Meet STAR: Plastec's Newest Fume Hood Controller

Plastec offers several fume hood controllers across its lineup, including the L.COM E-SEAT, Control E-SEAT, and CAPTUR E-SEAT, each built for different lab environments and levels of complexity. Today we’re zeroing in on the newest addition: STAR. It’s designed to give your team clear information, install and calibrate without fuss, and adapt to the way your lab actually operates, and it’s worth a closer look.

One Controller, Three Configurations

Not every lab has the same ventilation needs, which is why STAR comes in three versions:

•      Constant Air Volume (CAV). A fixed-flow safety device. The speed sensor monitors airflow and triggers an audible and visual alarm if the velocity drops or the sash goes too high. No Variable Frequency Drive required. When the fan button is pressed, the controller closes two relays that power the fan via a power relay — simple and reliable for labs with stable, predictable airflow.

•      Variable Air Volume (VAV). A PID controller that works with a VFD to automatically adjust fan speed and maintain proper face velocity as conditions change. The controller sends a 0–10V signal to the variable frequency drive, which modulates motor speed to keep airflow at the right level regardless of sash position or lab conditions.

•      VAV 2-Speed. Uses two operating points (a low and a high setting) with a sash low-position contact, giving you flexibility for different working conditions. Like the VAV, it uses a 0–10V output to communicate with the VFD or BMS to control fan speed.

Both VAV models use a 0–10V output to communicate with external devices. This output is the signal that goes to the VFD or BMS to control fan speed. Every model ships with an air speed sensor, a touchscreen interface, a power supply, and a 2.5-meter cable.

Designed for Real-World Installation

Plastec clearly had installers in mind. STAR is built to fit the way fume hoods are actually set up, with flexible mounting options for the CPU box, touchscreen, and speed sensor that adapt to common hood configurations like false ceilings and side compartments. Everything you need ships in the box, including a mounting template and protective cover.

Speed Sensor Placement

The speed sensor must be installed on the ceiling of the fume hood — never in the extraction duct above the hood, and never in a dead zone where airflow readings would be inaccurate. A 22mm hole is drilled at the chosen location, and the sensor is secured with its built-in adhesive gasket to prevent air leaks. If the ceiling isn’t accessible, the sensor can also be mounted on the side of the fume hood using the same procedure.

For hoods with a false ceiling, the sensor needs to pass completely through — if that’s not possible due to ceiling thickness, a PVC extension duct can be used. A minimum air velocity of 0.2 m/s (40 FPM) must be detectable through the sensor for the controller to operate properly. The sash override contact must be positioned to trigger when the sash opening exceeds 400mm or 500mm, as required by the EN14175 standard.

Touchscreen Mounting

STAR ships with a cardboard drilling template inside the CPU housing. Installers use it to mark and drill three holes (2mm bit) on the side of the fume hood, plus a central 35mm hole for the cable passthrough. The first screw is left slightly proud of the surface — the template itself is 3mm thick and serves as a depth gauge. The HMI housing hooks onto this screw, aligns itself, and is then secured with the remaining two screws before the faceplate snaps back into place.

The CPU box can be mounted inside the false ceiling, in a side compartment, or directly on the fume hood — whichever works best for the installation. It comes with mounting holes and a protective cover. The 2.5m cable supplied is typically sufficient to connect the CPU to the touchscreen, keeping cable management clean.

Calibration and Setup

Calibration is refreshingly straightforward. A guided, on-screen process walks you through syncing the controller to your actual airflow readings, with extra steps only where they’re needed (like setting a second operating point on the VAV 2-Speed model). The setup requires the fans to be running and the lab to be fully closed — doors, windows, everything — and an anemometer must be on hand to measure face velocity across the sash opening.

For the CAV and VAV models, setup is a two-step process: raise the sash to approximately 400mm, wait 15 seconds for airflow to stabilize, then measure face velocity and synchronize the display reading with the anemometer using the + and – buttons on screen. Each press adjusts the displayed speed by 0.1 m/s within a range of 0.3 to 0.7 m/s. The VAV 2-Speed adds a third step to set the high-speed extraction rate separately. Once complete, the controller confirms with a “Speed Setup Successfully Done” screen.

For the nuts and bolts, from drill bit sizes to sensor placement diagrams, Plastec’s detailed installation guide has you covered.

Built-In Peace of Mind

Beyond the day-to-day convenience, STAR is certified to EN14175 and RoHS standards and backed by a two-year warranty, so the safety fundamentals are covered. The warranty covers defects in materials and workmanship from the date of original shipment — any defective unit or part reported within this period will be replaced. Note that shipping to and from the factory for warranty service is the owner’s responsibility, and any damage or missing items from delivery must be reported within 60 days of the ship date.

For everything else, a password-protected advanced settings menu lets technicians fine-tune alarm thresholds, buzzer delays, and ventilation modes without giving every user the keys to the castle. The Forced Ventilation Mode is particularly useful in environments where continuous extraction is mandatory — once enabled, the fan cannot be switched off from the home screen, giving facilities managers confidence that safety configurations stay intact.

One important safety note: all electrical work on STAR must be performed by qualified electricians in accordance with local and national codes. The product must be properly grounded, and power must be locked off before any installation, wiring, or servicing takes place.

Troubleshooting at a Glance

Even the best equipment occasionally runs into hiccups during installation or first startup. STAR’s documentation includes a straightforward troubleshooting table to help teams resolve the most common issues quickly, without needing to call support. Here are the key scenarios to be aware of:

•      No display on the HMI: Check that all power connectors are properly connected on both the controller side and the wall side. Also verify that the HMI cable is fully seated at both ends and hasn’t been damaged during installation.

•      Light does not turn on: The controller does not supply power to the light directly — it provides a normally open contact. The light must be wired to receive power from the wall, with the controller acting as a switch.

•      Fan does not turn on (CAV): Verify that the blower and power relay are properly wired. The controller’s contacts only signal the power relay to close — they do not directly power the motor.

•      Fan does not turn on (VAV): Ensure the FAN contacts are wired to the correct VFD terminals and that the VFD is programmed correctly for the blower. Refer to Plastec’s VFD IOM for detailed guidance.

•      Frontal speed is too low: Check the blower rotation direction (CCW or CW depending on model) and verify that the installation is correctly sized. If everything checks out mechanically, redo the setup procedure from scratch.

•      Frontal speed is too high: Confirm the blower is installed correctly per Plastec’s individual blower IOM, then repeat the calibration procedure.

•      Alarm sounds too often: The buzzer delay is adjustable from 0 to 60 seconds via the Advanced Settings menu. Increasing the delay reduces nuisance alarms while still maintaining safety coverage.

•      Air speed does not change (VAV only): Verify that the FAN contacts are connected to the correct VFD terminals and that the VFD programming matches the blower specifications. If the wiring is correct, recheck the speed sensor position and redo the calibration.

The Bottom Line

A good fume hood controller should do its job without making yours harder. STAR strikes that balance: simple enough for daily operators, flexible enough for facilities teams, and configurable enough to match the exact needs of your hoods and blowers.

With three distinct configurations covering fixed-flow, PID, and two-speed regulation, a touchscreen interface designed for real lab environments, and an installation process backed by clear documentation, STAR is a controller that takes both operator experience and lab safety seriously. The EN14175 and RoHS certifications, two-year warranty, and password-protected advanced settings round out a package that’s hard to argue with.

If STAR doesn’t quite fit your setup, Plastec’s broader lineup covers more specialized use cases too.

For full installation guidance or spec questions, Plastec's team is reachable at +1 800- 407-4294 or our Contact Page.