GE 45606 Dimmer w/ Fan - Power Issues

Other Devices & Integrations Lighting & Load Control
1

Hi All,

Installed the GE 45606 in a 2-gang setup with a fan (on off controlled by std. 2way switch) and the fan bulbs (3x 60W incandescent, controlled by GE Z-wave dimmer). Everything works great, however the issue I’m having is that when both fan and lights are ON, if the fan is switched off, the GE dimmer turns off the lights too. I’m imagining this is because it is a single circuit and the GE thinks I turned the unit off at the source due to voltage differences? Both units are on the same circuit (the whole room is one circuit).

See below for wiring diagram… any advice welcomed to get this corrected! Also, for clarification, this is North American 120V.

Thanks!

[url=http://psteen.gotdns.com/imagehost/wiring.png]http://psteen.gotdns.com/imagehost/wiring.png[/url]

2

Just to confirm, you can control the fan on/off properly with the fan lights off, and you can control the fan lights on/off/dim properly with the fan off?

3

Are you sure you didn’t switch the line and load when wiring the fan? Does the GE continue to glow blue if the fan is switched off?

4

Correct. The only time they interact is when lights and fan are ON and I turn off the FAN, the lights also turn off.

-Phil

5

Yes, when the dimmer is off (blue LED ON), the fan switch has no effect on it (stays lit blue). That is why I think it is sensor related on the part of the GE.

-Phil

6

Also for clarification - this setup is wired exactly the same in 2 rooms and having the same exact issue.

Thanks,
Phil

7

If you disconnect the fan (i.e. the wire running to the fan), and then repeat the test (as if the fan were connected), do you get the same result?

8

It does not. The issue is not the standard switch affecting power to the GE unit, as the hot lead is sharing a terminal on the standard switch (thus always on to the GE unit).

-Phil

9

Having a somewhat similar issue.
I have 5 LED lights (7.5 Watts x 5) + a TV (135W) + an 18 in fan (can’t find it’s specs)
I used the switch for 8-10 months without the fan and tv. After adding those to the circuit it intermittently switches itself off (I haven’t noticed a correlation between when the fan was on or off though). Any ideas

10

I am having a similar problem. GE Switches lights and fan. There is some interaction or interference happening with them. I may try to re-order the box and move them from being adjacent.

11

It’s possible this is plain old-fashioned RFI from interrupting the current through the inductive fan motor, that’s coupling into the z-wave unit and resetting it. Try putting a contact suppression filter across the switch contacts.

12

I’d be curious to see if the issue recurs anywhere on the circuit or if it only has to do with the fact that they are sharing a hot lead?

-Phil

13

I have a similar issue. I have a bath fan with a light in it. They have separate loads. I connected the fan up to a timer switch and the light to a GE switch. When the fan turns on or off it also immediately turns the light off. My solution is going to be to replace the fan with a lightless model as it needs replacement any way, and to install a separate light fixture.