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Hardware hacking an electric fan heater without burning the house down

BigG

I recently purchased a 2kW electric fan heater for $12 (it was on sale). This was an offer too good to refuse, especially as the latest Project14 competition is hardware hacking.

 

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These fan heaters, like any other personal heater, are great for the winter months.

 

However, as I have on the very odd occasion left an oil heater on over night (it is very easily done), I certainly wouldn't want to do the same with an electric fan heater.

 

So I want to add in some "smarts" or electronics to ensure that it can automatically turn off if I leave the room etc. and it would also be handy to remotely adjust heat and fan speed.

 

The nice thing about this particular fan heater is that it has a safety cut off switch, should it tip over. I thought that this would be my starting point for my project, as this part can be readily enhanced.

 

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The part I am struggling with is how to or what electronic options could I use to hack the heater settings switch, which is mechanical. How could I do this electronically, bearing in mind we are dealing with mains voltage.

 

{gallery:autoplay=false} Heater Settings Switch

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And the other question is what options are out there on how to hack the fan speed controller... this also is mains voltage, so I'm out of my depth in terms of using a digital potentiometer, for example.

 

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Any suggestions / ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Parents

  • I've worked out a possible logic table for the fan and the two heater elements.

     

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    So I think 2 x SPST (NO) 16A relays (not sure if this could be combined somehow) and then 1 x SPST(NO) 6A relay would work in this context.

     

    Would this be correct?

  • in reply to BigG

    It's hard to say, I'm not sure I understand the existing wiring unfortunately : (

    It might be two separate elements, but I've never taken apart a modern fan heater.

    Heaters are quite high-power, so might need some care if modifying, since wires could get hot.

    This is quite an advanced mod, not sure how it will be implemented, will the relays and circuitry be installed inside the heater? It could he hard to install everything in there.

    It could be way easier to use a remote controlled mains socket adapter, but it may take some of the fun out of the project too, if the aim was to modify the heater product itself.

    So, not really sure what to suggest : (

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  • in reply to BigG

    It's hard to say, I'm not sure I understand the existing wiring unfortunately : (

    It might be two separate elements, but I've never taken apart a modern fan heater.

    Heaters are quite high-power, so might need some care if modifying, since wires could get hot.

    This is quite an advanced mod, not sure how it will be implemented, will the relays and circuitry be installed inside the heater? It could he hard to install everything in there.

    It could be way easier to use a remote controlled mains socket adapter, but it may take some of the fun out of the project too, if the aim was to modify the heater product itself.

    So, not really sure what to suggest : (

Children
  • in reply to shabaz

    I am still unpacking and tearing it down myself to understand the wiring and the rest.

     

    I've yet to sketch out a wiring diagram and it's quite hard to capture the key elements in photos.

     

    It looks like two separate elements to me based on the wiring.

     

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      wrote:

     

    Heaters are quite high-power, so might need some care if modifying, since wires could get hot.

    This is quite an advanced mod, not sure how it will be implemented, will the relays and circuitry be installed inside the heater? It could he hard to install everything in there. Will the relays and circuitry be installed inside the heater?

     

    No the idea is to remove this top covering and then have the control hardware outside of the enclosure. Not sure just yet as to where to place. As you say, the wires can get quite hot.

     

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    It's actually quite neatly designed, in my opinion.

     

    {gallery:autoplay=false} Motor

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