Electronic Cooker Hood Controller

New from Arcolectric is an intelligent cooker hood control module that features dual proportional load power control. This permits variable fan speeds and adjustable lamp brightness using only two momentary switches.

Most cooker hoods have a lamp and three fan speed settings, usually operated by slide switches or push buttons. While more than three fan speeds are desirable, having more than four or five buttons can be confusing to the end user. The fan motor typically has separate windings or taps for each speed selection, making the motor more bulky and expensive, however, Arcolectric's module allows multiple speeds from a single winding motor.

The programmable module allows up to ten discrete fan speed settings, and these can be easily configured for optimum extraction rate or lowest noise level. Speed selection is achieved using a safe low voltage momentary switch input - each button press increases the speed. An automatic timer function switches off the fan after one hour. The lamp brightness can be adjusted too, allowing high intensity mains halogen lamps to be used whilst cooking, but reduced intensity for ambient lighting or to create a particular mood in a room. Each button press increases the lamp brightness, and the electronic 'soft start' feature prolongs the working life of halogen bulbs.

The controller features safe isolated low voltage inputs for connection to compact tack switches or cosmetic membrane switch panels, which can be mounted almost anywhere since switch current rating or voltage clearance is no longer an issue.

The control can sense the rising temperature within the hood canopy, and automatically switch on the fan when cooking starts. A built-in safety feature can shut off the fan if dangerously high temperatures are reached. The unit can accept analogue signal measurements such as temperature, light level, air pressure, humidity, speed or flow rate.

Additionally, the intelligent control knows how many accumulated hours the fan has been used, and can indicate when the filters should be cleaned or changed.

The module assembly will be available as an open chassis for integration into an appliance, or as a fully housed module for more robust applications.