Blocked cabin filter

[Fu Manchu]

Does a blocked cabin filter draw more current? (Edit: Does the fan motor draw more current with a blocked cabin filter?)

 

[chrisp]

Moving air can seem counterintuitive at times. Blocking or restricting the air flow reducing the mass of air for the fan to move, so actually reduces the load.

We can experience this using a vacuum cleaner. Block the tube and the pitch of the motor increases as the mass of air on the fan has been reduced, reducing the load on the motor, so it runs faster - increasing the pitch of the sound.

I have a power monitor on my woodworking dust extractor so I can see how much load is on it. It works as a de facto air flow meter so I know if I have enough air velocity to seperate the micron sized dust within the cyclone separator. If the air flow is too low, I open some more ports to keep the air flow above the required level.

 

[Smitty]

Does a blocked cabin filter draw more current?

is a cabin filter electrical???
none of them I have ever replaced (done lots) have had electrical connectors

 

[Fu Manchu]

is a cabin filter electrical???
none of them I have ever replaced (done lots) have had electrical connectors

I meant the fan. Will the fan draw more current with a blocked filter?

 

[Fu Manchu]

Moving air can seem counterintuitive at times. Blocking or restricting the air flow reducing the mass of air for the fan to move, so actually reduces the load.

We can experience this using a vacuum cleaner. Block the tube and the pitch of the motor increases as the mass of air on the fan has been reduced, reducing the load on the motor, so it runs faster - increasing the pitch of the sound.

I have a power monitor on my woodworking dust extractor so I can see how much load is on it. It works as a de facto air flow meter so I know if I have enough air velocity to seperate the micron sized dust within the cyclone separator. If the air flow is too low, I open some more ports to keep the air flow above the required level.

That was my thinking too. I was on the money then by the look.

 

[BlackVXGTS]

If you block the airflow from someone who is breathing through a snorkle underwater, sure the pitch might increase, but only because the guy on the other end is dying. Same goes for the vacuum cleaner the engine is dying.

 

[krusing]

Rule of thumb, a restriction/resistance will slow the motor down,
so then it will try to keep the same speed up,
it would load the motor up due to air flow restriction,
and draw more current to move the existing flow of air.

In a nut shell, I would say, yes it will.

 

[Fu Manchu]

The video linked shows it doesn’t.

 

[Lex]

The video linked shows it doesn’t.

In the first part of video he measured voltage. In the second part he measured amps.

 

[lmoengnr]

An initial current increase, but the load drops off when the fan blades start to 'stall'...