Light Dimmer for powerhead speed control?

[kj5kb]

Just scheming...would a standard incadescent 'triac' type dimmer work OK as a powerhead speed controller for a typical induction motor powerhead?

Or would I need a 'real' motor speed controller?
perhaps a ceiling fan speed control would work...

Or is this just a bad idea in general?

I have a bunch of Penrguin 660r's, sometimes it would be nice to turn down the flow.

 

[OgreMkV]

It should work... as long as the powerhead holds out. I doubt that most (if any) of them are designed to be used at differing speeds (controlled by voltage). I think there's one brand that has a dual speed PH, but it's probably a $200 machine.

If you have a spare one that you don't mind sacrificing, then test it out, but I wouldn't suggest running it in production until after a multi week test run.

 

[kj5kb]

That's kinda what I was thinking...anyone else?

 

[Narwhal72]

Actually it won't work with an AC pump. It would work with DC pumps but any pump you plug into a wall is going to be an AC pump. This is because pumps work by alternating current between poles which alternately pulls and pushes on the magnetic impeller. If you reduce the voltage on an AC pump it will reach a threshold and then shut off with little change in flow.