I’m flip flopping between using a leviton Fan switch and a dimmer (2 switches) for controlling fans with lights and just using insteon fanlincs and putting scene controllers in the wall to control them (using 6 or 8 button controllers).
My question is what is the response time? If I used insteon controllers, would they operate faster (near instant) compared to controlling from a z-wave controller? I’m sure I’ll use Alsteon to control it and the status of the lights on the controller are of minor concern to me. I’m also not too concerned if there is a small delay between setting fan and light levels from within vera (as it would likely be part of a scene).
Response time for either setup should be pretty good.
If you go with Leviton VRF01 and dimmer switch, pressing the actual switch and you are done, since it controls the load directly. Response times from Vera will be standard response times in your setup.
If you go with FanLinc and KPL, and have direct links, the timing is probably 100-300 msec? It usually seems as if it’s the actual switch. Response times from Vera should be pretty fast, but there is additional translations, since it goes Vera->Alsteon->PLM->Device, but usually 1 second or less.
If you mix, say FanLinc and Leviton scene controller, that will be your longest delay. It would have to go: SceneController->Vera/process/trigger scene->Alsteon->PLM->Device. Depending on what Vera is doing, it could be anywhere from 1 second to multi-seconds?
Mostly, it depends on how busy your network (Z-Wave or Insteon) is and what is happening at that moment. Vera might be polling, Alsteon might be polling, etc.
Thanks for the response. My gut feeling is to go with fanlincs and insteon controllers and then only using Vera for scene control. I really wish z-wave manufacturers would see the benefit of having a native z-wave version of this. I’m really surpised that Leviton doesn’t offer an option (since they do make a fan controller). Maybe they all assume that either fans shouldn’t be automated or the Leviton switch is all that’s really needed.
I wasn’t too psyched about using two different technologies, but the cost differential is enough to put it on top.
I started with this exact setup, Fanlinc and alsteon and then decided that mixing technology wasn’t for me. I ended up wiring two aeotec in wall micro switches to each fan. One dimmer to control the lights and one appliance switch to control the fan (on/off only). You lose remote control of the fan speed, if you want to adjust the speed it has to be with the pull strings. However I never really adjusted the fan speed too often. Then I installed a intermatic scene controller and associated the scene controller with the switch for near immediate response time and no need to program a scene in vera. Each fan setup cost about $60 or so. $45 for both switches and $15 for the scene controller. I have been very pleased with the setup. Its worked very well for me.
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Where are you finding the micro switches for $45 total for 2 (1 dimmer and 1 switch)?
I am finding them for about $45 each, so it’s a total of $105 per fan.
The last time I bought them on eBay a year or so ago they were 42 for a set of two. They were the first generation. I haven’t been watching the prices for them lately. Maybe the prices went up.
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