@jeffbrown - do you have a timeline for sale units yet ? Super interested in the project as both my fans are squeaking again for the 5th time
Minuet: A smart BLDC motor controller for the Maxxfan
Sorry Simon, I don't have a timeline for you yet. After sending out beta test units to a few folks, I temporarily paused development while the tariff wars were rapidly making everything unaffordable and unpredictable. The situation appears to be stabilizing and I hope to start preorders and volume production in the first half of 2026. Wish me luck!
Corgi_Express
New member
I found this project after being kept awake -all night again by a squeaky Maxxfan. I'm very glad you are doing this and can't wait for my chance to purchase an upgrade kit!
larssmith
Active member
This is super exciting!
For anyone dealing with stock motor squeak and can’t wait for a complete solution, I’ve gotten sustained relief by polishing the commutator on the stock motor. It’s no brushless solution but it’s whisper quiet since last May. I’ve done it to two motors and it fixed the squeak both times. Before I would clean the motor and only get days of relief.
Post in thread 'Minke the Van build thread'
https://sprinter-source.com/forums/index.php?threads/98524/post-1726466
For anyone dealing with stock motor squeak and can’t wait for a complete solution, I’ve gotten sustained relief by polishing the commutator on the stock motor. It’s no brushless solution but it’s whisper quiet since last May. I’ve done it to two motors and it fixed the squeak both times. Before I would clean the motor and only get days of relief.
Post in thread 'Minke the Van build thread'
https://sprinter-source.com/forums/index.php?threads/98524/post-1726466
Wrinkledpants
2017 144WB 4x4
I just want to say I'll pay more than market for this. A) support a local member solving van problems, and B) understanding the world is unpredictable.
I definitely don't mean to steal Minuet's thunder... I want this product to succeed bigly. But, if anyone is simply looking to get their fan connected to their phone or a home assistant in the mean time, check out: https://vanturtle.com/
I ordered the DIY Board as a stop-gap until I can get my hands on a Minuet and Lem, VanTurtle's owner, is super accommodating and providing support. Give it a look.
I ordered the DIY Board as a stop-gap until I can get my hands on a Minuet and Lem, VanTurtle's owner, is super accommodating and providing support. Give it a look.
The package shipped from Sweden with reasonable shipping prices to the US. At least I thought so.
nebulight
Sorry, I have a Promaster ;)
Nice if you just want phone control. I can't wait to throw in a DC motor into my fan. @jeffbrown thanks for your hard work on this. I run HA at home and wanted to purposefully leave it out of my van as I want my camping trips to be low tech, but projects like this PULL me back in.
Hey Jeff and everyone following this thread,
Full-time Revel dweller here. I've got the Maxxfan Deluxe 7500K and the squeaking is getting old. Been following the Minuet project on GitHub and the HA forums — really impressed with how far it's come, especially the v3 FOC motor driver work.
I'm a software developer and have a 3D printing setup in the van that I use for making accessories. I'd love to try building a Minuet from the v3 design files — I'm comfortable with KiCad, JLCPCB ordering, ESPHome, and the whole firmware side. I could also help prototype motor adapters and mounting hardware with 3D printing before committing to metal.
Is the project at a point where someone could realistically do a DIY build from the open-source files? Or would it be better to wait for kits? Happy to volunteer as a tester if that's still an option — I run my fan daily and would put real hours on it.
Thanks for sharing this with the community.
Full-time Revel dweller here. I've got the Maxxfan Deluxe 7500K and the squeaking is getting old. Been following the Minuet project on GitHub and the HA forums — really impressed with how far it's come, especially the v3 FOC motor driver work.
I'm a software developer and have a 3D printing setup in the van that I use for making accessories. I'd love to try building a Minuet from the v3 design files — I'm comfortable with KiCad, JLCPCB ordering, ESPHome, and the whole firmware side. I could also help prototype motor adapters and mounting hardware with 3D printing before committing to metal.
Is the project at a point where someone could realistically do a DIY build from the open-source files? Or would it be better to wait for kits? Happy to volunteer as a tester if that's still an option — I run my fan daily and would put real hours on it.
Thanks for sharing this with the community.
I've partnered with the folks at CrowdSupply to make Minuet available to everyone who wants a smart brushless upgrade kit for their Maxxfan!
If you'd like to learn more, please visit the Minuet page at CrowdSupply then subscribe to show your interest in the product and receive occasional progress updates. As more people subscribe, it will become easier to estimate demand and plan for the launch, so feel free to tell your friends about it.
CrowdSupply is a crowdfunding platform for open source hardware. Once Minuet's is ready to go into production, I'll launch the funding campaign and collect pre-orders for the first manufacturing run. And then soon enough you'll have a newly upgraded fan for your adventures!
Here's a quick progress update:
1. I'm currently developing the Minuet v4 hardware with many improvements for performance, production, accessories, and ease of installation. There are a lot of details so this takes a while.
2. Beta testing of Minuet v3 went well and identified some issues that are being resolved in v4. I plan to recruit a second cohort of beta testers before mass production of the new design but I'm not ready to begin that process just yet.
I'm extremely grateful for everyone's well wishes and offers to help test. I'll be in touch when the time comes.
And if you happen to live in the SF Bay Area (preferably in the South Bay) and would like to partner with me on day-to-day Minuet development work, feel free to reach out. Cheers!
If you'd like to learn more, please visit the Minuet page at CrowdSupply then subscribe to show your interest in the product and receive occasional progress updates. As more people subscribe, it will become easier to estimate demand and plan for the launch, so feel free to tell your friends about it.
CrowdSupply is a crowdfunding platform for open source hardware. Once Minuet's is ready to go into production, I'll launch the funding campaign and collect pre-orders for the first manufacturing run. And then soon enough you'll have a newly upgraded fan for your adventures!
Here's a quick progress update:
1. I'm currently developing the Minuet v4 hardware with many improvements for performance, production, accessories, and ease of installation. There are a lot of details so this takes a while.
2. Beta testing of Minuet v3 went well and identified some issues that are being resolved in v4. I plan to recruit a second cohort of beta testers before mass production of the new design but I'm not ready to begin that process just yet.
I'm extremely grateful for everyone's well wishes and offers to help test. I'll be in touch when the time comes.
And if you happen to live in the SF Bay Area (preferably in the South Bay) and would like to partner with me on day-to-day Minuet development work, feel free to reach out. Cheers!
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Hello! I saw your post on the Home Assistant forum too and left a more detailed response over there.
For folks following along and thinking of a DIY build, I recommend waiting for the production version of Minuet to be ready. Minuet v3 works well in my van but there are some known issues (documented in the errata) that I don't want to deploy to a larger audience. And to better focus my efforts, I intend to deprecate and not offer support for older prototypes once the final version is in production.
The v4 design has many hardware improvements: better microcontroller, more reliable lid end of travel detection, 4 layer PCB, ESD protection, lots of firmware changes, etc. The custom brushless motor also negates the need for shaft adapters. So it’s worth waiting for the final kit.
Jeff.
