flat.

[–] clay_pidgin@sh.itjust.works 1 points 5 days ago

I bet! That is probably a reasonable price for bike people, but not for me.

[–] zueski@lemmy.zip 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

How did you wire this to allow the knob to override the controller safely?

[–] Smokeless7048@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago

The knob connects to the controller, and the controller treats that as a command input.

So that part just works.