Thread: speed controller

Hi 2zenmonks

I stumbled across your question tonight and to answer it,
No you can't use a fan speed controller for a router for a couple of reasons. The first is that fans are usually what are known as shaded pole motors which work in a different manner to the types of motor that you will find in a router. It is also unlikley that a fan controller would be able to handle the current that a router pulls. i have heard of people trying to use dimmer switches but again i wouldn't recomend it as it you could still damage the router and even worse yourself. I myself have built a kit (purchaced from jaycar) to controll the speed of a makita drill that would also work for a router but as you said that you didn't wan't to build a kit, and as you don't sound like you are all that familiar with electricity or electronics i wouldn't recomend it. Im an electronics tec and you don't want to come in contact with mains electricity. Have you looked at buying a router with a built in speed controller. If you just want a cheap one it seems that most come standard with them today