Electrical Guru's needed...
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2005
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Electrical Guru's needed...
Summer is here and it is frkn hot! I have 4 horses that like to stand in the barn. I put up 4 box fans that run 24x7 (horses appear to love the wind to keep the flys off), today I decided to try to wire a motion sensor so the fans wouldn't run when the horses weren't in the barn. It worked but not like I had wanted. I used a motion sensor that is used on flood lights.. apparently it can't pump out the amps that the fans need for them to run efficiently. The whole setup worked fine except the output.
So I now I was thinking I could keep using the motion sensor but wire it into a relay instead? But I'm not sure what type of relay to get (for AC Voltage) or where to get it from.
Suggestions!?
B.
So I now I was thinking I could keep using the motion sensor but wire it into a relay instead? But I'm not sure what type of relay to get (for AC Voltage) or where to get it from.
Suggestions!?
B.
pedant
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 23,576
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From: EXTREME southwest CT
Do you have a Grainger industrial supply near you?
You don't say how much current the 4 fans use in start and run, or even what voltage they are.
So there's no recommendation on that question.
You don't say how much current the 4 fans use in start and run, or even what voltage they are.
So there's no recommendation on that question.
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B.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 699
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From: northern Michigan
Local electrical supply house would carry relay and relay socket. When sizing the relay add up the full load amps of all the fans motors and add 20% to protect the relay contacts. most motion sensors are not designed for a lot of power to flow through but a properly sized relay will do the trick.
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,680
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From: Montreal Canada
Why do you want the fans to turn off? A fan doesn't use that much power. And I find they're more effective when you leave them running.
I would put all four fans on a timer and have them run when the sun is out.
If you want a heavy duty timer, Canadian tire sells them for our block heaters. Those things are like 1500 watts.
I would put all four fans on a timer and have them run when the sun is out.
If you want a heavy duty timer, Canadian tire sells them for our block heaters. Those things are like 1500 watts.
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Posting Guru
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From: Vancouver Island
You could do it with X10 stuff. They've got motion sensor modules, and "appliance" modules that'll handle plenty of amps.
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X10.com - Security Cameras, X10 Home Security, Wireless Camera, Home Automation, Electronics and More!
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Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Whittier, CA
A relay of size enough to run motors is often called a contactor.
Unless your horses are unusually animated while standing around, a motion detector is not going to keep them happy. Suggest you consider a timer instead, that turns the fans off at night when it is cooler. Or else a sunlight sensor placed outside the barn.
You'll still need the contactor. You want one rated for inductive loads, because motors will burn up the contacts of relays not rated for same.
Unless your horses are unusually animated while standing around, a motion detector is not going to keep them happy. Suggest you consider a timer instead, that turns the fans off at night when it is cooler. Or else a sunlight sensor placed outside the barn.
You'll still need the contactor. You want one rated for inductive loads, because motors will burn up the contacts of relays not rated for same.
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