Fractional horsepower motors power equipment that requires less than one horsepower to operate. They’re everywhere: HVAC fans, medical device pumps, cooling fans in telecom enclosures, exhaust hood blowers, and in small conveyor systems. Because they’re so widely used in OEM products, the demand for fractional horsepower motor control has grown significantly.
Our Products
Speed Controls for Motors and Pumps
Our fractional horsepower motor controls cover fans, pumps, compressors, conveyors, lifts, and more. Control motor speed based on temperature and pressure, analog control signals, remote transducers, potentiometers, and MODBUS communication. Everything is engineered and built in Massachusetts and tested before it leaves the building.
Motor Controls
Featured Motor Controls
Eddy 10
BLDC motor speed controller using 0-10V input for 24V and 48V motors. Includes on-off, reverse capability, and field programmability with Navigator.
Aurora
DC motor speed controller for 2-wire, 12-48V motors using 0-10V, 4-20mA, or knob control inputs.
Cirrus ECM
ECM motor speed controller using 0-10V, 4-20mA, or thermistor sensor inputs. Includes field programmability with Navigator.
Stratus II
VFD motor speed controller for single- or 3-phase 120V and 240V motors using 0-10V, 4-20mA, MODBUS, temperature, or potentiometer inputs. Includes field programmability with Navigator.
Nimbus I
Triac based fan speed controller using 0-10V, 4-20mA, and temperature inputs. Includes field programmable dip switch.
Nimbus II
Triac based fan speed controller using 0-10V, 4-20mA, and temperature inputs with improved electrical noise filtering and response time when it comes to speed control. Includes field programmability via the Navigator.
Navigator
Handheld field programmer that pairs with every AC control except the Nimbus I.
Motor Controls
What are Some Popular Applications?
Our motor controls are designed for OEM integration across a wide range of motor-driven systems:
Fans
Commercial, HVAC, Industrial Exhaust, Device Cooling
Pumps
Motor Speed Controller for Pumps, Variable Flow Applications
Conveyors
Brushed DC and BLDC Motion Control
Compressors
Variable Speed Compressor Applications, Heat Pumps
Lifts
Closed-loop Speed Control for Precision
Motor Controls
What Are Some Benefits of Motor Speed Controls?
Intellligence
You gain the ability to control motor speed based on: Temperature & Pressure, Analog Control Signals, Remote Transducers, Potentiometers, and MODBUS Communication.
Energy Efficiency and Longevity
You can increase motor life and reduce power consumption through precise speed modulation.
Acoustic Optimization
Motor speed controllers help you significantly decrease motor noise.
Field Programmability
Many models are end-user programmable via our proprietary Navigator handheld remote programmer, allowing you to handle precise tuning on site in real time and duplicate parameters to multiple units quickly and accurately.
Explore a Custom Design
Don’t See What You’re Looking For?
From first prototype to full production runs, our design-to-build process keeps everything under one roof. You get a control engineered around your exact specs, built and tested in Massachusetts, with the same team supporting you through the life of your program. If your application runs on a fractional HP motor, let’s talk.
Insights
Engineering Resources
Engineering insights, product updates, and resources to help with your next project.
One Board, 70+ Integrations: How Heatco and CRI Consolidated Five+ Controls into One
One Board, 70+ Integrations: How Heatco and CRI Consolidated Five+ Controls into One
CRI Design Guide: Custom Fan Speed Controls & Alarm Integration
CRI Design Guide: Custom Fan Speed Controls & Alarm Integration
CRI Design Guide: Fractional HP VFDs
CRI Design Guide: Fractional HP VFDs
CRI Design Guide: Brushless Motor Controllers
CRI Design Guide: Brushless Motor Controllers
Temperature Conversion Chart
Temperature Conversion Chart
CRI SmartFan® Applications
CRI SmartFan® Applications
SmartFan® Installation Tips
SmartFan® Installation Tips
I2C Communications Tips
I2C Communications Tips
Device Cooling Design Tips
Device Cooling Design Tips
Thermal Design for ATCA Systems: Compliance, Interfaces, and Fan Tray Architecture
Thermal Design for ATCA Systems: Compliance, Interfaces, and Fan Tray Architecture
SmartFan Integration: The Case for Adaptive Cooling
SmartFan Integration: The Case for Adaptive Cooling
AC Motor Compatibility
AC Motor Compatibility
Custom AC Motor Control with Programmable Keypad in NEMA 4X Enclosure
Custom AC Motor Control with Programmable Keypad in NEMA 4X Enclosure
Fan Controller Technology and Motor Efficiency
Fan Controller Technology and Motor Efficiency
How CRI Reduced This Boiler Controller Cost by nearly 50% via Board Integration
How CRI Reduced This Boiler Controller Cost by nearly 50% via Board Integration
Custom Electronic Design & Manufacturing: Advanced Irrigation Controller
Custom Electronic Design & Manufacturing: Advanced Irrigation Controller
Raphael 4040 Delivers Selective No-Mask Conformal Coating
Raphael 4040 Delivers Selective No-Mask Conformal Coating
Control Resources Introduces LabStrobe II with Rechargeable Power Source
Control Resources Introduces LabStrobe II with Rechargeable Power Source
Control Resources adds 4 New Sensor options
Control Resources adds 4 New Sensor options
Control Resources Deemed Essential by Customers and the Commonwealth During Corona Pandemic
Control Resources Deemed Essential by Customers and the Commonwealth During Corona Pandemic
SmartFan® Multi SD DC Fan Controller, NOW FIELD PROGRAMMABLE
SmartFan® Multi SD DC Fan Controller, NOW FIELD PROGRAMMABLE
CRI Adds Nimbus II Triac AC Fan Speed Controller
CRI Adds Nimbus II Triac AC Fan Speed Controller
Cirrus 6 and Vortex DC Fan Control – CE Certification Update
Cirrus 6 and Vortex DC Fan Control – CE Certification Update
CRI Introduces New Aurora Motor Controller
CRI Introduces New Aurora Motor Controller
CRI Introduces Universal Brushless DC Motor Controller
CRI Introduces Universal Brushless DC Motor Controller
Work With Us
If your current control is holding your product back, or you’re starting from scratch and need a partner who’ll see it through, let’s dig into the details together. Reach out to the team and we’ll take it from there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers About Motor Controls
What is the difference between integral and fractional horsepower motors?
Integral horsepower motors operate at one horsepower or above and are typically used in heavy industrial machinery. Fractional horsepower motors run below one horsepower and are used in lighter-duty, product-integrated applications.
How do you control the speed of a pump?
Pump motor control comes down to managing how much power reaches the motor, and how precisely that power responds to your system’s demands. For most OEM pump applications, speed is managed through a VFD (Variable Frequency Drive), or interfacing with an EC motor through a PWM signal, or analog 0-10V input.
Closed-loop control using a feedback signal from a tachometer or pressure sensor allows for precise, responsive modulation. Our motor speed controllers for pumps are built to accept these input types and translate them into regulated output.
What are common types of motor controls?
The most common types used in fractional HP OEM applications include variable frequency drives (VFDs) for AC motors, PWM controllers for brushed DC and BLDC motors, and 0-10V analog drives for proportional speed control for EC motors. MODBUS motor control is increasingly common in building automation and networked systems, where a controller needs to communicate with a host system. Our catalog includes options across all of these input types, and our custom design process can accommodate control logic that’s specific to your application, including multi-input systems with complex sensor integration.
