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LegionOfShroom


Registered: 02/13/17
Posts: 235
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Repurposed Ceiling Module FFU
#27057212 - 11/25/20 02:47 PM (3 years, 2 months ago) |
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So I have this dinosaur of an FFU that I got from a friend who used this unit for his business, which involved packaging sterile medical supplies. The label says “AirGuard” “MicroPleat Fan/Filter Ceiling Module KSP2448-5JP-36WG3” “Date Of Assembly: 3/12/03” I’ve done several google searches and can’t find any info on this unit. It’s 48” x 24”.
I’ve been doing all of my agar work and inoculated 100+ jars in front of this machine with no issues, so it seams to be serving its purpose. The filter is slightly beat up around the edges where people’s fingers crushed it slightly as it was being moved around, but 90-95% of the filter is as it should be. Being that it’s such a large unit and almost 100% of the damage is within a few inches of the sides, I haven’t had any problems yet.
I’m trying to figure out what’s my best option for replacing the prefilter. I can’t find anything that’s a perfect fit. Actual size of the current prefilter is 16” x 23 1/4” x 1/2”. It’s a metal cage around some kind of thin filter media material. Also, not sure what’s the standard prefilter when people build their own DIY flow hoods. Is there a specific MERV rating that is optimal? Any advice about prefilters would be greatly appreciated.
Also, I’m looking for advice on how I could test to see if the filter is getting clogged up and running out of life. I’ve heard of the lighter test where you hold a lighter in front of the flow and it should blow the flame back to about 45 degrees up to a certain distance from the filter. I was wondering if I purchase a $20 anemometer will that be the correct tool and sufficiently accurate to understand if my unit is working as it should be? If yes, what kind of readings should the anemometer be showing is things are in good condition?
Thanks! Also, if anybody wants to just drop a link to some relevant posts then I’d be happy to check those out too.
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bodhisatta 
Smurf real estate agent


Registered: 04/30/13
Posts: 61,889
Loc: Milky way
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Cheap anemometers are not very accurate at low flow rates. A hot wire anemometer would be appropriate but they're not $20.
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LegionOfShroom


Registered: 02/13/17
Posts: 235
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Re: Repurposed Ceiling Module FFU [Re: bodhisatta]
#27057263 - 11/25/20 03:17 PM (3 years, 2 months ago) |
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Thank’s for that info, I didn’t know those were a thing. Would the Testo 405i hot wire anemometer be sufficiently accurate? That’s the cheapest one I’ve seen so far, at just over $100
edit: here’s a screenshot from the Testo website
Edited by LegionOfShroom (11/25/20 03:32 PM)
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bodhisatta 
Smurf real estate agent


Registered: 04/30/13
Posts: 61,889
Loc: Milky way
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Yea but you could try the lighter test and see if that is good enough for you
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LegionOfShroom


Registered: 02/13/17
Posts: 235
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Re: Repurposed Ceiling Module FFU [Re: bodhisatta]
#27057358 - 11/25/20 04:11 PM (3 years, 2 months ago) |
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Ok, it seams to pass the lighter test. If anything it might be overpowered as it almost extinguishes the flame at 6" and keeps it bent 45-90 degrees at 12"+ away from the filter.
Any advice on selecting a prefilter? I was considering a roll of "tackified" MERV 8 filter media, because it seams very easy to cut to size and install. Would it be better to get an oversized MERV 13-16 furnace filter and try to make that fit?
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bodhisatta 
Smurf real estate agent


Registered: 04/30/13
Posts: 61,889
Loc: Milky way
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A lot of stuff will work
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LegionOfShroom


Registered: 02/13/17
Posts: 235
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Re: Repurposed Ceiling Module FFU [Re: bodhisatta]
#27057403 - 11/25/20 04:31 PM (3 years, 2 months ago) |
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bodhisatta 
Smurf real estate agent


Registered: 04/30/13
Posts: 61,889
Loc: Milky way
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Lol. Better filter more resistance more filtration. A range will work on your filter im sure
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LegionOfShroom


Registered: 02/13/17
Posts: 235
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Re: Repurposed Ceiling Module FFU [Re: bodhisatta]
#27057478 - 11/25/20 05:22 PM (3 years, 2 months ago) |
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Thanks for the replies Bodhi
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LegionOfShroom


Registered: 02/13/17
Posts: 235
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Ugh so I’m really upset because something seams to have gone wrong with my flow hood now.... I put the highest level AC/Furnace filter I could find on it. (FPR 10) I used it for a few hours yesterday with the new filter and didn’t notice any problems, except slightly reduced velocity of air coming from the unit. Now I just turned it on and it’s making an obvious ticking sound that seams like it’s coming directly from the middle of the blower motor...
My FFU has 3 power settings. On high the ticking sound is barely audible over the noise of the unit while it’s operating. On low you can clearly hear it. I was using it on the low setting yesterday so I know this wasn’t happening. Also the sound increases and decreases in frequency with the speed of the fan motor. As soon as the power is turned off all the whooshing air sounds stops immediately but the ticking continues and slows down gradually.
This is a huge disappointment as my FFU is my absolute favorite thing that I own...
Has anybody had a similar experience with a blower motor making a ticking sound such as this? Is the fan about to break down? Also is there any chance that I may be able to replace/service a blower motor in the kind of old ceiling unit?
Obviously I’m pretty sure putting the filter with too much resistance fucked up my unit... I suppose I’ll be going back to the store to pick up a super low quality furnace filter, cut it down to size, and see if my FFU will continue to operate...
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bodhisatta 
Smurf real estate agent


Registered: 04/30/13
Posts: 61,889
Loc: Milky way
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Choking the intake of a blower motor doesn't make it fail. Millions of homes never change their furnace filter and their hvac systems struggle to move any air. Also those super fancy 3m filters are terribly restrictive and they haven't got sued for killing people's blowers
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LegionOfShroom


Registered: 02/13/17
Posts: 235
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Re: Repurposed Ceiling Module FFU [Re: bodhisatta]
#27061595 - 11/28/20 12:55 PM (3 years, 1 month ago) |
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That makes sense I suppose, thanks for the quick reply. I thought I might have killed my flow hood.  I still wonder what could be causing the ticking sound. Maybe something got knocked into the fan area while I was swapping the filters...?
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bodhisatta 
Smurf real estate agent


Registered: 04/30/13
Posts: 61,889
Loc: Milky way
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That or the bearings just so happened to be at the end of the road but blowers usually last longer than humans if they don't overheat or get clogged with shit
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LegionOfShroom


Registered: 02/13/17
Posts: 235
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Re: Repurposed Ceiling Module FFU [Re: bodhisatta]
#27061623 - 11/28/20 01:14 PM (3 years, 1 month ago) |
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Smartattack
C'mon man



Registered: 12/21/18
Posts: 3,775
Loc: A thought
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Even if a bearing is starting to go it will likely continue to spin for another 6,000,000,000,000,000,000 rotations. And make noise the entire time.
-------------------- * Smarts videos * Planet of the APES   I'm a fungal white supremacist.
Edited by Smartattack (11/29/20 11:18 AM)
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ranchsparky
Stranger

Registered: 11/29/20
Posts: 2
Last seen: 2 years, 7 months
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Re: Repurposed Ceiling Module FFU [Re: Smartattack]
#27063388 - 11/29/20 05:10 PM (3 years, 1 month ago) |
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LegionOfShroom


Registered: 02/13/17
Posts: 235
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Re: Repurposed Ceiling Module FFU [Re: ranchsparky]
#27063847 - 11/30/20 12:06 AM (3 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
Smartattack said: Even if a bearing is starting to go it will likely continue to spin for another 6,000,000,000,000,000,000 rotations. And make noise the entire time.

Quote:
ranchsparky said: The starting capacitor for the motor probably went bad. I found this manual for a similar unit.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.salvex.com/media/document/Micropleat%2520FFU%2520Owners%2520Manual.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiLh9bR_KjtAhW3SjABHSj6CiIQFjAKegQICRAB&usg=AOvVaw06L810j2ipiwB5HkrtdsR2
Thanks for sharing that instruction manual, that is a pretty similar unit to the one I’ve got
Here’s a screenshot from the manual

I wonder if I’d ever be able to replace the capacitor, the entire fan motor, or the HEPA filter (if it became clogged). I’m guessing that they don’t make the parts that would fit this exact unit anymore. Not sure if it may have been built with common parts that still exist today. If the fan motor does give out it seams like it would be a shame to just toss the whole thing in a dumpster
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dfwerydfhg
Stranger
Registered: 05/04/20
Posts: 194
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A lot of this industrial stuff is supported forever, suppliers often just don't advertise the parts. Though as long as you can get it apart (and have at least a vague idea what you're doing) a capacitor should be a relatively easy DIY fix. Just don't put a start capacitor in place of a run cap, like I did once. Loud bangs and release of the magic smoke is never good.
Looks like Parker owns AirGuard now, you could start making calls and see if filters are still available. I'd bet they are, or some new model that will fit. Might cost more than you paid for the whole unit...
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