Switch No Neutral or turning off dimmer function

Other Devices & Integrations Lighting & Load Control
1

I cant seem to find any newer posts abuot this topic

does anyone know if there are any off-on switches without need for a neutral or if there is a dimmer (no neutral needed) that can shut off the dim feature

I’m looking to install a switch for a ceiling fan in a house with old wiring (no neutral) :<

thanks

2

Fibaro do 2 wire dimmers with device options to disable dimmer for inductive loads like fans.
I’ve only seen EU frequency devices, so not sure if that is of any use to you.

3

Perhaps this might work for you

http://www.smarthome.com/2475F/FanLinc-INSTEON-Ceiling-Fan-and-Light-Controller-Fixture-Module-Dual-Band/p.aspx

4

Leviton has no-neutral required dimmers, switches, and fan speed controls in their Vizia RF+ line.

http://www.leviton.com/OA_HTML/SectionDisplay.jsp?section=41549&minisite=10251

They are pretty expensive though ($80-$110 or so for switches and dimmers, $125-$140ish for the fan speed control?).

5

[quote=“TheAce, post:4, topic:172323”]Leviton has no-neutral required dimmers, switches, and fan speed controls in their Vizia RF+ line.

http://www.leviton.com/OA_HTML/SectionDisplay.jsp?section=41549&minisite=10251

They are pretty expensive though ($80-$110 or so for switches and dimmers, $125-$140ish for the fan speed control?).[/quote]

Dimmers typically don’t need a neutral since current always flows through them. But the On/Off switches, even from Leviton, require a neutral.

6

You’ll find that for any load other than incandescent lighting, you need a neutral to power the electronics in the dimmer/switch. There’s one no-neutral switch from Leviton, VRS05; but as said, for incandescent loads only.

7

@saulfeldman,

I am not exactly sure what you are trying to do, but I assume you are trying to find a way to use a Z-wave switch control a ceiling fan in a circuit that previously had a standard incandescent dimmer switch. Also, I am not sure whether you are using a 3-way circuit. If you are, the solution will be a bit more complex, but it will still use the same main switches.

I was able to get the lighting in a ceiling fan to work by using a Leviton VRI06 switch. I set the parameters of the switch to always be all on or all off.
If the light in your lamp is incandescent, you should be in good shape because this will effectively eliminate dimming.

Another option, that should work, but which I have not tried with a ceiling fan, would be to use a Leviton VRS05. It is a non-dimming, Z-wave, incandescent, two-wire, relay switch. When used with an incandescent bulb, you should be good to go. If I had to start over, knowing what I know now, I would use Leviton VRS05 switch. However, I had a VRI06 switch available, so that is what I used.

If you want to use a CFL or a LED lamp in your ceiling fan after installing the new Z-wave switch, then the fun begins. I was never able to find a CFL bulb that consistently worked with either a VRI06 or a VRS05 switch. However, after an 18 month search, I discovered that an EarthLED ThetaLux Pro - 9 watt Dimmable LED Light Bulb supplied sufficient leakage current for a Leviton VRI06 switch to function. This solution should also work for a VRS05 switch.

Threre is one caveat if you use the ThetaLux Pro bulb. You may find that unless you run the fan at full speed, the LED light may flicker. This happens because the fan speed is slowed, not by lowering the voltage to the fan motor, but by modifying the wave form supplied to the motor. The motor is happy, but the LED lamp will flicker in protest. Of course, if you use an incandescent lamp as the fan light, this will not be a problem. You will also be using a lot more energy.

I hope this information is helpful. Good luck in your quest.