Andy Morris has solved an aggravating problem. You can get a remote control for tower fans, but they’re too noisy for the bedroom. Propeller fans are nice and quiet, but they don’t come with remotes. So Andy devised a propeller fan remote control that does not require line-of-sight, which makes it easier to use in the dark.
The gadget comes with off/on, three fan speeds, and multicolored LEDs to indicate the fan’s speed. As a bonus, it beeps to indicate that the fan got your message.
The editors of Design News have handpicked your favorite Gadget Freak cases from over the years, bringing them together in a dynamic digital edition, complete with videos, which you can view here.
The design is well thought out and I have no doubt the gadget works as described, but it's a lot of labor to build. There are cheap commercial radio-controlled (300 MHz) appliance switches on the market that would at least turn the fan on and off. There are also 3-speed models using phase angle controllers for ceiling fans. I have one that cost <$20 and works just fine. There's no reason it wouldn't control a table fan just as well. All one would have to do is install it in a suitable box.
I also like to build stuff but generally do so when there is no economical solution already available.
You are quite right that there is fun and learning when you build stuff yourself, but I thought I answered that point in my last line. We do achieve those goals when we build things that we can't get off the shelf and there are plenty of such opportunities. At least for me as consultant I design and build numerous non-standard instruments both for my lab and my clients' facilities.
Putting the learning aspect aside, I'd like to point out that ceiling fans (very popular here in toasty Tucson, AZ) have a UL-approved solution available on most products. Hunter, Hampon Bay, Casablanca are some brands, There is a module inside the fan housing that receives an RF coded signal from the remote control. The module connects power to the fan motor's multiple windings, as well as to the light fixture which are often part of the ceiling fans. I never tried buying the control module separately, but it is worth trying before subjecting yourself to an uninsured loss, should, heaven forbid, your homebrew caused a fire. Using any "not to code" wiring or a home brewed control will void your fire insurance in case of a fire. Better hope you will never need it.
This is one of the reason I became a successful IC designer! It' s articles like this that introduce young minds to the art of dreaming up, designing and building projects like this. Good job!
Tucsonics raises an interesting point. We've all heard stories of the excuses big insurance companies use to shoot down customers' claims.
The question, then, seems to be how directly the non-compliant gadget might have contributed to a fire (or other accident). Clearly if it is the direct cause then that could be grounds to reject the claim. But what if the device is connected to the house wiring (say in another room) and is clearly not the cause of the fire? What if a non-compliant device is simply sitting on a shelf in the house, not plugged in at all? Any clarification on the rules or conventions on this?
As for my radio fan control, I bought an after-market one and installed it in an exising ceiling fan. It does not switch between windings but uses a phase angle controller (probably a triac) to adjust the AC voltage to the fan whose original speed switch is permanently set to "high." It works quite well and it has a additional channel to switch and dim the light fixture attached to the fan. There is no technical reason why someone could not mount the receiver section in a box with a plug and an outlet to control a table fan.
Thanks for all the ideas, in the article and the comments, on how to build a remote control. I think this is a nifty design idea, and one my electrically-inclined spouse will love to try out.
The problem about insurance companies balking at covering fires when a non-standard gadget is hooked up to the house's wiring could apply to a wide range of gadgets we cover in Gadget Freak. Most of the gadgets are electronic and many connect to the house's wiring.
Alternate sources for the remote control to be hacked up:
Home Depot Westek Model # RFK306LC Store SKU # 567861
Home Depot (Christmas season only) Home Accents Holiday Model # RC-009A-1 Store SKU # 202620 (Same as above units, but has two outlets).
Lowe's SKU # 0357410 (Christmas season only) It is the same as the Home Depot Christmas version, but has a smaller remote, that is electrically identical to the remote used in this gadget.
Both seasonal remote control systems will work in this project, and both cost $10.
From Dell / Intel® New Paradigms in Design Work Scott Hamilton, vertical market strategist for Dell Precision workstations, 5/2/2013 3
Early in my career, I worked as a draftsman and remember the days of drawing on vellum with numbered pencils and Mylar with plastic lead. This was a fun experience in the sense that I ...
I've been using workstations for more than 10 years and love finding ways to get more performance from my system. With demanding professional applications that require more power each ...
A lasting memory from my first job as an engineer in an auto assembly plant is standing on hard concrete at six in the morning, vending-machine coffee clutched in hand, listening to ...
A quick look into the merger of two powerhouse 3D printing OEMs and the new leader in rapid prototyping solutions, Stratasys. The industrial revolution is now led by 3D printing and engineers are given the opportunity to fully maximize their design capabilities, reduce their time-to-market and functionally test prototypes cheaper, faster and easier. Bruce Bradshaw, Director of Marketing in North America, will explore the large product offering and variety of materials that will help CAD designers articulate their product design with actual, physical prototypes. This broadcast will dive deep into technical information including application specific stories from real world customers and their experiences with 3D printing. 3D Printing is
To save this item to your list of favorite Design News content so you can find it later in your Profile page, click the "Save It" button next to the item.
If you found this interesting or useful, please use the links to the services below to share it with other readers. You will need a free account with each service to share an item via that service.
Tweet This
7 
