X10 Community Forum

💬General Category => General Discussion => X10 Product Wish List => Topic started by: dave w on November 08, 2010, 08:35:23 PM

Title: Fan/Light module for ceiling fans
Post by: dave w on November 08, 2010, 08:35:23 PM
Wire-in module for instalation in ceiling fan shroud. Two outputs, one dimmable for lights, and one output for fan motor with 3 speed reactive output for buzzless motor control which sadly the XPDI3 does not provide.
Title: Re: Fan/Light module for ceiling fans
Post by: Dan Lawrence on November 08, 2010, 10:15:11 PM
Sound like a good idea. I have a fan in my Dining Room that has lights, a dual module that controls both (two different housecodes) would be great either as a wall type switch or one in the fan shroud.
Title: Re: Fan/Light module for ceiling fans
Post by: Brandt on November 09, 2010, 12:05:42 PM
I just hooked up a single XPDM to mine, and use a 2-button XPT (one for the fan/light, and one for the kitchen) The switch replaced a single gang 2-switch setup. If I had room in the fan shroud, or really felt like it, I could also put an XPDF up there for the lights and get a new keypad for the XPT, but then only 1 out of 3 devices controlled by the XPT would be dimmable...
Title: Re: Fan/Light module for ceiling fans
Post by: dave w on November 09, 2010, 12:52:50 PM
I just hooked up a single XPDM to mine, and use a 2-button XPT (one for the fan/light, and one for the kitchen) The switch replaced a single gang 2-switch setup. If I had room in the fan shroud, or really felt like it, I could also put an XPDF up there for the lights and get a new keypad for the XPT, but then only 1 out of 3 devices controlled by the XPT would be dimmable...
XPDM? do you mean XPFM? If so, yeah I already use them (sorta).

I have hacked Appliance Module and Lamp Module to convert to XPDF and XPFM wire-in modules, painted them white, attached to ceiling next to fan shroud. They blend in pretty well. But would be nice if X10 made a single board unit small enough to fit above fan in the shroud (like the RF units you can get in the home improvement stores) with switched capacitors instead of a snubbed triac (i.e. XPDI3) to eliminate motor buzz. I think it would be a good selling product.   

X10 has already had this suggestion and their silence means they are not interested.  I think I will make the Ed Cheung "No Hum Fan Controller" http://www.edcheung.com/automa/nohum.htm and combine with a Lamp Module board and install in attic above the fan(s). Unfortunately Ed is not offering the etched PC boards or the caps any more, so it is difficult to get motivated. Been a long time since I have etched my own PC boards.
Title: Re: Fan/Light module for ceiling fans
Post by: Dan Lawrence on November 09, 2010, 01:15:45 PM
I just hooked up a single XPDM to mine, and use a 2-button XPT (one for the fan/light, and one for the kitchen) The switch replaced a single gang 2-switch setup. If I had room in the fan shroud, or really felt like it, I could also put an XPDF up there for the lights and get a new keypad for the XPT, but then only 1 out of 3 devices controlled by the XPT would be dimmable...
XPDM and XPDF?

I have hacked Appliance Module and Lamp Module to convert to XPDF and XPFM wire-in modules, painted them white, attached to ceiling next to fan shroud. They blend in pretty well. But would be nice if X10 made a single board unit small enough to fit above fan in the shroud (like the RF units you can get in the home improvement stores) with switched capacitors instead of a snubbed triac (i.e. XPDI3) to eliminate motor buzz. I think it would be a good selling product. 

 

X10 has already had this suggestion and their silence means they are not interested.  I think I will make the Ed Cheung "No Hum Fan Controller" http://www.edcheung.com/automa/nohum.htm and combine with a Lamp Module board and install in attic above the fan(s). Unfortunately Ed is not offering the etched PC boards or the caps any more, so it is difficult to get motivated. Been a long time since I have etched my own PC boards.

RATS!!!!   It would be a good item.  How many X10 users have fans with lights?  A lot, I think.  I'd love to put both on X10 (My fan in the Living Room is on X10 with a PRO XPS3 controlling it) but X10 is known by a lot of us as brain dead.
Title: Re: Fan/Light module for ceiling fans
Post by: vanda32547 on January 26, 2011, 10:34:18 AM
I just hooked up a single XPDM to mine, and use a 2-button XPT (one for the fan/light, and one for the kitchen) The switch replaced a single gang 2-switch setup. If I had room in the fan shroud, or really felt like it, I could also put an XPDF up there for the lights and get a new keypad for the XPT, but then only 1 out of 3 devices controlled by the XPT would be dimmable...
XPDM and XPDF?

I have hacked Appliance Module and Lamp Module to convert to XPDF and XPFM wire-in modules, painted them white, attached to ceiling next to fan shroud. They blend in pretty well. But would be nice if X10 made a single board unit small enough to fit above fan in the shroud (like the RF units you can get in the home improvement stores) with switched capacitors instead of a snubbed triac (i.e. XPDI3) to eliminate motor buzz. I think it would be a good selling product. 

 

X10 has already had this suggestion and their silence means they are not interested.  I think I will make the Ed Cheung "No Hum Fan Controller" http://www.edcheung.com/automa/nohum.htm and combine with a Lamp Module board and install in attic above the fan(s). Unfortunately Ed is not offering the etched PC boards or the caps any more, so it is difficult to get motivated. Been a long time since I have etched my own PC boards.

RATS!!!!   It would be a good item.  How many X10 users have fans with lights?  A lot, I think.  I'd love to put both on X10 (My fan in the Living Room is on X10 with a PRO XPS3 controlling it) but X10 is known by a lot of us as brain dead.

Would love an X10 item for my Ceiling Light/Fan. What the hell are they waiting for? Would seem to be a popular item if they offered it.
Title: Re: Fan/Light module for ceiling fans
Post by: Dan Lawrence on January 26, 2011, 04:45:28 PM
Like I said earlier in this thread, X10 is so brainless they would never create it.  I don't really think it would be a hot item IF they made it, given the fact that X10 has NEVER been mass marketed.  In Baltimore where I live, Home Depot and Loews both stocked x10 items 10 or more years ago, both dropped it as sales were so tiny they couldn't make any money on it.   
Title: Re: Fan/Light module for ceiling fans
Post by: crapface on April 21, 2011, 03:50:25 PM
I would like to get one that controls the different rotation and the (on/off would be good enough for me)speed, it would be nice to be able to change that along with the thermostat if you wanted your house warmer or cooler. This would be great for spring and fall where the temperatures vary so much.
Title: Re: Fan/Light module for ceiling fans
Post by: Dan Lawrence on April 21, 2011, 08:17:46 PM
Forget about it.  X10 ain't the least bit interested.    There are at least 2 people from X10 who post here regularly and know what's going on in the threads and this one was started back in November of last year with quite a bit of ideas. 
Title: Re: Fan/Light module for ceiling fans
Post by: dave w on April 21, 2011, 08:40:38 PM
Yeah CF, this "Wish List" thread which X10 set up really hasn't gone anyplace. Dan is right, X10 doesn't give a flip. They just created the catagory so we can amuse  them.
Title: Re: Fan/Light module for ceiling fans
Post by: Dan Lawrence on April 21, 2011, 09:35:07 PM
Just for giggles, why don't we just lock this topic?  Everybody can read it, but nobody can add to it.
Title: Re: Fan/Light module for ceiling fans
Post by: crapface on April 25, 2011, 11:22:07 AM
I would say that now how the market is, they probably need to make cutbacks just like any other company.
i was 1/2 way thinking of hacking my units and making a base plate for my ceiling fan units. I was just hoping they might just develope it so I wouldn't need to.
Title: Re: Fan/Light module for ceiling fans
Post by: orcusomega on May 03, 2011, 03:43:51 PM
Been a while since I have been around and playing with my X10 setup - has been pretty stable, can't complain too loudly :)

Anyways, I am going to throw this out.  "In this economy" is something that we hear thrown around a lot - but would anyone here argue that X10 would NOT be a good way to cut costs?

I have put in a number of items that are intended to do just that - cut costs.  I have timers on my main electronics to keep parasitic draw down.  I have an outlet in my office that turns everything off at night other than the tower PC and the backup drive - everything else gets powered down - printer, monitors, speakers, the works.  I have seen my bill on average drop about $15-$20 a month that I can PROBABLY directly attribute to X10 stuff...

All that said, think about it - how often do fans just run all day when no one is home?  Kids leave the lights on?  Just think about it - I would think this would be something that would have a positive impact...  But hey, maybe I'm applying logic where logic does not necessarily apply :)

Bob
Title: Re: Fan/Light module for ceiling fans
Post by: dave w on May 03, 2011, 04:03:37 PM
Just think about it - I would think this would be something that would have a positive impact...  But hey, maybe I'm applying logic where logic does not necessarily apply :)
Logic is sound, but as history has indicated (so far) X10 doesn't see enough profit to throw engineering time at the suggestion.
Title: Re: Fan/Light module for ceiling fans
Post by: orcusomega on May 03, 2011, 04:13:58 PM
Logic is sound, but as history has indicated (so far) X10 doesn't see enough profit to throw engineering time at the suggestion.

I hear ya - I just wish I had the skills to make it work myself...  I got a few of the Black and Decker outdoor extension chords with the X10 built in that I was thinking about converting into a sort of in-line module, but prolly would end up burning down my house with my luck :)

Bob
Title: Re: Fan/Light module for ceiling fans
Post by: Dan Lawrence on May 03, 2011, 05:38:53 PM
All this is true enough and there is no easy way to X10 control both a ceiling fan and its lights, so this is a wish list that is going nowhere.
Title: Re: Fan/Light module for ceiling fans
Post by: dbemowsk on June 13, 2011, 10:36:45 PM
In my office I have a ceiling fan (not sure what brand) with a light and I have 2 - XPDI3 switches zip tied to the frame under the shroud.  I (luckily) am not getting ANY buzz from the ceiling fan either at full brightness, or dimmed.  I do realize that this is a fluke, as most ceiling fans controlled by an XPDI3 have serious or at least some buzz.  The ceiling fan in my living room also has an XPDI3 and has a slight tolerable buzz when dimmed.  Most times when we are in there, we are watching TV so the buzz gets drowned out by the sound of the TV.  Both rooms are controlled by wall mounted XPT switches.

I still plan to add this feature to our master and guest bedrooms and our dining room.  It would be nice though to have an all in one unit designed for a ceiling fan fixture.  Possibly 2 styles, one for fan only, and the other for fans with lights.
Title: Re: Fan/Light module for ceiling fans
Post by: dave w on June 14, 2011, 09:59:43 AM
In my office I have a ceiling fan (not sure what brand) with a light and I have 2 - XPDI3 switches zip tied to the frame under the shroud.  I (luckily) am not getting ANY buzz from the ceiling fan either at full brightness, or dimmed.  I do realize that this is a fluke, as most ceiling fans controlled by an XPDI3 have serious or at least some buzz. 
My luck has always been XPDI3 = buzz.

IMHO It all depends on how well the windings and frame get laminated during manufacture. Your office fan may have even been dipped like the early open frame Hunters which would usually tolerate a triac dimmer with out even a hum. They just don't make them like that anymore.

Next time you clean the office fan, if possible, take a gander for a manufacturer ID, and let us know.  It will be a brand I will look for at next purchase.