CAN THE FAN CONTROLLER BE USED
WITH OTHER (THIRD-PARTY) FANS?Yes,
the controller is capable of directly powering most 12 volt DC
brushless fans that consume less than 500 mA, or can be used with a
relay and external power source to operate just about any size or
combination of fans. However, note that when a relay is used, the
fan(s) must be the same operating voltage as your battery bank (or AC
power supply) - this is due to the fact that the Fan Controller's
built-in 12 volt regulator is limited to a maxium output current of 500
mA, and thus will not be able to supply DC power to fans that draw more
than this amount. Also, since most third-party fans lack a motor
tachometer connection,
the Controller's FAN
STALLED alarm
function may not work with them.
When no fan tach connection is present, the Fan Controller's FAN TACH connection
(terminal D) should be jumpered to the FAN –
connection (terminal E) in order to prevent the Controller from
repeatedly sounding the stalled fan alarm.
CAN
THE CONTROLLER BE USED WITH MORE THAN ONE FumeOut™ FAN?Yes,
the Controller's built-in 12 volt regulator is capable of powering
two FumeOut™ fans simultaneously. However, since the
Controller
only has a Fan Tach connection for one fan, only one of the two fans
can be monitored by the Controller for proper motor speed. So, failure
of the unmonitored fan might go unnoticed, and would result in less
effective ventilation of the battery compartment. However, failure of
both
fans would still cause the Controller to sound a stalled fan alarm,
thereby providing some warning of total ventilation failure.
CAN
TWO FumeOut™ CONTROLLERS AND EXHAUST FANS BE
USED WITH THE SAME BATTERY COMPARTMENT OR BATTERY BANK?
Yes, since each Controller/Fan pair operates independently of the
other,
two or more pairs can be used on the same batteries. Note that by
programming one Controller with a slighter higher fan turn-on voltage
than the other, a staged ventilation scheme results - Only one fan runs
during the recharge process until battery voltage rises enough to also
turn the second fan on.
CAN
TWO FumeOut™ FANS BE INSTALLED ON
THE SAME VENT PIPE? Yes, but this approach
doesn't increase the airflow nearly as much as having
separate exhaust vent
pipes for each fan.
CAN THE EXHAUST FAN BE USED
WITHOUT THE CONTROLLER? Yes,
the fan can be connected directly to a 12VDC supply, or can be
controlled with the programmable voltage switch found on some charge
controllers and inverter/chargers. Naturally, this approach doesn't
provide the FAN STALLED
alarm or PURGE TIMER
feaures found on the Fan Controller, and doesn't allow the 12 volt fan
to be directly powered by a 24 or 48 volt battery bank.
CAN FumeOut™ BE USED WITH SEALED BATTERIES?
Yes - Although primarily designed to exhaust the fumes produced by
non-sealed flooded-cell batteries, FumeOut™
can also be used as a fail-safe for providing ventilation in the event
a bank of sealed batteries vents fumes under extraordinary conditions -
i.e., if a charge controller fails or is accidentally set to perform an
equalization charge, thereby exposing the batteries to excessively high
voltages. Used in this application, FumeDog's
turn-on voltage would be set high enough so that the Fan didn't come on
at any normal battery charging voltage. Also, leaving the Fan Tach wire
disconnected sounds an alarm whenever the fan is running, thereby
providing some warning of a battery overvoltage condition.
HOW
MANY AMP-HOURS DOES THE FumeOut™ CONTROLLER DRAIN FROM MY
BATTERIES WHEN THE FAN ISN'T RUNNING?
Since the controller consumes approximately 5 mA (0.005 amps) from a 12
volt battery bank while idling, it will consume 0.005 amps x 24 hours =
0.12 amp-hours over a 24 hour period. Note that the current consumption
drops by roughly proportional amounts when the Controller is being
powered from a 24 or 48 volt battery bank instead (i.e., 0.06 AH or
0.03 AH per 24 hours, respectively).
HOW
MANY AMP-HOURS DOES THE PURGE TIMER CONSUME?Although
enabling the Purge Timer doesn't increase the Controller's
idling current, it will present an additional load on the batteries
whenever the fan is actually running. Since the Fan runs for 5 minutes
(0.083 hours) every 24 hours and draws approximately 220 mA
when
operated from from a 12 volt battery bank, it will consume an
additional 0.018 amp-hours per 24 hour day. Using a 24 or 48 volt
battery bank instead
reduces this value by a proportional amount.
CAN
THE MOTOR IN THE EXHAUST FAN BE REPLACED?
Yes, the DC brushless fan motor inside the Fan enclosure can be
accessed by removing the 4 screws on the bottom of the enclosure,
sliding out the old motor and sliding in a new one. Fan motor
replacement kits are available directly from LSL Products for $19.95,
plus $4.95 for Priority Mail shipping. Click HERE
to order one.
DOES
THE CONTROLLER OR FAN NEED TO BE FUSED?
Yes, the wiring between the Controller and the battery bank must be
protected by a small fuse. This fuse must be installed as close to the
battery bank as practical. Since the Exhaust Fan is only connected to
the Fan Controller (and thus is protected by the Controller's fuse), it
doesn't need a fuse of its own.
HOW
IS AN EXTERNAL ALARM CONNECTED TO THE FAN CONTROLLER?
The Controller includes a connection (terminal J) for turning on an
external alarm. The negative wire of the external alarm is connected to
this terminal, and a low-side MOSFET switch inside the Controller
grounds this connection to turn on the alarm. This terminal is capable
of handling currents up to 1.5 amps, at up to 20 volts DC.
Note that the Controller's regulated 12 volt DC output can be used as a
power source for the external alarm, as long as the alarm doesn't draw
more than 0.5 amps at 12 volts. If your external alarm requires
voltages or currents greater than any of these values, it should
instead be connected to the controller through a relay and external
power source.
Unlike the piezo beeper in the Fan Controller, the external alarm only
sounds when the fan motor is stalled.
HOW
NOISY IS THE EXHAUST FAN WHEN IT'S RUNNING?
After it's been installed, the fan produces a humming sound that can be
heard from several yards away in a completely quiet room, but not from
much distance beyond that.
WHAT TOOLS WILL I NEED TO INSTALL
IT? A #2 Phillips screwdriver for mounting the Controller
and bracket, a
drill and 1/8" drill bit for the Controller mounting mounting holes, and
a very small 3/32" slotted screwdriver to tighten wire connections on
the Controller terminal block. Depending on your application, you may
also need small wire cutters, a wire stripper and a saw for cutting 2"
PVC vent pipe.
HOW
DO I OBTAIN A COPY OF THE INSTALLATION OR OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS?
Click HERE
to download the Owner's Manual, which includes both the installation
and operating instructions.
(This page was last modified
1/5/2011)
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