Finally - UPB Fan Speed Controller

Looks like Simply Automated heard us loud and clear.... new UPB Fan Speed Controllers are out!
 
http://www.simply-automated.com/products/cats/4-button_LED-Controller.php
 
It looks like it's controlled via UPB links and not by direct dimming or on/off commands, which is a bummer.  But I'll take it over nothing.

Ok, so if you're using the bottom button for the light, how do you turn off the fan from the switch!??!

Logic would say you press the button for the currently selected speed

Wow, long time coming and definitely needed.
 
I too would prefer dimming commands to be used for the speeds, but this is a good start and better than nothing.
 
I would expect to put this in a two gang box with a US-1140/US-240 dimmer for light control.
Need to look at the UPStart options.

Frunple said:

Ok, so if you're using the bottom button for the light, how do you turn off the fan from the switch!??!

Click to expand...

 
If the other three buttons can bet set to toggle mode, then any of the speed buttons could turn the fan off.
Press once, set that speed, press again sends a link off command which turns off the fan.
Or a single press is on and a double press is off.
Need to look at the UPStart options to see if that is possible.

Wow - I had given up on the thought of something like this!  Guess I'll have to order a couple.  Luckily in this house, we have room to separate out the fan and light switches (as I've already done).
 
Now if only we could get nicer looking faceplates - these are functional, but there are definitely better looking options on the market.

I think the idea to have the buttons operate by links is a good one. It gives you lots of flexibility. Yes, they also could have had it understand brightness levels and select the fan speed closest to the dim level, that is a bit weird. This controller correctly uses various capacitor sizes to control the speeds so it is a 3 speed controller, not a 0 - 100% dimmer like a light switch. The reason for this is that ceiling fans should never use a light dimmer because they will likely overheat. This fan control does it correctly with capacitors.
 
The bad news, its almost $100. I would have liked $70 better.

By dimming levels I meant, 1-33 uses cap 1, 34-66 uses cap 2, 67-100 uses both (IIRC the capacitance rules for fans), but you get the idea.
Yes, definitely it needs to use caps.

Similar to this
http://www.edcheung.com/automa/nohumkit.htm


With Omni you can add a timer to dim levels, but not links.
So you could say on level 60 for 2 hours.

Looked at the new UPStart build
 
Each of the 4 buttons can be configured like any other SA device.
So they can toggle, even send dim commands, etc.
Each one can be assigned a different link.
They don't have to correspond to the 4 LEDs at all
 
The 4 LEDs work like the UCQT link transmitter.
It can receive 8 links total and one or more LEDs can react to each link
Each LED is linked to one of the four outputs.  On, Off, Toggle or no change when they receive an "Activate".
 
So for fan speeds it looks like you could have it count up, one LED for low, two for medium and three for high.
But the multiple outputs would be on too.
So you probably have to make them go on and off sequentially.
I don't know what the effect would be to turn on multiple outputs simultaneously.
 
You can operate the light with the fan or independently.
 
 
 
I also see some other interesting switches in UPStart
A 4 load UCQ (Not only a transmitter, but a load controller) - UCQ-20 quad output and UCQ-40 quad load/LED
 
Also a USM1 Single rocker switch - motorized (?).

Didn't someone from Simply Automated stop by here a while back?  We should hunt them down and see what they have to say...

Nice catch Desert_AIP - but you missed one - the new 8 indicator tabletop controller with backlighting - I'm intrigued! And the Motorized one is for motorized drapery controls based on the upstart options.
 
and yes neillt - one of the big wigs was in here - Millard in this thread where cocooners passed on most desired devices, top of the list I think was the fan controller - and voila!  There were a few other ideas passed around too that hopefully we'll see come to fruition.

I'm pretty excited to see some innovation coming to UPB - it's nice to see it still moving forward (even though what exists today works quite well).

I'd still like to see a 4 button face plate with full width buttons.
Essentially dividing the decora space into 4 sections vertically stacked. As is done in other protocols and switches.

I agree - and it could be as simple as a new faceplate design that would fit on the 240.  Horizontal rockers pivoting in the middle that could potentially be laser engraved would look awesome.

I see street prices on the fan controller of about $75.

Work2Play said:

I agree - and it could be as simple as a new faceplate design that would fit on the 240.  Horizontal rockers pivoting in the middle that could potentially be laser engraved would look awesome.

Click to expand...

 
 
Even single push buttons that operate like the current 4 button face plates but have larger buttons.
Laser engraving would look very sharp/high end.