UPB control of ceiling fan

[PaulD]

I need to determine how I will use UPB to control ceiling fans in a new house. As far as I know, no one makes a UPB variable speed fan control today so I am looking at my options for fan control with currently available switches. From earlier threads, it appears that I can use a UPB switch for on/off in series with a traditional variable speed fan control (non UPB). I only get on/off control via UPB this way but that is better than no UPB at all. Not a full UPB solution but it is acceptable until someone makes a UPB switch with full fan control. Have others used this approach successfully?

In this configuration, I am assuming that the non UPB variable speed control would be wired in series on the hot leg between the UPB on/off switch and the fan. If I am on the wrong track, educate me.

PS....I have heard that some other technologies may have fan switches already. Even if true, I do not want to mix anything with my UPB.

 

[nightwalker]

I need to determine how I will use UPB to control ceiling fans in a new house. As far as I know, no one makes a UPB variable speed fan control today so I am looking at my options for fan control with currently available switches. From earlier threads, it appears that I can use a UPB switch for on/off in series with a traditional variable speed fan control (non UPB). I only get on/off control via UPB this way but that is better than no UPB at all. Not a full UPB solution but it is acceptable until someone makes a UPB switch with full fan control. Have others used this approach successfully?

In this configuration, I am assuming that the non UPB variable speed control would be wired in series on the hot leg between the UPB on/off switch and the fan. If I am on the wrong track, educate me.

PS....I have heard that some other technologies may have fan switches already. Even if true, I do not want to mix anything with my UPB.

I found over the years that for me i generally found a speed that i used most of the time, slow, medium, fast and generally stuck with that. I had a couple of X10 switches that were cabable of controlling the fan speed but they were expensive and i didn't really use the fan speed feature anyway. so when i converted to UPB i just used a relay switch for off/on and left the speed controller as it always was. It's been happly running for a little over a year now with no problems at all.

 

[ckindt]

I need to determine how I will use UPB to control ceiling fans in a new house. As far as I know, no one makes a UPB variable speed fan control today so I am looking at my options for fan control with currently available switches. From earlier threads, it appears that I can use a UPB switch for on/off in series with a traditional variable speed fan control (non UPB). I only get on/off control via UPB this way but that is better than no UPB at all. Not a full UPB solution but it is acceptable until someone makes a UPB switch with full fan control. Have others used this approach successfully?

In this configuration, I am assuming that the non UPB variable speed control would be wired in series on the hot leg between the UPB on/off switch and the fan. If I am on the wrong track, educate me.

PS....I have heard that some other technologies may have fan switches already. Even if true, I do not want to mix anything with my UPB.

I did this with UPB and my PLC. You can do this with a UPB controller and the UPB i/o module..caution though; this requires some modifications of the OEM fan controller circuitry and isn't too difficult. Essentially, I replaced the manually operated swithces/pull chains with relays and used my PLC to control the relay based on UPB signals.

One relay (DPDT) for forward/reverse and two for speed (assuming 3-speed capacitor controlled type)
Use the UPB i/o to drive the relays with suitably rated contacts or just use SSRs. My relays work fine.

If you're interested in this endeavor I can offer more asistance with wiring if you'd like.

I took this approach after expirimenting with some variable speed type devices, but I never could eliminate the buzz the triacs induced and went back to the original cap controlls.

 

[PaulD]

I have never been happy with the 3 speed controls ...none of the 3 speeds seem to match up with the speed I want. I prefer full speed control and I have never been troubled with any buzz. My current fans (Casablanca) all have a variable speed control on the body of the fan that I can reach and that fills the bill for me. However, my new house will have 10 ft ceilings thus making adjustments more difficult. I want a wall mount speed controls for my new house.

Still looking for an answer on proper way to wire the UPB on/off switch along with a variable speed control

 

[SethP]

Ahhh...my next project. I've got two Casablanca fans on a 17 foot ceiling, controlled by multi-button switches in the wall. Was wondering if anyone figured out a way to automated them.

I'm pretty sure Casablanca makes remote-controlled fans that use an IR remote. With those, automation should be easy. I much prefer hardwired, but sometimes there's no choice.

I'll be contact Casablanca in the next few weeks to discuss this and see what the options. I'll be happy to post what I find.

Seth

I have never been happy with the 3 speed controls ...none of the 3 speeds seem to match up with the speed I want. I prefer full speed control and I have never been troubled with any buzz. My current fans (Casablanca) all have a variable speed control on the body of the fan that I can reach and that fills the bill for me. However, my new house will have 10 ft ceilings thus making adjustments more difficult. I want a wall mount speed controls for my new house.

Still looking for an answer on proper way to wire the UPB on/off switch along with a variable speed control

 

[Event5]

I'm pretty sure Casablanca makes remote-controlled fans that use an IR remote. With those, automation should be easy. I much prefer hardwired, but sometimes there's no choice.

I'll be contact Casablanca in the next few weeks to discuss this and see what the options. I'll be happy to post what I find.

Seth,

I have an idea which springs from your post. By hacking into a IR remote and controlling the contacts with a SA UMI I/O module. If the remote has a ramp up and a ramp down button the I/O module could be set to receive links for those ramps.

The UPB transmit devices for those links could be set to custom (activate on button press,deactivate on button release) basicly making it a momentary command that would be like holding down the ramp up or down buttons on the remote.

A crazy idea but I bet it would work.

(After Posting this, I looked at the Casablanca web site, they do not offer true variable speed, only 3 or 4 speed. I looked around and could not find a true variable speed fan. ckindt's solution sounds like a good plan)

Dave

 

[tpboyce]

If you only want to control on and off, how about finding a fan with a wall mounted speed control and wiring it in series with a UPB relay? This would give you on/off control via automation along with ease of access to the speed controller. While it sounds like you might be able to use an I/O module and modify the fan, I myself would be a little uncomfortable with this. Would really hate for something to go wrong and have a fire in your new house and the insurance company having an excuse not to pay.

 

[Steve]

I have a couple of older (like 15 yrs old) Casablanca fans that have like 9 speed settings. You press and hold the speed button on the wall switch and it beeps as it increments the speed by 1 notch. I was under the belief it was all electronic and no way to automate it.

 

[Event5]

I have a couple of older (like 15 yrs old) Casablanca fans that have like 9 speed settings. You press and hold the speed button on the wall switch and it beeps as it increments the speed by 1 notch. I was under the belief it was all electronic and no way to automate it.

If you can hack the contacts in the wall switch you could probably control it remotely with the solution I discribe.

 

[speacock]

Craftmade offers a universal remote kit called the UC2000 that appears to be RF based. I'm looking at hacking it to four outputs on my Elk for fan control. Same should be possible with a UMI or two. The disadvantage is the battery replacement requirement, but no risk of dramatic mistakes.

http://www.craftmade.com/Product%20pages/TCS_Controls2.html

Sean

 

[tmbrown97]

Craftmade offers a universal remote kit called the UC2000 that appears to be RF based. I'm looking at hacking it to four outputs on my Elk for fan control. Same should be possible with a UMI or two. The disadvantage is the battery replacement requirement, but no risk of dramatic mistakes.

http://www.craftmade.com/Product%20pages/TCS_Controls2.html

Sean

Those are the same switches that Home Depot sells under their brand lighting brand... I've been using them for almost 10 years and before, never had any problems (they weren't integrated into HA though)... Only in my current house have I had issues where the in-wall switch only works part of the time, but the two remotes I have work great. Must be range related.

I'd never thought about hacking a remote to get HA integration - that's not a half-bad idea actually - just keep in mind the semi-short range, so you'd need a place to put it out of sight but close enough.

The biggest issue I have with the light is that it requires continuous press to brighten/dim - there isn't a bright and a separate dim switch - the one button cycles through, so if it's a little too bright and it's on an up-cycle, you have to hold it long enough to cycle through.

You could possibly use a hybrid - use that only for the motor control and use a UPB dimmer for the light - that would give you the best of both worlds. Altho in my case, I'll be ripping those out soon and replacing with UPB relays - I can generally find a speed I like and just use that all the time. I only ever want a slight breeze.

Edit: Those batteries last forever - you shouldn't have to worry about them for about 5 years.

 

[electron]

I just want to mention that I am successfully controlling ceiling fans (just ON/OFF) with SAI US2-40 UPB switches. I configured the switches so they wouldn't support dimming, and it seems to work just fine. I rarely change speed, so this works out pretty well.

 

[kwilcox]

I have UPB lighting control on my Casablanca fan but left their proprietary speed control system in place. My fan has a central pipe that goes straight through to the lights so I just disconnected them from the control unit then ran wiring up through the pipe to the electrical box in the ceiling. I think this is about the best you can do with Casablanca fans.

 

[dougmeredith]

I just want to mention that I am successfully controlling ceiling fans (just ON/OFF) with SAI US2-40 UPB switches. I configured the switches so they wouldn't support dimming, and it seems to work just fine. I rarely change speed, so this works out pretty well.

I'm using these for bathroom exhaust fans. I also disabled dimming. No problems so far, and it's been about six months.

Doug

 

[electron]

Yep, I am doing that as well, using US11-40's to control my bathroom exhaust fan, which comes on whenever someone is taking a shower. I also forgot to mention that the ceiling fan doesn't hum, but obviously, I don't have any speed control.