ceiling fans?

[gfs]

anyone have experience with ceiling fans? i have a few i want to rig for zwave. they are simple on/off... but i want to get one or two that have variable speeds... any thoughts on switches and fan units?

 

[apostolakisl]

I have never seen a variable speed zwave fan controller. Just the relay switches. I am pretty sure I have never seen any remote control variable speed fan except IR. I don't use zwave, but if they have a way to convert zwave to IR commands, you could do that. Not elegant, but it should work (assuming zwave has a way of sending ir commands like my insteon does).

 

[Monk]

I have a Zwave fan controller - Leviton brand. Don't remember where I got it, but they do exist. It works well and has 3 speeds. I set the ceiling fan's switch at the lowest setting - meaning that when the zwave switch is on low the fan is actually running "ultra" low.

 

[Frunple]

http://www.cocoontech.com/forums/index.php...st&p=147008

 

[ano]

I have a Zwave fan controller - Leviton brand. Don't remember where I got it, but they do exist. It works well and has 3 speeds. I set the ceiling fan's switch at the lowest setting - meaning that when the zwave switch is on low the fan is actually running "ultra" low.

You might want to be careful with that. Many many years ago I used to work at a company that made ceiling fans so I learned lots about them. Anyway, a big part of the design of a fan is making sure that there is enough air-flow over the motor on the low speed, because if there isn't the fan can easily overheat. Overheating is never a problem at the high speed but it can be when its low. When you run it even slower, you are dropping the air-flow at a much faster rate than you are dropping the heat generated, so the heat-to-cooling ratio rises and a fan can overheat. I wouldn't recommend running it much lower than the low speed it was designed for. Anything higher than that shouldn't be a problem.

 

[Monk]

I have a Zwave fan controller - Leviton brand. Don't remember where I got it, but they do exist. It works well and has 3 speeds. I set the ceiling fan's switch at the lowest setting - meaning that when the zwave switch is on low the fan is actually running "ultra" low.

You might want to be careful with that. Many many years ago I used to work at a company that made ceiling fans so I learned lots about them. Anyway, a big part of the design of a fan is making sure that there is enough air-flow over the motor on the low speed, because if there isn't the fan can easily overheat. Overheating is never a problem at the high speed but it can be when its low. When you run it even slower, you are dropping the air-flow at a much faster rate than you are dropping the heat generated, so the heat-to-cooling ratio rises and a fan can overheat. I wouldn't recommend running it much lower than the low speed it was designed for. Anything higher than that shouldn't be a problem.

Haven't had a problem in three years running - you would have to see the speed that this actually turns, not so slow like 30 rpm but still slower than the normal slow. Will check the temperature after an extended run but do not expect it will be hot.