Fan transformer.

[Jolly John]

Hi.

Any electrical experts out there able to help. I have picked up a car radiator with attached motor and cooling fan, for use with my boka's cooling system. I've connected up to a 5 amp power supply, made for radio equipment, but it trips out as soon as I connect. I suspect the start up current for the fan motor is much higher than 5 amp. Looking around for an alternative transformer, I thought about the 12v transformers (switch mode) for low voltage lighting, available in 9, 13 and 18 amp versions. They say they are fully dimmable with resistive or inductive dimmers, handy for slowing the fan down if necessary. Will they work, has anyone tried? Would be nice if they do, they are a much cheaper option than a wound transformer and rectifier set-up.


John.

[shadylane]

You need two things that you probably already have.
A battery charger and a 12volt battery.
Edited: If you want speed control buy a kit for a PWM. Key words for goggle search pulse width modulated kits
A big word for a simple, cheap kit to control the speed of DC motors.

[Jolly John]

You need two things that you probably already have.
A battery charger and a 12volt battery.

I don't have a spare battery at the moment, and taking one off the car or van every time I want to run the still, would be a pain. To be honest, I haven't got a charger at the moment either, know I should though!

I just thought that if these cheap transformers will work with an inductive load, it would be a neat solution.

[shadylane]

Ok. Here's a simple solution. Use the radiator and buy a cheap 110vac fan.
If you need cooling control, move the fan farther away.
How do you plan to pump the cooling water?

[Jolly John]

Ok. Here's a simple solution. Use the radiator and buy a cheap 110vac fan.
If you need cooling control, move the fan farther away.
How do you plan to pump the cooling water?

Thanks. I am going to pick up a small pond pump, about 1400 litres per hour, I will fit a "T" and a valve, to control the flow. The condenser is as this : http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... =2&t=44488