Has anyone ever run a Dolphin AC pump on a dimmer controller?

Quietman

2500 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
May 14, 2017
Messages
3,272
Reaction score
10,880
Location
Indiana - born and bred
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
You can't just put a "dimmer" switch on an ac pump (motor actually). The speed of ac motor is controlled by frequency and reducing voltage will cause the motor to overheat which will lead to damage, reduced life and at worse fire hazards. At constant speed the motor will draw more amps to compensate for the reduced voltage. The motor is actually working harder (a bit counterintuitive). Those nameplate requirements exist for a reason.

A better solution is adding a valve on the output (never input) of the pump. As the valve is closed reducing flow this will lower the current due to lower power requirements of the reduced flow on the pump. The pump is working less hard. Motor longevity is unaffected.

You can get variable speed frequency controllers for ac equipment but these are prohibitively expensive.
 

Just grow it: Have you ever added CO2 to your reef tank?

  • I currently use a CO2 with my reef tank.

    Votes: 4 5.2%
  • I don’t currently use CO2 with my reef tank, but I have in the past.

    Votes: 3 3.9%
  • I have never used CO2 with my reef tank, but I plan to in the future.

    Votes: 5 6.5%
  • I have never used CO2 with my reef tank and have no plans to in the future.

    Votes: 61 79.2%
  • Other.

    Votes: 4 5.2%
Back
Top