Best type of fan for Leviton VRF01 Fan Control?

Other Devices & Integrations Lighting & Load Control
#1

So I’ve had a Vera for quite some time and have used it mostly with lamp controls, but am starting some renovations on my house and will be installing recessed lighting and ceiling fans in all of the bedrooms.

I know the VRF01 is the only fan speed control switch made to work with z-wave. The problem I am having is figuring out what kind of fan I should buy! In the instructions it says “only use with permanent split capacitor or shaded pole motors only”.

Now, I figure I can go with a basic pull-chain controlled fan and be fine, but I prefer the styling of some of the more contemporary looking fans, and most of those seem to come with their own controllers. I still need to do more research, as I know some of the controllers can be removed, and have the fan (and light if there is one) wired directly to the switches - but I am having a tough time figuring out what can work, and what won’t!

First option, is this fan from Lowes - though I’m fairly certain this won’t work, as it is a DC fan, 6 speed - seems to have circuitry built in - but I can’t 100% confirm that, as I can’t find the installation instructions online to see a wiring diagram:

http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10051&langId=-1&productId=50057279&partNumber=464468-93591-00874&storeId=10151

Second option, is this unit from Minka Aire - I need to call them tomorrow to see if their controller can be bypassed. I believe it can be, just looking at the installation instructions:
http://www.minka.com/products/f518-orb

installation: Minka Group®

So I am curious - what is everyone else using? Should I stick to the traditional fans, get one with a pull chain, and be done with it? Or should I forget about using the VRF01, get a simple on/off z-wave switch and connect that to any fan I choose?

Price is a consideration too - I may use the VRF01 in my bedroom, and then simpler switches for the other rooms. However I would ideally like all the fans to be the same.

Thanks for your thoughts!

#2

I have four of the Leviton VRF01-1LZ fan controllers. Two on pull-chains fans, and two on contemporary fans with remotes.

One of the remote fans was easy to bypass and was designed to be able to be easily bypassed- you just un-wired the receiver from the top of the fan, and direct wired the fan to the fan controller and the light to a separate light switch. [url=http://www.homedepot.com/p/Hampton-Bay-Pilot-60-in-and-52-in-Brushed-Nickel-Ceiling-Fan-34313/202075536]http://www.homedepot.com/p/Hampton-Bay-Pilot-60-in-and-52-in-Brushed-Nickel-Ceiling-Fan-34313/202075536[/url].

The other remote fan was definitely not designed to be bypassed. The remote receiver is built into the motor, and the light and reverse function can only be tripped from the remote. I wired it to the Leviton fan controller anyway - with all functionality other than the reverse available via z-wave. All I had to do was to pull two additional wires down from the top of the fan to the light kit - and direct wire that light kit to a z-wave light switch. As far as the fan speed - treat it just like a pull-chain fan where you leave the fan itself in the highest speed setting and adjust from the fan controller - you do the same thing with the remote fan - put the fan in its highest speed setting and pull out the batteries from the remote. I never reverse the direction of the blades, but if I wanted to I could put batteries back into the remote long enough to make the change. [url=http://www.homedepot.com/p/Hampton-Bay-Windward-II-54-in-Brushed-Steel-Ceiling-Fan-55295/100036046]http://www.homedepot.com/p/Hampton-Bay-Windward-II-54-in-Brushed-Steel-Ceiling-Fan-55295/100036046[/url]

#3

Thanks wilme!

So I went ahead and ordered 4 of the Harbor Breeze fans - just so I can purchase while they were on sale. Got them for $127.50 a piece, normal price is $159.

What I am thinking of doing now is installing 3 of them, using GE Jasco 45609 On/Off switches. These 3 rooms are the rooms I don’t sleep in. This way it keeps it a slight bit simpler, and the included remote with the fans can be used to control everything. I can still override on/off remotely via the Vera. The only time I can see myself doing this is if I am away from home for an extended amount of time and want to ensure everything is off.

Then for my bedroom (the master) I will probably need a larger fan - so I will return the one extra fan, and look for something either with a pullchain, or maybe I will go the same route as you with the Windward - though I would be concerned about the wiring - pulling an extra wire for the light doesn’t concern me - but wiring the built in controller in line with the Leviton controller does.

Do you know if the Leviton controller adjusts the amperage, or voltage it provides - I’d imagine amperage? I am new to fan controllers and don’t know a thing! I’d imagine the built in controller on the fan is set to work on full line voltage. However, as you have stated, it is working for you. How long have you had it set up this way?

This may be another options for my master bedroom:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Hampton-Bay-Sidewinder-54-in-Oil-Rubbed-Bronze-Ceiling-Fan-34891/202073589

Removable controller, and dimmable light. I could wire the light directly with my recessed cans, or add a third switch. And run the motor to the VRF01. Certainly is a good amount more pricey, but it will get exactly what I want done - although the catch then is no reverse. Always something!

#4

Moves a lot of air.
Silent.
Smooth.
No wobble.
Lasts for decades.
Hunter Classic Original 52-Inch 3-Speed Ceiling Fan

The down side is that they are not very stylish, by today’s standards, and they are HEAVY! 45LBs.

#5

WOW!! Cast Iron!!!

Going with a Traditional fan is certainly an option - I don’t mind the basic look, so long as it is clean, and to me this one is. But WOW - $349!!!

Certainly have a bunch of good options to consider now!

#6

I have 3 harbor breeze fans and I will say this about them. 2 of the 3 no longer have speeds that work correctly. On one it just never gets up to speed on any setting. It’s a traditional pull chain style. I think this is going to be an easy fix by a local shop, I’m just too lazy to pull it down to take it in to be fixed (it’s one of 2 on the back porch). The other is one of the remote controlled ones. High is actually slower than Medium. I don’t know how to fix it, and I hate that because I actually like the style of the fan.

All my other fans (even the super old ones) are Hunters and they are rock solid. I don’t think I’ve seen a hunter that overly relies on remote control and I actually like this about them (Besides the fact that they last for ever).

As to my one Harbor breeze (Lowe’s brand), the remote controls the reverse, but the “wireless” receiver above the fan has lines for both power and light making me think that the fan has no special electronics in it for speed control. Then there is the reverse button on the remote. There is no way at the fan to control the “reverse”, so that makes me think that there has to be SOMETHING in there that the receiver sends a command to to reverse the motor. I know it does work without the receiver, but I enjoy having the reverse button (even if I have to switch it manually at the fan). Ultimately, this fan will likely go away and replaced by something more “simple” (likely a Hunter fan).

Besides that, I don’t use the Leviton fan controller. I opted for the Insteon approach because most of my fans have light kits and this gave me 1 gang control of the fan and the light (and up to 3 more scenes using the ISY plugin). This solution has been pretty solid for me over all. I even use the KeyPadLincs to control Z-wave lights (On and off, no dimming) and some scenes such as a “good night” button in the Master bedroom.

#7

Thanks SirMeili!

I never considered Insteon - I know they Vera is either compatible with that too, or can be made compatible. Do you have any info you can share on the insteon fan controller you are using?

I’ll do some searching on here for that info too!

Thanks again to all for your input!

#8

[quote=“ams143, post:7, topic:181413”]Thanks SirMeili!

I never considered Insteon - I know they Vera is either compatible with that too, or can be made compatible. Do you have any info you can share on the insteon fan controller you are using?

I’ll do some searching on here for that info too!

Thanks again to all for your input![/quote]

It’s not initially cheaper to go insteon the way I did it because I actually have an Insteon ISY controller and I’m NOT using the Vera to control my insteon devices. There is a plugin written by @garrettwp that handles the communication. I found out that after a cost analysis for the number of fans I have (7; 6 with lights, 1 without) that it was far cheaper for me to purchase the new controller with 7 fanlincs and 7 keypadLincs to handle those devices (something like $600 in the long run). The added benefit for me was that for a lower cost over all, I got 2 dimmers and 1 fan control in 1 gang. It also didn’t require that I have 3 wire run between the switch location and the fan (to control fan and light separately). There is 1 case where I am using the KeyPadLinc’s dimmer instead of the FanLinc, but that was due to my LEDs in my office not liking the FanLinc dimmer.

Here is the link to the plugin discussion. I joined in towards the end with my experiences:

http://forum.micasaverde.com/index.php/topic,17309.0.html

And here is a thread I started about the fan/lights where I go into my cost analysis a bit more (a few posts down is my cost analysis):

http://forum.micasaverde.com/index.php/topic,24281.0.html

I hope that helps out some. Ask any questions you want.

#9

[quote=“ams143, post:3, topic:181413”]Then for my bedroom (the master) I will probably need a larger fan - so I will return the one extra fan, and look for something either with a pullchain, or maybe I will go the same route as you with the Windward - though I would be concerned about the wiring - pulling an extra wire for the light doesn’t concern me - but wiring the built in controller in line with the Leviton controller does.

Do you know if the Leviton controller adjusts the amperage, or voltage it provides - I’d imagine amperage? I am new to fan controllers and don’t know a thing! I’d imagine the built in controller on the fan is set to work on full line voltage. However, as you have stated, it is working for you. How long have you had it set up this way?[/quote]

Remember that with pull-chain fans, unless you actually bypass/unwire the speed controller, you ARE wiring in the built-in pull-chain speed controller in line with the fan controller. I just took that same approach on a remote-controlled fan where I could not bypass the remote receiver.

I didn’t look over the details on how fan controllers work - but at least I knew not to use standard dimmers on fans! I just converted the Windward II about two months ago. BTW, the Pilot is the cool fan - the two sets of blades spin in opposite directions!

#10

[quote=“wilme2, post:9, topic:181413”]Remember that with pull-chain fans, unless you actually bypass/unwire the speed controller, you ARE wiring in the built-in pull-chain speed controller in line with the fan controller. I just took that same approach on a remote-controlled fan where I could not bypass the remote receiver.

I didn’t look over the details on how fan controllers work - but at least I knew not to use standard dimmers on fans! I just converted the Windward II about two months ago. BTW, the Pilot is the cool fan - the two sets of blades spin in opposite directions![/quote]

You are correct - however the pull-chain speed controller does not have any circuitry to it - it is a mechanical switch, which limits the amperage going to the motor based on which setting you are at - nothing “smart” about it. A remote controller will have circuitry, and these circuits may be picky about the amount of amperage they receive in.

Again - it seems to be working perfectly fine for you, so that is great! I just would not be comfortable.

Thanks again to every one for all the help and input. I’ve narrowed down my options to going the Insteon route, or just simply doing on/off z-wave switches and using the fans’ built in controllers. Just need to decide on what fans now - that will really be the deciding factor.

#11

So I think I am going to go with this fan:

http://www.lowes.com/pd_77285-1811-BDB52ABZC5N_0__?productId=3478953&Ntt=harbor+breeze+classic&pl=1&currentURL=%3FNtt%3Dharbor%2Bbreeze%2Bclassic&facetInfo=

Might not be the best build quality - but it is basic, and energy star compliant (for whatever that is worth). Also moves a decent amount of air, though not nearly as much as the one Z-waver linked!

I can use any controller I wish to, and it has a manual reverse switch.
No light, which is perfect, because I really don’t need one - each bedroom now has recessed lighting. And I could always add a light kit if I really wanted to.

So this brings it down to either using the Leviton fan control, or investing in the Insteon items. I do much prefer the look of the Insteon control, and I actually have a bunch of old X10 modules laying around which I haven’t used since getting Z-wave, so this may be a win win…

The fans I ordered come in Friday, looks like they will be going right back to Lowes on Friday itself. I do like the look of those, but the built in controller really kills it.

The ONLY thing I may need to do is buy shorter replacement blades for some of the rooms - the fan ceiling box is centered within a square of recessed lights. In a couple rooms 52" may be too long. I’d imagine I could find something that could work, and possibly could even trim them myself on a band saw, though I’d imagine that may throw off balance if the cuts aren’t identical! Perhaps I’ll clamp them together and cut all at once if I go that route!

#12

Doesn’t hurt to try and cut them down yourself. I see replacement blades at HD and Lowes all the time. You might want to check or even buy some just to be sure. They have extremely loose return policies at both places.

#13

So I got the fans. My local Lowes had them on clearance, so I got 3 of them at 50% of retail, and then bought a 4th at another Lowes at retail.

For now, I am just using GE 45609 on/off relay switches with them in 3 rooms, and using a Leviton Fan Controller in my master bedroom. Haven’t installed the fan in the master yet though.

The first fan I installed went perfectly - no hiccups, turned power back on, switch on, fan to high - no wobble.
Second fan, power on, switch on, fan to high - wobble! Will play around with balancing tonight.
Third fan, power on, switch on, fan won’t come on. Will remove from mount tonight and trace to see if power if making it to the fan on both the line and neutral. If I can’t figure out the wiring, I’ll install the 4th fan in its place, and see if it is a problem with the fan all together.

Gotta love troubleshooting!!!