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Author Topic: Wall Switches and Ceiling fans  (Read 51929 times)

Acam

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Wall Switches and Ceiling fans
« on: June 29, 2009, 10:21:11 AM »

I want to control my bedroom ceiling fan, what switch will I need to utilize? I am aware that the standard switch is not recommended to be used with motors.
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dave w

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Re: Wall Switches and Ceiling fans
« Reply #1 on: June 29, 2009, 12:09:52 PM »

If you want to control the fan's speed you will need the inductive "dimmer" XPDI3, however this switch may make your fan motor hum or buzz. I used one for our bedroom and found the hum objectionable when trying to sleep but was not bothersome in a livingroom, family room, etc. application.

If you do not need to control speed or don't like a humming fan motor the XPS3 will provide only OFF-ON control.

Both these switches require a neutral line to work.
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MANOWAR©

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Re: Wall Switches and Ceiling fans
« Reply #2 on: June 29, 2009, 06:42:04 PM »

I have a similar question. I have a Hunter ceiling fan with lights on it. Currently it is controlled with an on/off wall switch and this remote.
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=227793-79-27148&lpage=none

It does the fans 3 speeds plus lights on and off and dimmer option. All this is done from a single gang wall switch. Is there any X10 part I can replace it with that will control the fan speeds and the lights within the single gang box?
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Dan Lawrence

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Re: Wall Switches and Ceiling fans
« Reply #3 on: June 29, 2009, 08:18:12 PM »

I have a similar question. I have a Hunter ceiling fan with lights on it. Currently it is controlled with an on/off wall switch and this remote.
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=227793-79-27148&lpage=none

It does the fans 3 speeds plus lights on and off and dimmer option. All this is done from a single gang wall switch. Is there any X10 part I can replace it with that will control the fan speeds and the lights within the single gang box?


Unfortunately, X10 does not make anything simple to do what you want.  B:( B:( B:( B:(    I've got the same problem, same type of fan.  You need a double gang box and two separate wire runs to do what we both want, plus two modules one to control the fan itself and a second one to control the lights.   Too much like a major project to do it.   B:( B:(
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jfaska

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Re: Wall Switches and Ceiling fans
« Reply #4 on: July 02, 2009, 09:13:25 PM »

how about using 2 in line modules either XPDF & XPFM
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Dan Lawrence

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Re: Wall Switches and Ceiling fans
« Reply #5 on: July 02, 2009, 09:16:09 PM »

You STLL need a double gang box and a extra wire run.  B:(
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MANOWAR©

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Re: Wall Switches and Ceiling fans
« Reply #6 on: July 03, 2009, 10:01:30 AM »

If I remember correctly, I have a 3 conductor with a ground leaving the wall switch going to the fan. Black Red Whit. Could I use this
http://www.thehomeautomationstore.com/x10-pro-inline-receiver-module-xp.html at the fan box
with the red and white(neutral) for the fan just for on and off and this
http://www.thehomeautomationstore.com/ws12a.html
at the wall switch for the light using the black and white for the lights??
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jfaska

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Re: Wall Switches and Ceiling fans
« Reply #7 on: July 03, 2009, 10:09:09 AM »

how about using 2 in line modules either XPDF & XPFM and put them in the fan
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dave w

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Re: Wall Switches and Ceiling fans
« Reply #8 on: July 03, 2009, 06:10:46 PM »

If I remember correctly, I have a 3 conductor with a ground leaving the wall switch going to the fan. Black Red Whit. Could I use this
http://www.thehomeautomationstore.com/x10-pro-inline-receiver-module-xp.html at the fan box
with the red and white(neutral) for the fan just for on and off and this
http://www.thehomeautomationstore.com/ws12a.html
at the wall switch for the light using the black and white for the lights??
jfaska is suggesting a fix that worked well for me, but to answer your question. Yes that would work. Although I would swap the wire colors making Black which would be hot all the time the feed for the inline appliance module. Then use red for the wall mounted dimmer switch feeding the lights.

But heck if I had neutral, plus two lines to fan for independant light and motor control, why not put a double gang box in wall so you could have X10 wall switch control for both fan and light?
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MANOWAR©

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Re: Wall Switches and Ceiling fans
« Reply #9 on: July 03, 2009, 07:49:08 PM »

If I remember correctly, I have a 3 conductor with a ground leaving the wall switch going to the fan. Black Red Whit. Could I use this
http://www.thehomeautomationstore.com/x10-pro-inline-receiver-module-xp.html at the fan box
with the red and white(neutral) for the fan just for on and off and this
http://www.thehomeautomationstore.com/ws12a.html
at the wall switch for the light using the black and white for the lights??
jfaska is suggesting a fix that worked well for me, but to answer your question. Yes that would work. Although I would swap the wire colors making Black which would be hot all the time the feed for the inline appliance module. Then use red for the wall mounted dimmer switch feeding the lights.

But heck if I had neutral, plus two lines to fan for independant light and motor control, why not put a double gang box in wall so you could have X10 wall switch control for both fan and light?

Cool, the reason for no double gang is that the wall it is on is kind of stepped out to the door and not very wide.I think I could cut the studs a bit to force a double gang in there but then the cover plate would hit the joining wall on one side and hang out over the edge on the other. The wall is shaped like this _|¯ and I don't want to cut down a wall plate just to make it work. Looks like crap IMO.
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Boiler

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Re: Wall Switches and Ceiling fans
« Reply #10 on: July 04, 2009, 11:28:23 AM »

If I remember correctly, I have a 3 conductor with a ground leaving the wall switch going to the fan. Black Red Whit. Could I use this
http://www.thehomeautomationstore.com/x10-pro-inline-receiver-module-xp.html at the fan box
with the red and white(neutral) for the fan just for on and off and this
http://www.thehomeautomationstore.com/ws12a.html
at the wall switch for the light using the black and white for the lights??

Hello Manowar,

The XPFM that you linked to above is an inline relay module.  As Dave W indicated, your wiring configuration will work, but you will not be able to control Fan Speeds (On/Off only).  I wasn't sure if that was your intent.

Some users have had problems with the XPFM turning back on after receiving an off command.  It appears that some fan motors generate enough back EMF to trick the XPFM's sense circuit into re-activating the module.  This only occurs with certain fan motors and typically when the fan is set to lower speeds.

You may want to re-arrange your configuration and use a true relay switch (XPS3) or inductive dimmer (XPDI3) for the fan and a inline dimmer (XPDF) for the lamps.

Since you only have a single gang box available, yet another option would be an Insteon Keypadlinc relay module - albeit far more expensive.  The Insteon units can be programmed to receive and transmit X10 Codes.  The KPL relay could be wired to directly control your fan using the main On/Off buttons.  A secondary button ("A" for instance) could then be programmed to control a XPDF inline dimmer for lamp control.  This is the only way I can think of of putting all the controls in a single gang box.

KPL Relay Link:Kepadlinc Relay

I don't currently know of any way to accomplish fan speed control/lamp dimming using single gang box.

Boiler
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MANOWAR©

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Re: Wall Switches and Ceiling fans
« Reply #11 on: July 04, 2009, 11:40:51 AM »

Boiler. That is just what I'm looking for. I can use the normal XPS3 for the fan (I don't care about fan speed. I keep it on low) and the XPDF for the dimmer up at the fans ceiling box. I wired this fan myself and left slack in the ceiling in a junction box. Now I just gotta make sure the fan itself has different hot wires for the fan and light.  :)%

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Brian H

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Re: Wall Switches and Ceiling fans
« Reply #12 on: July 04, 2009, 03:39:04 PM »

The XPS3 needs a Neutral wire to work. Make sure you have a neutral.
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MANOWAR©

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Re: Wall Switches and Ceiling fans
« Reply #13 on: July 04, 2009, 03:59:31 PM »

The XPS3 needs a Neutral wire to work. Make sure you have a neutral.

I do. Just gonna have to rerun the wire from the switch to the fan. It's 14/2 not 14/3 but that will be easy. I did it once already.
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MANOWAR©

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Re: Wall Switches and Ceiling fans
« Reply #14 on: July 18, 2009, 12:53:11 PM »

Ok, I got the WS12A and the XPFM installed after I ran a 14/3 to the fan and it all works but I am getting that fan switching back on at low speed issue. I decided I wanted the light switch on the wall to work the light not the fan.  I have an idea to fix it though. Since the noise is causing it, what is the chances that me moving the XPFM down to the switch on the wall will stop the noise? Is the noise from the motor going to travel down the wire if I put the inline relay at my wall  switch or is it because it's up in the fan housing?
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