Mountain Bru Posted December 2, 2020 Share Has anyone tried to make/hack their own kickr headwind? R6000 for a fan is excessive in my opinion, so I'm considering trying to hack a normal fan into one that can be controlled by a bluetooth or ANT+ signal. I searched around a bit online, but didn't find anything that looked too appealing. This is the fan I have: https://russellhobbs.co.za/high-velocity-floor-fan/. It has a few different speed settings, but I'm guessing these can be replaced with some kind of multi-channel relay and controller, but I'd like to be able to still use the fan in normal "Manual mode" if I'm not using it while training. Has anyone tried to do something similar and been successful? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave303e Posted December 2, 2020 Share https://www.reddit.com/r/Zwift/comments/enqsif/diy_headwind_fan_idea/ Seems doable with the Zwift API, I am guessing a rasberry PI and likely some form of a power control/speed control. But with those you are in for some proper money on a 'maybe'... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duane_Bosch Posted December 2, 2020 Share You can get something like this which you can use to switch the fan on/off. https://www.geewiz.co.za/smart-home/97575-geewiz-wifi-smart-plug-sa-3-pin-10a-rev-3-ios-android-works-with-google-home-and-amazon-echo.html?sfdr_ptcid=2961_617_489613367&sfdr_hash=948ad4ca8fdb896ca74ab7e15e6d9f4e&gclid=Cj0KCQiAk53-BRD0ARIsAJuNhpvGdLdmBEv66z2VxhMNw58dE49N4AzFyXpKbAS1LyZ1GSR7hk4pKYMaAmw2EALw_wcB Zawillow and Cookie88 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zawillow Posted December 2, 2020 Share You can get something like this which you can use to switch the fan on/off. https://www.geewiz.co.za/smart-home/97575-geewiz-wifi-smart-plug-sa-3-pin-10a-rev-3-ios-android-works-with-google-home-and-amazon-echo.html?sfdr_ptcid=2961_617_489613367&sfdr_hash=948ad4ca8fdb896ca74ab7e15e6d9f4e&gclid=Cj0KCQiAk53-BRD0ARIsAJuNhpvGdLdmBEv66z2VxhMNw58dE49N4AzFyXpKbAS1LyZ1GSR7hk4pKYMaAmw2EALw_wcB I use the Shelly version of this (https://shelly.cloud/products/shelly-button-smart-home-automation-device/) to turn the fan on and off. It's not speed control, but I find it useful to be able to control how hot I get on the trainer. Cookie88 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookie88 Posted December 2, 2020 Share I have exactly the same fan as you - look if you are keen to get technical then having it link up to your HR or amount of Power you are putting down would be a cool project, but I just settled for a Smart Wi-Fi Plug (like this... https://www.incredible.co.za/connex-16a-sa-3-pin-smart-wifi-plug) which you can control from your phone. Works like a charm! EDIT: I see Duane has also tried something similar Edited December 2, 2020 by Cookie88 Duane_Bosch 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vetplant Posted December 2, 2020 Share Take a Sonoff RF and wire it into an existing extension cord and Bob's your uncle. https://www.banggood.com/SONOFF-RF-7A-1500W-AC90-250V-WIFI-Wireless-Smart-Switch-Socket-Module-With-433MHZ-Remote-Controller-p-1040227.html?rmmds=search&cur_warehouse=CN Available locally at Takealot, Communica and a bunch of other sites as well, just a bit more expensive. You can get the Basic and switch it with your phone, but the RF gives you the option of not fiddling with the phone, you can just push a button on the remote. Sonoff is brilliant for plenty of applications around the house. Have a look at their devices.https://www.banggood.com/search/sonoff.html?from=nav I believe they even have a ceiling fan speed controller. I have no experience with it however. So don't know whether it will work on this floor fan.https://www.banggood.com/SONOFF-IFan03-AC100-240V-50-or-60Hz-WiFi-Ceiling-Fan-And-Light-Controller-with-RM433-RF-Remote-Controller-and-Base-p-1530792.html?rmmds=search&cur_warehouse=CN https://www.banggood.com/search/sonoff.html?from=nav Capricorn, Mountain Bru and Cookie88 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clinton - theCOW Posted December 2, 2020 Share I was looking at this a while back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RocknRolla Posted December 2, 2020 Share II have a normal AEG floor fan. It's voice activated. The UI however has lots of hidden costs, and training has been full of bugs and glitches. Sometimes the UI is completely unavailable due to being in "sleep" mode, normally early in the mornings, and after 9 at night. I have 3 versions of the UI, and the one that seems to work the best is Version 3, perhaps because of the AI that is installed and it's observation of ver 1 and 2. All in, I wouldn't suggest an interface such as this, due to the complexity, and the high maintenance cost in the long run, as these still needs to be maintained even on the off/summer season. Schnavel and HdB 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Furbz Posted December 2, 2020 Share jumping off for 5 seconds to turn a fan on was never an option. Duane_Bosch and Vetplant 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duane_Bosch Posted December 2, 2020 Share You could also just buy a fan with a remote control. Or even a 200w Air Cooler with remote that you can drop ice into for extra cooling for significantly cheaper than a Headwind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duane_Bosch Posted December 2, 2020 Share jumping off for 5 seconds to turn a fan on was never an option.What I do is start my fan at full blast. I start my workout with an old t shirt on. As soon as I start sweating the tee comes off and that becomes my sweat/snot mop for the workout. Easy. No need for a SIX THOUSAND RAND FKIN FAN!!!!!!! Edited December 2, 2020 by Duane_Bosch Dexter-morgan, openmind and Furbz 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jewbacca Posted December 2, 2020 Share I have 2 fans. 1 aimed at my upper body and one aimed at my lower half. I turn them both on full blast. I work out for 80 minutes, fall off the bike, wade through the pool of sweat I've just made, go outside and sit down on the cold floor for a few minutes, get my wits back and stumble in to turn off the fans. Having the fans go slower is never an option. Ever. Rocket-Boy, Duane_Bosch, paul goddard and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mountain Bru Posted December 2, 2020 Share You can get something like this which you can use to switch the fan on/off. https://www.geewiz.co.za/smart-home/97575-geewiz-wifi-smart-plug-sa-3-pin-10a-rev-3-ios-android-works-with-google-home-and-amazon-echo.html?sfdr_ptcid=2961_617_489613367&sfdr_hash=948ad4ca8fdb896ca74ab7e15e6d9f4e&gclid=Cj0KCQiAk53-BRD0ARIsAJuNhpvGdLdmBEv66z2VxhMNw58dE49N4AzFyXpKbAS1LyZ1GSR7hk4pKYMaAmw2EALw_wcBI've considered this, especially seen as I already have a few sonoff switches floating around my house (one even controls my gate motor, so I can open my gate with my phone ), but it doesn't quite get around the problem of wanting to ramp up the fan speed during a workout (which isn't super critical, but nice to have) Vetplant 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mountain Bru Posted December 2, 2020 Share I was looking at this a while back. Just looking? I was hoping to find a electrical engineer floating around here thats already made a working prototype Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mountain Bru Posted December 2, 2020 Share I have 2 fans. 1 aimed at my upper body and one aimed at my lower half. I turn them both on full blast. I work out for 80 minutes, fall off the bike, wade through the pool of sweat I've just made, go outside and sit down on the cold floor for a few minutes, get my wits back and stumble in to turn off the fans. Having the fans go slower is never an option. Ever. Sounds about right. I'm a heavy sweater, so it's always interesting to see the shapes I've made on the trainer mat... almost like a rorschach test... Jewbacca 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Ouzo Posted December 3, 2020 Share I've considered this, especially seen as I already have a few sonoff switches floating around my house (one even controls my gate motor, so I can open my gate with my phone ), but it doesn't quite get around the problem of wanting to ramp up the fan speed during a workout (which isn't super critical, but nice to have)We need to chat about how you got your gate motor to work on a SONOFF As for the fan, surely there must be a SONOFF hack out there that will link it to HR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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