Hi,

Looking for a cheap but reliable solution.

I want a fan to turn on when my thermostat is on. Is there a gizmo that
would do that for me. My fan is line voltage.

Many thanks in advance,

Sam

Sam Takoy wrote:
Hi,

Looking for a cheap but reliable solution.

I want a fan to turn on when my thermostat is on. Is there a gizmo
that would do that for me. My fan is line voltage.

Yes, there are several different ways you could get that to work, but I
don't have enough information to suggest any in particular.

The best solution will be found by consulting with your electrician.

Jon

On 11/29/2010 3:43 PM, Jon Danniken wrote:
Sam Takoy wrote:
Hi,

Looking for a cheap but reliable solution.

I want a fan to turn on when my thermostat is on. Is there a gizmo
that would do that for me. My fan is line voltage.

Yes, there are several different ways you could get that to work, but I
don't have enough information to suggest any in particular.

The best solution will be found by consulting with your electrician.

Jon



Hi Jon,

Thanks a lot.

Please suggest one if you can. For example, something that would turn on
an outlet when the thermostat turns on.

Thanks again

Sam

On Nov 29, 3:37*pm, Sam Takoy wrote:
Hi,

Looking for a cheap but reliable solution.

I want a fan to turn on when my thermostat is on. Is there a gizmo that
would do that for me. My fan is line voltage.

Many thanks in advance,

Sam

The "gizmo" is typically called a "relay".

The input, or coil voltage, should match the voltage on the thermostat
wires. When power is applied, the coil would close a set of contacts
that are rated for your line voltage.

Something like this is typically used as a fan control:

http://www.emersonclimate.com/Docume..._06_pg0114.pdf

However, using something like that to control an outlet might not be
code-compliant.

Sam Takoy wrote:
Please suggest one if you can. For example, something that would turn
on an outlet when the thermostat turns on.

Sam, to my knowledge there is no product sold for this purpose. To
accomplish what you are trying to do would entail knowing information about
what kind of heating you have (which I don't have), in addition to knowing
how it is wired, and then modifying your existing electrical wiring in a
manner which is safe and follows code.

This would be a custom job, which unless you are knowledgeable about
electricity, would entail consulting with an electrician.

Jon

On Nov 29, 3:58*pm, Sam Takoy wrote:
On 11/29/2010 3:43 PM, Jon Danniken wrote:





Sam Takoy wrote:
Hi,

Looking for a cheap but reliable solution.

I want a fan to turn on when my thermostat is on. Is there a gizmo
that would do that for me. My fan is line voltage.

Yes, there are several different ways you could get that to work, but I
don't have enough information to suggest any in particular.

The best solution will be found by consulting with your electrician.

Jon

Hi Jon,

Thanks a lot.

Please suggest one if you can. For example, something that would turn on
an outlet when the thermostat turns on.

Thanks again

Sam- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

What you want is a relay, where the 12 volt line from your thermostat
closes a switch to allow 120 v house current to flow. I would guess
that such things are available at your local electrical supply store,
although I've never used one myself.

Paul

On Nov 29, 4:01*pm, DerbyDad03 wrote:
On Nov 29, 3:37*pm, Sam Takoy wrote:

Hi,

Looking for a cheap but reliable solution.

I want a fan to turn on when my thermostat is on. Is there a gizmo that
would do that for me. My fan is line voltage.

Many thanks in advance,

Sam

The "gizmo" is typically called a "relay".

The input, or coil voltage, should match the voltage on the thermostat
wires. When power is applied, the coil would close a set of contacts
that are rated for your line voltage.

Something like this is typically used as a fan control:

http://www.emersonclimate.com/Docume...atalog_06_page...

However, using something like that to control an outlet might not be
code-compliant.

P.S. I am *not* suggesting that you run out and buy the device I
supplied the link to.

I am simply responding to: "I want a fan to turn on when my thermostat
is on. Is there a gizmo that would do that for me?"

I have replaced such relays on my furnace to control the furnace
blower, but I certainly wouldn't wire an outlet off of one of those. I
can't imagine that such an installation would be code-complant.

To accomplish your goal, I totally agree with everything Jon has said:
Call a professional.

On Nov 29, 4:10*pm, Pavel314 wrote:
On Nov 29, 3:58*pm, Sam Takoy wrote:





On 11/29/2010 3:43 PM, Jon Danniken wrote:

Sam Takoy wrote:
Hi,

Looking for a cheap but reliable solution.

I want a fan to turn on when my thermostat is on. Is there a gizmo
that would do that for me. My fan is line voltage.

Yes, there are several different ways you could get that to work, but I
don't have enough information to suggest any in particular.

The best solution will be found by consulting with your electrician.

Jon

Hi Jon,

Thanks a lot.

Please suggest one if you can. For example, something that would turn on
an outlet when the thermostat turns on.

Thanks again

Sam- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

What you want is a relay, where the 12 volt line from your thermostat
closes a switch to allow 120 v house current to flow. I would guess
that such things are available at your local electrical supply store,
although I've never used one myself.

Paul- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

How do you know that he has a 12 volt line from his thermostat?

"DerbyDad03" wrote in message
...
On Nov 29, 4:10 pm, Pavel314 wrote:
On Nov 29, 3:58 pm, Sam Takoy wrote:





On 11/29/2010 3:43 PM, Jon Danniken wrote:

Sam Takoy wrote:
Hi,

Looking for a cheap but reliable solution.

I want a fan to turn on when my thermostat is on. Is there a gizmo
that would do that for me. My fan is line voltage.

Yes, there are several different ways you could get that to work, but
I
don't have enough information to suggest any in particular.

The best solution will be found by consulting with your electrician.

Jon

Hi Jon,

Thanks a lot.

Please suggest one if you can. For example, something that would turn on
an outlet when the thermostat turns on.

Thanks again

Sam- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

What you want is a relay, where the 12 volt line from your thermostat
closes a switch to allow 120 v house current to flow. I would guess
that such things are available at your local electrical supply store,
although I've never used one myself.

Paul- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

How do you know that he has a 12 volt line from his thermostat?

He wouldn't, It would likely be 24 volt, unless it's electric heat

"Sam Takoy" wrote in message
...
Hi,

Looking for a cheap but reliable solution.

I want a fan to turn on when my thermostat is on. Is there a gizmo that
would do that for me. My fan is line voltage.

Many thanks in advance,

Sam

Depending upon the type of heating system you have, this may not be a big
deal. For example, in a typical hydronic heating system the low voltage
thermostat, via a switching relay, turns on a 120 volt pump. If you have
such a system, you can just parallel a line from the pump to your outlet. Of
course it also depends upon what this outlet will be powering as there are
limits determined by the capacity of the controls involved.

Sam Takoy wrote:
Hi,

Looking for a cheap but reliable solution.

I want a fan to turn on when my thermostat is on. Is there a gizmo that
would do that for me. My fan is line voltage.

Many thanks in advance,

Sam
You need to supply a LOT more info about what you're trying to do.

If the thermostat is the cause, consider monitoring the effect.
For example. I wanted to monitor the on-time of my furnace.
Instead of wiring into the furnace (cause), I put a wind vane on
a microswitch at one of the output registers (effect) and used that.
NO wires, no safety issues, no code issues, no furnace warranty issues
and best of all, no denizens at
alt.home.repair giving me grief about it.

Another option is a parallel process.
Use a second thermostat to control your fan.

A LOT depends on what you're trying to accomplish.

On Nov 29, 5:35*pm, mike wrote:
Sam Takoy wrote:
Hi,

Looking for a cheap but reliable solution.

I want a fan to turn on when my thermostat is on. Is there a gizmo that
would do that for me. My fan is line voltage.

Many thanks in advance,

Sam

You need to supply a LOT more info about what you're trying to do.

If the thermostat is the cause, consider monitoring the effect.
For example. *I wanted to monitor the on-time of my furnace.
Instead of wiring into the furnace (cause), I put a wind vane on
a microswitch at one of the output registers (effect) and used that.
NO wires, no safety issues, no code issues, no furnace warranty issues
and best of all, no denizens at
alt.home.repair giving me grief about it.

Another option is a parallel process.
Use a second thermostat to control your fan.

A LOT depends on what you're trying to accomplish.

"If the thermostat is the cause, consider monitoring the effect.

The cause of what? Monitoring the effect of what?

Wild guess he

The OP wants to plug a fan into an outlet to help circulate/move the
air that the furnace puts out.

On 11/29/2010 2:37 PM, Sam Takoy wrote:
Hi,

Looking for a cheap but reliable solution.

I want a fan to turn on when my thermostat is on. Is there a gizmo that
would do that for me. My fan is line voltage.

Many thanks in advance,

Sam

Easy, a line voltage thermostat can be obtained from many places.

http://preview.tinyurl.com/39ptkbz

If what you're wanting to do is interface with your HVAC system
thermostat, it's a little more complicated. The simplest way
could be an air switch, it's activated by air flow from the furnace
blower.

http://preview.tinyurl.com/3xwnfoz

Using an air sail switch will keep the wiring for your auxiliary fan
completely separate from the control system for your HVAC system.

TDD

DerbyDad03 wrote:
On Nov 29, 5:35 pm, mike wrote:
Sam Takoy wrote:
Hi,
Looking for a cheap but reliable solution.
I want a fan to turn on when my thermostat is on. Is there a gizmo that
would do that for me. My fan is line voltage.
Many thanks in advance,
Sam
You need to supply a LOT more info about what you're trying to do.

If the thermostat is the cause, consider monitoring the effect.
For example. I wanted to monitor the on-time of my furnace.
Instead of wiring into the furnace (cause), I put a wind vane on
a microswitch at one of the output registers (effect) and used that.
NO wires, no safety issues, no code issues, no furnace warranty issues
and best of all, no denizens at
alt.home.repair giving me grief about it.

Another option is a parallel process.
Use a second thermostat to control your fan.

A LOT depends on what you're trying to accomplish.

"If the thermostat is the cause, consider monitoring the effect.

The cause of what? Monitoring the effect of what?

We don't know 'cause the objective was not stated.
In my case, the thermostat was the cause, air movement out of the
register was the effect.
For my purposes, either would have worked. Sensing the air flow was WAY
simpler and safer.

Called logical inference.
If you see brake lights ahead, you can be pretty sure that the driver
is pressing on the brake...at least sure enough that you'd take action
to avoid running into her.

Wild guess he

You're welcome to guess, but that doesn't shed much light on the
actual problem being solved.

In my case, the furnace runs so infrequently that a fan to prevent
stratification has significant effect on "comfort".

The OP wants to plug a fan into an outlet to help circulate/move the
air that the furnace puts out.

Jon Danniken wrote:

Sam Takoy wrote:
Please suggest one if you can. For example, something that would turn
on an outlet when the thermostat turns on.

Sam, to my knowledge there is no product sold for this purpose. To
accomplish what you are trying to do would entail knowing information about
what kind of heating you have (which I don't have), in addition to knowing
how it is wired, and then modifying your existing electrical wiring in a
manner which is safe and follows code.

This would be a custom job, which unless you are knowledgeable about
electricity, would entail consulting with an electrician.

Jon

Actually, there are such products sold. There are HVAC relay modules
available to control AC loads from the usual 24V thermostat signals.
There are also some current sensing products sold that can switch on an
outlet when a particular AC load is on (like a furnace), though they are
most commonly use to turn on dust collectors when starionary woodworking
tools are turned on.

"Sam Takoy" wrote in message
...
Hi,

Looking for a cheap but reliable solution.

I want a fan to turn on when my thermostat is on. Is there a gizmo that
would do that for me. My fan is line voltage.

Many thanks in advance,

Sam

Easy to do by any electrician. You need a 24V relay, a box to house
everything, a cord and plug, wires to the thermostat.

When the thermostat calls for heat, it sends 24 volts to the heater. You
tag on to those wires and run a set to the relay. The relay is like a
magnetic switch that closes the 120V contacts. You need to bring power in
to the relay, then power out to a receptacle or proper cord that the fan is
plugged into. All of this has to be assembled and mounted in a safe manner
inside a box.

Parts would be about $40, about an hour labor charge for the electrician.
There are also home hobbyists or maintenance guys at work that love to do
this sort of thing too. Ask them about it.

On Mon, 29 Nov 2010 13:18:33 -0800 (PST), DerbyDad03
wrote:

On Nov 29, 4:10Â*pm, Pavel314 wrote:
On Nov 29, 3:58Â*pm, Sam Takoy wrote:





On 11/29/2010 3:43 PM, Jon Danniken wrote:

Sam Takoy wrote:
Hi,

Looking for a cheap but reliable solution.

I want a fan to turn on when my thermostat is on. Is there a gizmo
that would do that for me. My fan is line voltage.

Yes, there are several different ways you could get that to work, but I
don't have enough information to suggest any in particular.

The best solution will be found by consulting with your electrician.

Jon

Hi Jon,

Thanks a lot.

Please suggest one if you can. For example, something that would turn on
an outlet when the thermostat turns on.

Thanks again

Sam- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

What you want is a relay, where the 12 volt line from your thermostat
closes a switch to allow 120 v house current to flow. I would guess
that such things are available at your local electrical supply store,
although I've never used one myself.

Paul- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

How do you know that he has a 12 volt line from his thermostat?
Most are 24 volts AC.

On Mon, 29 Nov 2010 16:50:18 -0500, "RBM" wrote:


"DerbyDad03" wrote in message
...
On Nov 29, 4:10 pm, Pavel314 wrote:
On Nov 29, 3:58 pm, Sam Takoy wrote:





On 11/29/2010 3:43 PM, Jon Danniken wrote:

Sam Takoy wrote:
Hi,

Looking for a cheap but reliable solution.

I want a fan to turn on when my thermostat is on. Is there a gizmo
that would do that for me. My fan is line voltage.

Yes, there are several different ways you could get that to work, but
I
don't have enough information to suggest any in particular.

The best solution will be found by consulting with your electrician.

Jon

Hi Jon,

Thanks a lot.

Please suggest one if you can. For example, something that would turn on
an outlet when the thermostat turns on.

Thanks again

Sam- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

What you want is a relay, where the 12 volt line from your thermostat
closes a switch to allow 120 v house current to flow. I would guess
that such things are available at your local electrical supply store,
although I've never used one myself.

Paul- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

How do you know that he has a 12 volt line from his thermostat?

He wouldn't, It would likely be 24 volt, unless it's electric heat

And even then it would be 24 volts unless it was a "line thermostat".

A "line thermostat" would handle switching the receptacle all by
itself.

On Nov 29, 10:25*pm, wrote:
On Mon, 29 Nov 2010 13:18:33 -0800 (PST), DerbyDad03



wrote:
On Nov 29, 4:10*pm, Pavel314 wrote:
On Nov 29, 3:58*pm, Sam Takoy wrote:

On 11/29/2010 3:43 PM, Jon Danniken wrote:

Sam Takoy wrote:
Hi,

Looking for a cheap but reliable solution.

I want a fan to turn on when my thermostat is on. Is there a gizmo
that would do that for me. My fan is line voltage.

Yes, there are several different ways you could get that to work, but I
don't have enough information to suggest any in particular.

The best solution will be found by consulting with your electrician.

Line voltage thermostats are made. If you want a "close on cooling"
function, get a heating thermostat, like what they make for baseboard
heaters. If you want "close on warming", then an attic thermostat is
used.

Of course, you might provide us a lot more information, and we can be
more specific than that.

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..


"Sam Takoy" wrote in message
...
Hi,

Looking for a cheap but reliable solution.

I want a fan to turn on when my thermostat is on. Is there a gizmo
that
would do that for me. My fan is line voltage.

Many thanks in advance,

Sam

On Nov 30, 2:30*am, Smitty Two wrote:
In article ,
*Sam Takoy wrote:

Hi,

Looking for a cheap but reliable solution.

I want a fan to turn on when my thermostat is on. Is there a gizmo that
would do that for me. My fan is line voltage.

Many thanks in advance,

Sam

A guy over at sci.electronics.repair recommended this circuit for you:

http://www.xkcd.com/730/

The only part of the thermostat that turns on the fan is the fan
switch if he has one. Otherwise the thermostat calls for heat or
cooling. When the fan gets turned on depends on what kind of forced
air system he has. He was never clear on if he wanted the power on
when the fan was on for both cooling and heating. Or even if he had
both heating and cooling. A relay is probably the mst practical and
code compliant solution. But if you didn't care about long term
maintainability you could just run a piece of 14/2 from the fan in the
furnace.

On 11/30/2010 7:12 AM, jamesgangnc wrote:
On Nov 30, 2:30 am, Smitty wrote:
In ,
Sam wrote:

Hi,

Looking for a cheap but reliable solution.

I want a fan to turn on when my thermostat is on. Is there a gizmo that
would do that for me. My fan is line voltage.

Many thanks in advance,

Sam

A guy over at sci.electronics.repair recommended this circuit for you:

http://www.xkcd.com/730/

The only part of the thermostat that turns on the fan is the fan
switch if he has one. Otherwise the thermostat calls for heat or
cooling. When the fan gets turned on depends on what kind of forced
air system he has. He was never clear on if he wanted the power on
when the fan was on for both cooling and heating. Or even if he had
both heating and cooling. A relay is probably the mst practical and
code compliant solution. But if you didn't care about long term
maintainability you could just run a piece of 14/2 from the fan in the
furnace.

One problem, most modern air handlers have an expensive circuit board
which has a relay mounted on it to control the blower motor. If the
OP somehow shorts it out, it will cost him dearly. Many of those circuit
boards have an on-board fuse rated at 3 to 5 amps to protect the circuit
board and the current draw from an extra fan may blow the fuse.

TDD

Smitty Two wrote:

A guy over at sci.electronics.repair recommended this circuit for you:

http://www.xkcd.com/730/

That looks like something I tried to build once, but then I ran out of hot
glue and gave up.

Jon

On Nov 29, 1:54*pm, "RBM" wrote:
"Sam Takoy" wrote in message

...

Hi,

Looking for a cheap but reliable solution.

I want a fan to turn on when my thermostat is on. Is there a gizmo that
would do that for me. My fan is line voltage.

Many thanks in advance,

Sam

Depending upon the type of heating system you have, this may not be a big
deal. For example, in a typical hydronic heating system the low voltage
thermostat, via a switching relay, turns on a 120 volt pump. If you have
such a system, you can just parallel a line from the pump to your outlet. Of
course it also depends upon what this outlet will be powering as there are
limits determined by the capacity of the controls involved.

That was my thought "red-neck" it and wire into the 120 line that runs
the furnace when teh relay kicks on. Seriously doubt it would be code
compliant.

Harry K

Sam Takoy wrote in -
september.org:

Hi,

Looking for a cheap but reliable solution.

I want a fan to turn on when my thermostat is on. Is there a gizmo that
would do that for me. My fan is line voltage.

Many thanks in advance,

Sam

I have a line voltage, 120 volts, thermostat in my poolroom. It is for
heating only. Thermostat turns on a fan. Airflow thru an inline heater
causes heat to come on only when fan is running. Anyway, what you need is
called a line voltage thermostat. They are common and cheap.

Sam Takoy wrote in -
september.org:

Hi,

Looking for a cheap but reliable solution.

I want a fan to turn on when my thermostat is on. Is there a gizmo that
would do that for me. My fan is line voltage.

Many thanks in advance,

Sam

I have a line voltage, 120 volts, thermostat in my poolroom. It is for
heating only. Thermostat turns on a fan. Airflow thru an inline heater
causes heat to come on only when fan is running. Anyway, what you need is
called a line voltage thermostat. They are common and cheap.

Sam Takoy wrote in -
september.org:

Hi,

Looking for a cheap but reliable solution.

I want a fan to turn on when my thermostat is on. Is there a gizmo that
would do that for me. My fan is line voltage.

Many thanks in advance,

Sam

I have a line voltage, 120 volts, thermostat in my poolroom. It is for
heating only. Thermostat turns on a fan. Airflow thru an inline heater
causes heat to come on only when fan is running. Anyway, what you need is
called a line voltage thermostat. They are common and cheap.

On 11/29/2010 2:37 PM, Sam Takoy wrote:
Hi,

Looking for a cheap but reliable solution.

I want a fan to turn on when my thermostat is on. Is there a gizmo
that would do that for me. My fan is line voltage.

Many thanks in advance,

Sam


I put a 120V duct fan in one heating duct in my old house. I hooked it
up to the furnace fan controller in parallel with furnace fan . When
the furnace fan came on the duct fan came on.

LdB

On Nov 30, 12:24*pm, LdB wrote:
On 11/29/2010 2:37 PM, Sam Takoy wrote:

Hi,

Looking for a cheap but reliable solution.

I want a fan to turn on when my thermostat is on. Is there a gizmo
that would do that for me. My fan is line voltage.

Many thanks in advance,

Sam

I put a 120V duct fan in one heating duct in my old house. I hooked it
up to the furnace fan controller in parallel with furnace fan . When
the furnace fan came on the duct fan came on.

LdB

there is at least one gottcha with this plan if you have a multi-speed
furnace blower.

The extra outlet will have 120V when the speed tap that you connect to
is energized. But if your furnace at some time sets a different
blower speed the exra outlet will have more or less then 120V.

If you wired the outlet to the low speed winding for example, you'll
get 120V when the blower is runing low speed. But when the blower is
running high speed you'll get more then 120 V which could be dangerous
to your fan.

I think if you wire to the high speed winding, then the voltage will
always be 120V or less which is probably safe. Moral of the story,
check the voltage at your extra outlet at ALL the speeds that the
blower might operate.

Mark

On 11/30/2010 11:35 AM, Mark wrote:
On Nov 30, 12:24 pm, wrote:
On 11/29/2010 2:37 PM, Sam Takoy wrote:

Hi,

Looking for a cheap but reliable solution.

I want a fan to turn on when my thermostat is on. Is there a gizmo
that would do that for me. My fan is line voltage.

Many thanks in advance,

Sam

I put a 120V duct fan in one heating duct in my old house. I hooked it
up to the furnace fan controller in parallel with furnace fan . When
the furnace fan came on the duct fan came on.

LdB

there is at least one gottcha with this plan if you have a multi-speed
furnace blower.

The extra outlet will have 120V when the speed tap that you connect to
is energized. But if your furnace at some time sets a different
blower speed the exra outlet will have more or less then 120V.

If you wired the outlet to the low speed winding for example, you'll
get 120V when the blower is runing low speed. But when the blower is
running high speed you'll get more then 120 V which could be dangerous
to your fan.

I think if you wire to the high speed winding, then the voltage will
always be 120V or less which is probably safe. Moral of the story,
check the voltage at your extra outlet at ALL the speeds that the
blower might operate.

Mark

The speed of a furnace blower with a conventional multi-winding AC motor
is not controlled by the voltage. The speed is determined by
which winding is energized. There are usually three speeds available
via different taps. Low, medium and high with only two connected to
the control board at one time. The speed for AC is usually higher
than the speed for heating.

TDD

On Tue, 30 Nov 2010 08:01:44 -0800, "Jon Danniken"
wrote:

Smitty Two wrote:

A guy over at sci.electronics.repair recommended this circuit for you:

http://www.xkcd.com/730/

That looks like something I tried to build once, but then I ran out of hot
glue and gave up.

Jon

That's funny, I have that same schematic sitting on my bench----

"Harry K" wrote in message
...
On Nov 29, 1:54 pm, "RBM" wrote:
"Sam Takoy" wrote in message

...

Hi,

Looking for a cheap but reliable solution.

I want a fan to turn on when my thermostat is on. Is there a gizmo that
would do that for me. My fan is line voltage.

Many thanks in advance,

Sam

Depending upon the type of heating system you have, this may not be a big
deal. For example, in a typical hydronic heating system the low voltage
thermostat, via a switching relay, turns on a 120 volt pump. If you have
such a system, you can just parallel a line from the pump to your outlet.
Of
course it also depends upon what this outlet will be powering as there are
limits determined by the capacity of the controls involved.

That was my thought "red-neck" it and wire into the 120 line that runs
the furnace when teh relay kicks on. Seriously doubt it would be code
compliant.

Harry K

No need to "red neck" it. There is no reason that the relay that powers the
pump on a hydronic system, couldn't feed an outlet, or install another
switching relay that is indirectly controlled by the same thermostat

On Tue, 30 Nov 2010 12:12:50 -0600, The Daring Dufas
wrote:

On 11/30/2010 11:35 AM, Mark wrote:
On Nov 30, 12:24 pm, wrote:
On 11/29/2010 2:37 PM, Sam Takoy wrote:

Hi,

Looking for a cheap but reliable solution.

I want a fan to turn on when my thermostat is on. Is there a gizmo
that would do that for me. My fan is line voltage.

Many thanks in advance,

Sam

I put a 120V duct fan in one heating duct in my old house. I hooked it
up to the furnace fan controller in parallel with furnace fan . When
the furnace fan came on the duct fan came on.

LdB

there is at least one gottcha with this plan if you have a multi-speed
furnace blower.

The extra outlet will have 120V when the speed tap that you connect to
is energized. But if your furnace at some time sets a different
blower speed the exra outlet will have more or less then 120V.

If you wired the outlet to the low speed winding for example, you'll
get 120V when the blower is runing low speed. But when the blower is
running high speed you'll get more then 120 V which could be dangerous
to your fan.

I think if you wire to the high speed winding, then the voltage will
always be 120V or less which is probably safe. Moral of the story,
check the voltage at your extra outlet at ALL the speeds that the
blower might operate.

Mark

The speed of a furnace blower with a conventional multi-winding AC motor
is not controlled by the voltage. The speed is determined by
which winding is energized. There are usually three speeds available
via different taps. Low, medium and high with only two connected to
the control board at one time. The speed for AC is usually higher
than the speed for heating.

TDD
That was my first thought too - but that darn stator acts as a
transformer, perhaps? Never tried it, and I don't have a 2 speeder
around to check with any more.

On my old furnace, though, the low speed was ALWAYS connected and
powered - and the high speed just overtook it when powered up. Never
had a problem in over 12 years running it that way (low speed never
"open circuit"

The Daring Dufas wrote:
On 11/30/2010 11:35 AM, Mark wrote:
On Nov 30, 12:24 pm, wrote:
On 11/29/2010 2:37 PM, Sam Takoy wrote:

Hi,

Looking for a cheap but reliable solution.

I want a fan to turn on when my thermostat is on. Is there a gizmo
that would do that for me. My fan is line voltage.

Many thanks in advance,

Sam

I put a 120V duct fan in one heating duct in my old house. I hooked it
up to the furnace fan controller in parallel with furnace fan . When
the furnace fan came on the duct fan came on.

LdB

there is at least one gottcha with this plan if you have a multi-speed
furnace blower.

The extra outlet will have 120V when the speed tap that you connect to
is energized. But if your furnace at some time sets a different
blower speed the exra outlet will have more or less then 120V.

If you wired the outlet to the low speed winding for example, you'll
get 120V when the blower is runing low speed. But when the blower is
running high speed you'll get more then 120 V which could be dangerous
to your fan.

I think if you wire to the high speed winding, then the voltage will
always be 120V or less which is probably safe. Moral of the story,
check the voltage at your extra outlet at ALL the speeds that the
blower might operate.

Mark

The speed of a furnace blower with a conventional multi-winding AC motor
is not controlled by the voltage. The speed is determined by
which winding is energized. There are usually three speeds available
via different taps. Low, medium and high with only two connected to
the control board at one time. The speed for AC is usually higher
than the speed for heating.

TDD

If you connect the external fan to one of the motor speed leads and the
furnace changes to a different fan speed, your connection won't be 120V.

If there is a DPDT fan relay and ordinary multispeed AC motor there is
probably a point in the circuit that will work. Single speed motors are
easier. I might hard-wire a duct fan, but for a receptacle I would use
an isolating relay. Direct wiring a receptacle compromises the
reliability of the furnace.

If you use a relay in a low voltage thermostat circuit, a different
point is used for heating and cooling. If you tap the white wire for
heating some thermostats may need to have the "heat anticipator" setting
changed.

--
bud--

Sam Takoy wrote:
Hi,

Looking for a cheap but reliable solution.

I want a fan to turn on when my thermostat is on. Is there a gizmo that
would do that for me. My fan is line voltage.

Many thanks in advance,

Sam

Just tripped over this at home depot.
Wonder if one could cut a hole in the plastic
and adjust the thermostat? Or maybe it's not adjustable.

http://www.smarthome.com/manuals/7141_spec.pdf

On Thu, 02 Dec 2010 18:38:36 -0800, mike wrote:

Sam Takoy wrote:
Hi,

Looking for a cheap but reliable solution.

I want a fan to turn on when my thermostat is on. Is there a gizmo that
would do that for me. My fan is line voltage.

Many thanks in advance,

Sam

Just tripped over this at home depot.
Wonder if one could cut a hole in the plastic
and adjust the thermostat? Or maybe it's not adjustable.

http://www.smarthome.com/manuals/7141_spec.pdf
Good luck getting into it - and then the thermostat is most
definitely going to be a non-adjustable unit.
Likely a solid state chip switching a triac.

wrote:
On Thu, 02 Dec 2010 18:38:36 -0800, mike wrote:

Sam Takoy wrote:
Hi,

Looking for a cheap but reliable solution.

I want a fan to turn on when my thermostat is on. Is there a gizmo that
would do that for me. My fan is line voltage.

Many thanks in advance,

Sam
Just tripped over this at home depot.
Wonder if one could cut a hole in the plastic
and adjust the thermostat? Or maybe it's not adjustable.

http://www.smarthome.com/manuals/7141_spec.pdf
Good luck getting into it - and then the thermostat is most
definitely going to be a non-adjustable unit.
Likely a solid state chip switching a triac.

Don't know why I bother...
If you'd read the link, you'd know it's not a triac.

On 12/3/2010 3:42 AM, mike wrote:
wrote:
On Thu, 02 Dec 2010 18:38:36 -0800, mike wrote:

Sam Takoy wrote:
Hi,

Looking for a cheap but reliable solution.

I want a fan to turn on when my thermostat is on. Is there a gizmo
that would do that for me. My fan is line voltage.

Many thanks in advance,

Sam
Just tripped over this at home depot.
Wonder if one could cut a hole in the plastic
and adjust the thermostat? Or maybe it's not adjustable.

http://www.smarthome.com/manuals/7141_spec.pdf
Good luck getting into it - and then the thermostat is most
definitely going to be a non-adjustable unit.
Likely a solid state chip switching a triac.

Don't know why I bother...
If you'd read the link, you'd know it's not a triac.

I saw a reference to a bi-metallic switch UL listed for
100,000 cycles.

TDD

On Fri, 03 Dec 2010 01:42:55 -0800, mike wrote:

wrote:
On Thu, 02 Dec 2010 18:38:36 -0800, mike wrote:

Sam Takoy wrote:
Hi,

Looking for a cheap but reliable solution.

I want a fan to turn on when my thermostat is on. Is there a gizmo that
would do that for me. My fan is line voltage.

Many thanks in advance,

Sam
Just tripped over this at home depot.
Wonder if one could cut a hole in the plastic
and adjust the thermostat? Or maybe it's not adjustable.

http://www.smarthome.com/manuals/7141_spec.pdf
Good luck getting into it - and then the thermostat is most
definitely going to be a non-adjustable unit.
Likely a solid state chip switching a triac.

Don't know why I bother...
If you'd read the link, you'd know it's not a triac.
OK, I looked down the specs a bit farther - my bad - it's not
electronic - just a simple bimet thermostat - but my "good luck" still
holds - and any adjustment, if possible at all, would be "hit and
miss". Lots of better solutions available.

The same supplier has the Duct-Stat
http://www.smarthome.com/3018/DuctSt...t-DS100/p.aspx
that will do EXACTLY what you want it to do, is adjustable out of the
box, and can be used for either heat on or cold on applications.

And ONLY $25.00.
It's only good for 5 amps, not 15,

On Nov 29, 4:37*pm, Sam Takoy wrote:
Hi,

Looking for a cheap but reliable solution.

I want a fan to turn on when my thermostat is on. Is there a gizmo that
would do that for me. My fan is line voltage.

Many thanks in advance,

Sam


Find the blower contactor for yuor heater and get an apprpriately
rated relay and wire the coil in paralell with the coil on the blower
contactor. Wire normally open contacts in series with the outlet you
want to control. I did pretty much the same with a helper fan. BTW
Helper fan didnt work out very well, made the cold bedroom warm but
made another warm bedroom cold.. Proper ducts and equalizing fixed the
problem.

Jimmie