GE Smart Fan Control under new software

[ctviggen1]

Hi All,

I upgraded my relatively small network to 5.0.12.  I have one Z-wave device, a GE smart fan control.  (Just installed it yesterday, then upgraded the ISY this morning!) I was able to re-add this device, but now it has the master entry then two keys, key1 and key2.  It did not have this in the 4.x version (that is, in the 4.x version, there was only one entry instead of three).  I think this is more technically correct, as there is a rocker with an "up" and a "down" for the GE smart fan control. 

I would like to know if anyone is using the GE smart fan control under the new software and if this is what you get.  If so, how do you use these keys in programming?  (If I like this fan switch, I plan on adding a few more, so that I can at least turn the corresponding fan off in the morning, so the fan does not spend all day on while no one is in the room.)

Also, have you tried controlling this from Alexa?  If so, can you set the speeds to slow, medium, or high? 

[asbril]

15 minutes ago, ctviggen1 said:

Hi All,

I upgraded my relatively small network to 5.0.12.  I have one Z-wave device, a GE smart fan control.  (Just installed it yesterday, then upgraded the ISY this morning!) I was able to re-add this device, but now it has the master entry then two keys, key1 and key2.  It did not have this in the 4.x version (that is, in the 4.x version, there was only one entry instead of three).  I think this is more technically correct, as there is a rocker with an "up" and a "down" for the GE smart fan control. 

I would like to know if anyone is using the GE smart fan control under the new software and if this is what you get.  If so, how do you use these keys in programming?  (If I like this fan switch, I plan on adding a few more, so that I can at least turn the corresponding fan off in the morning, so the fan does not spend all day on while no one is in the room.)

Also, have you tried controlling this from Alexa?  If so, can you set the speeds to slow, medium, or high? 

My assumption is that the GE fan switch is  Zwave Series 5. If so, with ISY 5.0.12, you may have 2 additional nodes names Scene 1 and Scene 2. These nodes allow you to program the switch to perform additional tasks with double and triple clicks. As an example, you can use the double-click to switch ON another Zwave device.

As far as Alexa, I use both Alexa and Google Home (but by far mostly the latter). If you have ISY Portal then you can control  any ISY device with Alexa (or Google Home). 

 

[ctviggen1]

Thank you.  For Alexa, I used a "light" as the interface in the ISY portal, and it appears that using a phone interface, I can control the fan speed anywhere between 0 and 100 percent.  I also asked Alexa to turn the fan on in a medium speed, and that seemed to work.  All I really want is slow, medium, and fast.  (I don't really need to adjust the fan speed to 62% or something similar.) I'll see if that works when I get the chance. 

That's interesting about the double and triple clicks.  I don't know what I'd do with that, since I only have one Z wave device, or even if I did have other Z wave devices, what I'd do with that.  But it's an interesting idea.  I'd have to give it some thought about whether it's a useful feature.

[asbril]

38 minutes ago, ctviggen1 said:

Thank you.  For Alexa, I used a "light" as the interface in the ISY portal, and it appears that using a phone interface, I can control the fan speed anywhere between 0 and 100 percent.  I also asked Alexa to turn the fan on in a medium speed, and that seemed to work.  All I really want is slow, medium, and fast.  (I don't really need to adjust the fan speed to 62% or something similar.) I'll see if that works when I get the chance. 

That's interesting about the double and triple clicks.  I don't know what I'd do with that, since I only have one Z wave device, or even if I did have other Z wave devices, what I'd do with that.  But it's an interesting idea.  I'd have to give it some thought about whether it's a useful feature.

I believe that the fan switch only has 3 levels (34 %, 67% and 100%).  Any speed that you choose through the Administrative Console or Alexa will default to one of these three speeds. As an example, if you tell the fan to go at speed of 20%, it will in fact go to 34 %; set it to 50% and it will go to 67 %, etc. At least this is the case with my four ceiling fans.

[ctviggen1]

10 hours ago, asbril said:

I believe that the fan switch only has 3 levels (34 %, 67% and 100%).  Any speed that you choose through the Administrative Console or Alexa will default to one of these three speeds. As an example, if you tell the fan to go at speed of 20%, it will in fact go to 34 %; set it to 50% and it will go to 67 %, etc. At least this is the case with my four ceiling fans.

Thank you for the help.  I believe you are right.  I set the speed (via Alexa) to 70%, and the fan/GE controller went to high.  I then set it to 50% and the fan/GE controller went to medium. 

I also tried to set the speed to "medium" using Alexa, and that did not work.  Alexa gave me an error.  Is there no "slow", "medium" and "high" (or other similar terms) for these controllers via Alexa? 

[asbril]

16 minutes ago, ctviggen1 said:

Thank you for the help.  I believe you are right.  I set the speed (via Alexa) to 70%, and the fan/GE controller went to high.  I then set it to 50% and the fan/GE controller went to medium. 

I also tried to set the speed to "medium" using Alexa, and that did not work.  Alexa gave me an error.  Is there no "slow", "medium" and "high" (or other similar terms) for these controllers via Alexa? 

I mostly use Google Home but I assume that the implications for the fan switch are similar. Slow, medium and high do not work. I use 33 percent, etc. However because my fan is named 'master fan' and the fan light 'master fan lamp', when I use these percentages it activates both the fan and its associated light. I could try give them totally different names but right now I just use ON and OFF, whereby the fan goes to its most recent ON status (of goes OFF).

[ctviggen1]

That appears how the Echo/Alexa works too.  That's too bad that slow, medium, and high don't work.  I installed one of these controllers in the master bedroom, and I'm about to install them in my kids' bedrooms.  (The current fan controller they have is a slider, and I can see sparks in it every time I use it.)  We can definitely use "on" and "off", although my wife likes slow speed, while I like medium speed.    Also, the kids will want to turn these on/off, and "slow" is easier than "33 %". 

I've separated the fan and fan lights.  In fact, my master bedroom fan has an up-light, a down-light, and a fan.  So I have this on three separate controllers and use three different terms for these.  Each of the kids' fans has fan + light, and I have each on two controllers.  And once you tell a kid they can control something using Alexa, of course they do it.  We told them about announcements, and went through a weekend or so of random announcements throughout the house. 

[DrLumen]

Seems like I saw somewhere that the percentages were 10, 50 and 90. I may have imagined that though. But yes, there are only three speeds. 0<low<50<medium<90<high.

Using the spoken low and high works with Alexa but mine balks at medium and I have to say 50%. Stupid &*$*@(!

[asbril]

3 hours ago, ctviggen1 said:

That appears how the Echo/Alexa works too.  That's too bad that slow, medium, and high don't work.  I installed one of these controllers in the master bedroom, and I'm about to install them in my kids' bedrooms.  (The current fan controller they have is a slider, and I can see sparks in it every time I use it.)  We can definitely use "on" and "off", although my wife likes slow speed, while I like medium speed.    Also, the kids will want to turn these on/off, and "slow" is easier than "33 %". 

I've separated the fan and fan lights.  In fact, my master bedroom fan has an up-light, a down-light, and a fan.  So I have this on three separate controllers and use three different terms for these.  Each of the kids' fans has fan + light, and I have each on two controllers.  And once you tell a kid they can control something using Alexa, of course they do it.  We told them about announcements, and went through a weekend or so of random announcements throughout the house. 

You have several options. In Google Home one can create  a 'shortcut'  whereby you choose the word of your choice with a specific action, which can be a ISY device or scene (I think). Hopefully Alexa has a similar option.

Of course your family can use the switch itself with long pressing to get the speed of their choice. Another option is to use Mobilinc App on your Iphone (or Agave on your Android phone), and finally using the Administrative Console. I actually use the AC most as I am often close to one of my computers.

[asbril]

7 minutes ago, DrLumen said:

Seems like I saw somewhere that the percentages were 10, 50 and 90. I may have imagined that though. But yes, there are only three speeds. 0<low<50<medium<90<high.

Using the spoken low and high works with Alexa but mine balks at medium and I have to say 50%. Stupid &*$*@(!

I have done this with trial and error, and the low speed is 33 % or lower, medium between 34 and 67 %, and anything above 67 % is full speed. For graphic purposes only, I have developed a program whereby any percentage below 33 shows as 33 in my AC; anything between 34 and 67 shows as 67, and anything higher than 67 shows as 100 pct in my Administrative Console.

[DrLumen]

I just got into the habit of using 10,50 and 90. Not sure why I got into the habit of using 90 instead of 100. Oh well...

[asbril]

2 hours ago, DrLumen said:

I just got into the habit of using 10,50 and 90. Not sure why I got into the habit of using 90 instead of 100. Oh well...

That is ok and will give you same result.

[ctviggen1]

18 hours ago, DrLumen said:

Seems like I saw somewhere that the percentages were 10, 50 and 90. I may have imagined that though. But yes, there are only three speeds. 0<low<50<medium<90<high.

Using the spoken low and high works with Alexa but mine balks at medium and I have to say 50%. Stupid &*$*@(!

I tested it using Alexa last night: low (or slow) and high works.  I tried everything I could think of for "medium", e.g., "medium", "mid", "middle", etc., but couldn't get it to work.  I even asked Alexa what I could use, and of course that didn't work.

So, I guess I'll teach the kids to say low, 50%, high.  And of course, on and off. 

[ctviggen1]

18 hours ago, asbril said:

You have several options. In Google Home one can create  a 'shortcut'  whereby you choose the word of your choice with a specific action, which can be a ISY device or scene (I think). Hopefully Alexa has a similar option.

Of course your family can use the switch itself with long pressing to get the speed of their choice. Another option is to use Mobilinc App on your Iphone (or Agave on your Android phone), and finally using the Administrative Console. I actually use the AC most as I am often close to one of my computers.

Thank you.  My wife uses her Alexa app on her iPhone.  Like you, I usually just use the Admin Console, or Alexa, or the switch.  I have to say it is nice to be able to say, "Alexa, turn off downstairs lights" when going to bed, and have everything downstairs turn off. 

The main reason I used the GE fan controller was not to use spoken words, but because my fan came with one device to control three functions (up light, down light, fan).  I found that confusing to use, so I just added two Insteon dimmer switches and one GE fan controller.  It took running some new wires for this, though.  And expanding the electrical box.

[asbril]

2 hours ago, ctviggen1 said:

Thank you.  My wife uses her Alexa app on her iPhone.  Like you, I usually just use the Admin Console, or Alexa, or the switch.  I have to say it is nice to be able to say, "Alexa, turn off downstairs lights" when going to bed, and have everything downstairs turn off. 

The main reason I used the GE fan controller was not to use spoken words, but because my fan came with one device to control three functions (up light, down light, fan).  I found that confusing to use, so I just added two Insteon dimmer switches and one GE fan controller.  It took running some new wires for this, though.  And expanding the electrical box.

I went through the same process. Here in South Florida we have 4 ceiling fans, each with lights. In two instances we had to add an electrical box to accommodate for the extra light switch (I only use Zwave in my setup). I believe that Inoveli has plans to come out with a Zwave dual (fan/light) switch. That would not make a difference for me, having done it already, but useful for others in the future. 

[larryllix]

On 5/30/2018 at 8:35 AM, ctviggen1 said:

Thank you for the help.  I believe you are right.  I set the speed (via Alexa) to 70%, and the fan/GE controller went to high.  I then set it to 50% and the fan/GE controller went to medium. 

I also tried to set the speed to "medium" using Alexa, and that did not work.  Alexa gave me an error.  Is there no "slow", "medium" and "high" (or other similar terms) for these controllers via Alexa? 

I do not have any fan control but for other devices I use three programs with four commands. One program has to do double duty.

• Alexa. Turn on Low Fan
• Alexa. Turn on Medium Fan
• Alexa. Turn on High Fan
• Alexa. Turn Off Fan (runs Else of one of the programs with proper code to turn off that scene.)

I avoid using the reverse phrases and percentages as the misunderstanding level is much higher.

This works just fine with that order of phrase words with Alexa. Alexa seems to accept multiple words in the phrases. Google only seems to decode  two max.

With Google Home, the Off may not function correctly and the response is horrifying at first hearing  it is turning off four devices.

[asbril]

1 minute ago, larryllix said:

I do not have any fan control but for other devices I use three programs with four commands. One program has to do double duty.

• Alexa. Turn on Low Fan
• Alexa. Turn on Medium Fan
• Alexa. Turn on High Fan
• Alexa. Turn Off Fan (runs Else of one of the programs with proper code to turn off that scene.)

 

This works just fine with that order of phrase words with Alexa. Alexa seems to accept multiple words in the phrases. Google only seems to decode  two max.

With Google Home, the Off may not function correctly and the response is horrifying at first hearing  it is turning off four devices.

LOL Larryllix.....  I never have issues with lights / fans ON or OFF. True Low, Medium, High do not work with GH, but as you write I am sure that I could write programs and use with GH Keywords to actually operate L,M,H.

[ctviggen1]

Where (or with what program) are you writing these programs? 

I have the Admin Console, but I can't see this having the ability to use words like "low fan".  (Though I also haven't checked...and I'm at work so don't have the Admin Console in front of me.)  Is this a program on the Alexa side somewhere?

[msoileau]

For the Google Home/Assistant, I create shortcuts via their app. That way I say "Turn master fan on medium" and it translates to "Turn master fan on 50%". It requires 3 shortcuts (high, medum, low), but you can set it up to trigger on whatever you want to say

[asbril]

19 minutes ago, msoileau said:

For the Google Home/Assistant, I create shortcuts via their app. That way I say "Turn master fan on medium" and it translates to "Turn master fan on 50%". It requires 3 shortcuts (high, medum, low), but you can set it up to trigger on whatever you want to say

True except that your medium at 50% is in fact 67%.  The three speeds are at 33%, 67% and 100%

[larryllix]

2 hours ago, ctviggen1 said:

Where (or with what program) are you writing these programs? 

I have the Admin Console, but I can't see this having the ability to use words like "low fan".  (Though I also haven't checked...and I'm at work so don't have the Admin Console in front of me.)  Is this a program on the Alexa side somewhere?

This is done without any Alexa skills  other than the ISY Smart Home V3.

Write three ISY programs. The If sections can be blank. Only the Then sections need code on all and Else section needs code on one for the Off function.
One called Fan High (or High fan or whatever you like. The name makes no difference and is only for your memory) that turns the fan on High and turns the fan off in the Else section.
One named Fan Med that turns the fan on Medium speed
One named Fan Low that turns the fan on Low speed.

Now access your ISY Portal webpage and
select the Fan High program and give vocals of "high fan" and just  "fan" = two different vocals
select the Fan Med program and assign a vocal phrase of "medium fan"
select the Fan Low program and assign a vocal phrase of "low fan"

Enter the Alexa app and go to the bottom of your device list, select "delete all". Now select "discover"
 Just use the phrases "Alexa. Turn on high fan/ medium fan/ low fan" or  "Alexa. Turn Off Fan" (this runs the "fan" word's program "Else" section. )

I doubt this will work with GH   as it tries to combine vocals  with any common words and three words can  really foul up the comprehension.

Forget all the percentages. GH and Alexa have a hard time decoding more wording after the device nouns so the response may be more flaky with that method.

[ctviggen1]

Thank you.  That makes sense.  I'll see if I can do that this weekend.

[msoileau]

22 hours ago, asbril said:

True except that your medium at 50% is in fact 67%.  The three speeds are at 33%, 67% and 100%

From my experience, 1%-33% is low, 34%-66% is medium, and 67%-100% is high. I typically use 10% for low, 50% for medium, and 100% for high. The exact value doesn't matter as long as you are within the range

[asbril]

58 minutes ago, msoileau said:

The exact value doesn't matter as long as you are within the range

Indeed