$20 DIY Shop Fan & Air Filter

[@jtj1971]

Best HVAC air handler to shop fan conversion I’ve ever seen. Thanks for sharing!

[@gfotinakes316]

Wow, thanks! Have a great summer.

[@sofjanmustopoh7232]

This the cleanest looking HVAC blower to shop fan conversion . Good job 👍

[@gfotinakes316]

Wow, thanks! By the way, what state are you in? I like to put a pin on my map for all of my replies. Take care!

[@sofjanmustopoh7232]

@@gfotinakes316 Kentucky

[@sofjanmustopoh7232]

@@gfotinakes316 Kentucky

[@fldave612]

Nice project for sure. For those wanting to build this, make sure you don't pull a 3 phase motor commonly found in commercial units unless you have 3 phase power available, also for those not familiar with HVAC motors, these motors are 240 volt, and usually a minimum of 2 speeds, usually 3 in residential, and 4 if it came from a commercial unit, one leg is common which you would wire directly to one side of the cord, and then connect the wire for the speed you desire to the other leg of the cord, each motor is different, but typically red is low speed, blue is medium, on a 4 speed, you'll have a yellow which is another "middle range" speed, and black is high, it doesn't usually matter which of the power leads on the cord goes to common and which goes to the desired speed wire(s) since both are hot wires on 240v. On the motor shell (and on the unit the fan came out of should have a wiring diagram with each speed color, you'll also have 2 wires going to the run capacitor, usually both are brown or grey, again refer to the wiring diagram to be certain. I mounted a simple "handy box with a clamp for the cord and a blank cover I drilled a hole in to mount the rotaty switch in the links below on one of my blower fans, this gave me the option to use all of the speeds and turn it off as well. I highly recommend installing breakers or fuses as well, 5 amp is usually plenty, but again check the amp rating on the motor to be sure, the one in the links below will work, you'll need 2 since it's 240 volt, be sure to install them inline between the cord leads and the blower (before the switch if you install one, lastly DO NOT forget to connect the ground lead from the cord to the blower housing AND the motor casing, there are rubber grommets between the motor brackets and the blower housing, and sometimes rubber between the band clamp and the motor casing. The last thing you want is for the motor casing to become enerigized if an aging armature breaks down and shorts to the casing. www.amazon.com/dp/B09P9T86TT?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details www.amazon.com/dp/B08QVCYLMD?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

[@gfotinakes316]

Wow! I think you need to make this video. Thank you for your wealth of information.

[@silverbackag9790]

Any idea if they make a rotary switch that can be used to change speeds? A google search was fruitless.

[@AztecWarrior69_69]

@@silverbackag9790 Yeah they make them but to find them is hard due to there being so many of them. Best just to make your own. It will be a bit bulky but way cheaper and easy to understand. Get 1 regular switch (household light switch) , and 2 Three way switches. Left to right. The regular switch is the main power. Wire the line power from cord (black) to that switch. On the other screw terminal, of that same switch, wire to the common terminal of the first 3 way switch. Here you wire the other two terminals. To the first terminal wire the black wire of fan. If your fan only has two speed then wire the other wire for low speed. If your fan has three speeds. Jumper from 3-way 1 terminal to 3-way 2 common. To the other terminals you either wire medium and low. So regular switch is power 3-Way switch 1, is selector between High and Medium/Low 3-Way switch 2, is selector between Medium and Low Home Depot has a switch that has a regular switch and a 3-way combined. So you don't have to find a 3 gang box. Look up "15 Amp Duplex Style Single-Pole / 3-Way AC Combination Toggle Light Switch" So if you only need two speeds. Use a single gang box an one combo switch. Or a two gang box with regular switch and a 3-Way switch. If you want three speeds. Use a 2 gang box with on combo switch and a 3-Way switch Or use a 3 gang box with a regular switch and two 3-Way switches.

[@prettyblueplanet]

Great job!

[@gfotinakes316]

Thanks! Have a great life!

[@jayfromtexas6718]

Great video! Very nice work. I've heard the same thing about restricting the air flow. I must admit that I don't understand it. But apparently it is right so I'll do what you did. That said, I would've thought that the filter was enough of a restriction??? Love your attitude about "throwing things away". Thanks for sharing.

[@gfotinakes316]

Thanks Jay! It seems that my amount of restriction has worked because I have run the fan for over 30 minutes at a time with no problems. Good luck!

[@BostLabs]

Hi George! Nice project! Phoenix AZ for your pin collection. :)

[@gfotinakes316]

Thank you for your comment and location. Recently this fan came in handy when we got too much rain in California and my garage floor was flooded. In just a few minutes it got a "blow dry"!

[@BostLabs]

@@gfotinakes316 I can imagine. :)

[@arthurruiz3546]

George very well done. But would like to know more about the motor side filter and detail of the keeping the filter away from the motor.

[@gfotinakes316]

It is hard to explain, I placed a large piece of wood around the motor with a large hole in the center so the motor could extend out. I then put 2" blocks around the motor with large spaces in between for air flow. I then screwed another large piece of plywood into the blocks. The filter fiber material was then placed around the blocks & spaces. A long zip tie holds it all in place. Someone told me that these motors (without filter air resistance) will run so fast that they will burn out. The fans are designed to pull air through a filter. I hope this helps.

[@markbrown1609]

I'm in the process, good tips, the amp issue on the intake, I not being an electrician or HVAC guy gonna have to hit the textbooks, but the cover on the intake should reduce amps

[@gfotinakes316]

Good luck and be safe!

[@PaulSmith-gf6nr]

Just so everybody knows you can take an amp meter and check the amps its pulling and then tell how much you need to restrict it. The running amps are listed on the tag on the motor. If you don't have a meter feel the motor. If your pulling too many amps it will be hot.

[@gfotinakes316]

Paul, thank you so much for the advice. I must have accidentally placed enough restricting filter materials around the motor because my unit can run from 35-50 minutes with not problem. Your information will be great for other viewers. Take care!

[@hrobin.1986]

I've recently been trying to complete the same type of project but thing is I'm not sure if it worked to start with and on top my Q. is simply does all motors have to have the compassitor or are there types of blower that don't need them cause I'm not finding two brown wires although I've got more then I've seen in videos mine has three and then another seven where the speeds are normal located I wired up to best of my ability but nothing but I didn't have a compassitor so tell me what you think is probably what going on with it?

[@gfotinakes316]

I am sorry Robin but I know very little about electrical wiring. I just asked the air conditioner guy which wires to attached to my electrical cord. Be safe and take your unit to someone who knows about wiring. Most people will help you out with no mention of money. Good luck!

[@creativesoftwareconceptsin124]

There are two types of HVAC furnace blower motors - PSC and ECM. The ECM ones do not have an external capacitor but have two sets of wires - the line wires (120V/240V) and the control wires (24VAC). The line wires are always hot but the control wires send the signal to the motor turn ON/OFF and also change the speed. ECM motors will be labeled as such. Maryland.

[@kenraspberry7926]

I plan to build a dust filter with a similar fan. It will be pulling through two filters and pushing through another Is that enough resistance to protect the motor? How did you determine the amount of restriction required?

[@gfotinakes316]

Ken I was just using my fan today to blow fumes out of my garage. I wish I could help you but I just guessed at the restriction I needed. I figured that the motor and fan assembly was headed for the scrap yard so I had nothing to lose. By the way, in what state are you viewing my video? I would like to add a pin to my map for all my video replies. Thank you!

[@kenraspberry7926]

@@gfotinakes316 Arkansas. Sorry for the delay in replying.

[@rexmusic9300]

How do you wire a squirrel Cage fan? It’s 115 walk or boat who I extension cord to work

[@gfotinakes316]

My apologies, I am not good with electrical stuff. I just asked the A/C installer and he told me what wires to connect to. Find someone to help you on this.

[@russveinot5754]

Nice project George. On my fan I made a way to mount an air filter on the outlet so I could use it to filter the shop during dusty jobs. Also, I use it on the patio to keep cool (filter not needed here :>). Did the inlet restrictor quiet it down much (if at all)?

[@gfotinakes316]

The inlet restrictor made it a little quieter but its main purpose was to keep the fan motor from "over spinning" and burning out. It sure moves the air though, it would be great to evacuate a smokey house! Say, would you be okay with me sharing your idea of finding a line with using a little straight edge? I will credit you when I show it. I hope you have a great holiday season, stay safe and take care.

[@russveinot5754]

@@gfotinakes316 I would consider it a compliment, thanks. Which video (of mine) are you are referring to?

[@gfotinakes316]

@@russveinot5754 It was, Find Center on a Board with a Scrap Piece of Wood by OTB Thinker. By the way, where are you located? I am in southern California. I just went to Harbor Freight and picked up that corner clamp with a 15% off coupon. Thanks for that idea too.

[@hasmukhvpatel4539]

i made same thing from my heating unit fan.it works the best..three speed.

[@gfotinakes316]

It is sad that most HVAC companies just junk these great units. Thanks for sharing and have a nice life!

[@joli78363]

What motor is it? 220v 110v???

[@gfotinakes316]

110v