I had posted on a different thread, but figured it might be better to start a new one.
Original Post:
So I have an Emerson fan that is wired to a switch… switch pretty much useless because of the fact that the RF remote has all of the functionality. Saw a couple of threads like:
http://forum.micasaverde.com/index.php/topic,24708.msg172624.html#msg172624
that pointed me to codes that people have figured out: http://lirc.sourceforge.net/remotes/hampton_bay/UC7078T
Just wondering what I would need in terms of equipment to be able to wire into my system for vera control of the different fan settings.
And a reply from: Z-Waver
There are three approaches that jump to mind. The first is to determine what frequency the fan operates at. Then with an appropriate transmitter connected to a control device, like an Arduino, transmit the appropriate code.If you’re not sufficiently expert at determining and then retransmitting the necessary frequency and codes, you could try the second approach. Again using an Arduino, this time with a multi-relay board, you could wire the relays to the button pads on a remote for the fan. You could then have Vera instruct the Arduino which relay to activate (which remote button to press) and control the fan that way.
But, note that RF and IR fan controls do not offer two way communication. There is not notification of the fan’s current state. So, Vera will never know what the fan is doing. Vera can tell the fan to do something, but cannot know if the fan was already doing something or if it is now doing what Vera told it to do.
The third approach would be to use the Insteon FanLinc controller with a Insteon PowerLink Modem connected to Vera as a replacement for your fan’s existing controller. Assuming that this is possible with Emerson fans.
The FanLinc can be polled to determine the fan’s status. So, Vera would be aware of setting changes to the fan from external sources like wall pads or hand held remotes. This is something the Arduino options, described earlier, cannot offer.
So, I know that the remote operates at 303.933 based on the FCC database for the CHQ7212T remote. It has power, light, direction, and a 6 speed button. I get that using arduino, we wouldn’t be able to poll status… although I do wonder if I can look at wattage differences and determine it that way.
As far as transmitting the codes, I thougt about that… but I can’t seem to find a transmitter for that frequency that would work with arduinio. If anyone does, let me know.
As far as the second option, I hadn’t thought of just connecting the remote to the arduino, that would work too.
I’ll have to look more into the Insteon FanLinc controller with a Insteon PowerLink Modem because this is the first I’ve heard of it.
Thanks for providing so much info… it at least got me looking in a different direction which is good.