I currently have a standard light on the bedroom ceiling (and a light switch on the wall) - no fan. I want to replace it with a ceiling fan with light. The goal is to make the fan controllable separately from the light - both manually and via z-wave. Is it possible? There is only one load wire going from the wall switch to the ceiling light. Ideas?
If there’s enough space in the celing j-box you could put 2 Aeon Labs microswitches
1 each to control the light and the fan separately.
In the light switch box, hardwire the ceiling box to always have power, and then install a scene controller or 2 other ‘remote’ switch (not directly controlling device) like a Linear WT00Z-1. If you go with the WT00Z-1 you’ll want 1 per device.
This all assumes you have full hot/neutral/ground at the wall switch available as well as the ceiling j-box.
Thanks! One issue though - I will not have control over fan speed via z-wave this way. Is there a similar micro device that fits in the box that can control fan speed - like high / med / low / off, preferably z-wave plus gen5?
I think you need an insteon FanLinc and USB Modem to do this. I’m in the process of aquireing the parts to do this but it is a bit spendy to do for the 5 fan/light combos in my house and the 3 on the back patio so it is going to be a while.
There is no 3 switch Z-Wave device for fans, I’ve asked several manufactures to produce one but I can’t get any interest.This may be a Z-Wave limitation or purely manufacturers focussing on European conditions, I’m not sure why? Several of our installers use a double relay in the box itself and ignore the Medium setting or High Setting depending on what the client agrees on. Not entirely satisfactory, but better than nothing.
If you are using a light then 2 doubles would be the best solution and use a Virtual switch for control.
no possibility of running a 2nd wire?
I’m in the same situation, but mine is on the up stairs floor. so i have attic access.
i’m just going to run a 2nd wire down to the box and use this fan switch
I have considered using the micro dimmers to control the fans in my house. I’ve had fans on dimmers for years and never had any issues with them working. Always just set the fans on high and used the dimmers to vary the speed.
You’ll melt down a z-wave dimmer if you wire it to a fan. I’m not sure if it would cause a fire but there is a chance, but the dimmer would quit working due to internals overheating and melting within a short period of time.
There have been many posts on this already. Don’t do it.
[quote=“mvader, post:6, topic:194635”]no possibility of running a 2nd wire?
I’m in the same situation, but mine is on the up stairs floor. so i have attic access.
i’m just going to run a 2nd wire down to the box and use this fan switch
https://www.amazon.com/GE-Control-Z-Wave-12730-Amazon/dp/B00PYMGVVQ[/quote]
I have two of these switches on my fans. They work fine. The only thing is the switch shows up as a dimmer so there is no Lo Med Hi. It works like a regualr dimmer. there is a slider to adjust the speed for 0% to 100%. Works fine with my Alexa.
Jim
I went the Insteon FanLinc method paired with a KeypadLinc for wall control. They sell button caps for the middle four small buttons for fan low/med/high/off and the big ones control the light. The up side to that is that they link together directly so if the controller (vera, ISY - what I use, or whatever) goes down they still work together
How do these appear in Vera (or AltUI)?
My FanLincs show up with four buttons (Low, Medium, High, and Off) and a dimmer for the light while the KeypadLincs show up as a scene controller and a dimmer, at least on the standard UI. Not sure about AltUI, I’ve never gotten around to setting it up
This depends on your source, if in the light box first or in the switch box first.
You could use this switch from GE to control your fan. It’s designed for fans
If you want to use an in-line motor dimmer check out Aeotec. They have a motor controller.
http://aeotec.com/z-wave-in-wall-switches/194-z-wave-motor-controller.html
If you don’t have enough room you can use a double in-line switch. Again this depends where your source is.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PV0MZLQ/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_cBWKub06E929F
Hope this helps
[quote=“geekydaddy, post:13, topic:194635”]This depends on your source, if in the light box first or in the switch box first.
You could use this switch from GE to control your fan. It’s designed for fans
If you want to use an in-line motor dimmer check out Aeotec. They have a motor controller.
http://aeotec.com/z-wave-in-wall-switches/194-z-wave-motor-controller.html
If you don’t have enough room you can use a double in-line switch. Again this depends where your source is.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PV0MZLQ/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_cBWKub06E929F
Hope this helps[/quote]
Your first option has no light control and would require a 2nd switch (bigger wall box) and another wire from that switch to the light which is difficult to install when everything is drywalled.
Option two and three were both mentioned but shut down due to no fan speed control. You could turn on lights and fan but not controll low/med/high on the fan with either of the two links you posted.
I am thinking in this direction: at the wall switch, connect the power to the ceiling permanently (always ON). Then at the fan install one in-line z-wave motor controller to to control the fan, and one in-line z-wave dimmer to control the light (or use a z-wave bulb). Then at the wall box remove the old switch (it’s no longer needed as the power is permanently connected ON) and install a scene controller to control light and fan.
Two problem with this setup:
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I cannot find an in-line z-wave motor micro-controller which I could install inside the fan. I can only find the wall switch style to be installed on the wall which would not work for my situation.
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If my z-wave network is down then I have no control over fan or light.
[quote=“echino, post:15, topic:194635”]I am thinking in this direction: at the wall switch, connect the power to the ceiling permanently (always ON). Then at the fan install one in-line z-wave motor controller to to control the fan, and one in-line z-wave dimmer to control the light (or use a z-wave bulb). Then at the wall box remove the old switch (it’s no longer needed as the power is permanently connected ON) and install a scene controller to control light and fan.
Two problem with this setup:
-
I cannot find an in-line z-wave motor micro-controller which I could install inside the fan. I can only find the wall switch style to be installed on the wall which would not work for my situation.
-
If my z-wave network is down then I have no control over fan or light.[/quote]
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Maybe I misunderstand you, but you can install the micro controllers in the fan or in the switch box doesn’t matter which side it’s on.
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This is true unless you found some creative way to put two low voltage switches in the side of the fan and wired into the switch inputs on the micro switch.
All of this really is not a perfect solution for running a new set of wires from the switch box to the fan box. If there was an attic above the fan box and wall where the switch box is then I would go that route. But if it’s down stairs on a two story house you will have more problems.
Changing a ceiling light out to a fan requires a fan box (heavy duty box with better support) so your going to have to do some digging around and box replacement anyways. On the wall cutting a bigger hole for a double gang (old work with flip out taps to hold it in) box and removing the old single gang box is not hard and leaves a big opening (before installing the double gang box) to help fish wires down. Then you’ll be able to install an actual fan switch and light switch and have full control over both with or without z-wave unlike any other options.
There is only one wire and I cannot run the second. If I install the motor controller at the switch box on the wall, then I have no control over the light. It has to be installed in the fan, to isolate fan control from light control.
There is only one wire and I cannot run the second. If I install the motor controller at the switch box on the wall, then I have no control over the light. It has to be installed in the fan, to isolate fan control from light control.[/quote]
That is correct so where did this come from?
You can install your micro switch in the fan same as the wall box.
This should solve your single wire problem!
Insteon is a manufacturer and a protocol. The Insteon protocol is another system that is similar to a combination of Z-Wave and X-10. It uses wired and/or wireless channels to communicate commands from the Insteon controller to the Insteon devices. Vera has a limited built-in understanding of Insteon devices and with the addition of an Insteon 2413S PowerLinc Modem INSTEON Dual-Band Serial Interface or PLM, Vera can command Insteon devices directly.