Simple Bath Fan Timer w/ logic

[sfhutchi]

For a guest bathroom, I decided to tie in the bath fan to the use of the light with a little simple logic. My thought was that if the guest had the bathroom light on for 5 minutes or more... than I should initiate the fan for them. If they were in the bathroom for less than 5 minutes and turned off the light on their way out... then the fan never is initiated. Of course, they can manually use the fan as desired.

 

If the bath light is turned off before the 5 minute delay, the program aborts because the 'light >Off' condition goes false.

 

If
       Status  'Front Bath Light' > Off

Then
       Wait  5 minutes 
       Set 'Front Bath Fan' On

Else
  - No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action')

 

I have a second program that looks for a 'fan on' and turns off after a specified delay. This works any time the fan is turned on for any reason.

If
       Status  'Front Bath Fan' is On

Then
       Wait  15 minutes 
       Set 'Front Bath Fan' Off

Else
  - No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action')

 

Seems robust so far... but if anyone has pointers to improve this, I am always looking for ideas.

[oberkc]

Interesting idea. I am curious what happens when the second program turns the fan off (after 15 minutes) but with the light still on. Does the first program immediately turn the fan back on (after 5 minutes). Is this as you want?

[sfhutchi]

Interesting idea. I am curious what happens when the second program turns the fan off (after 15 minutes) but with the light still on. Does the first program immediately turn the fan back on (after 5 minutes). Is this as you want?

 

Good point. I have another program that looks for the light > Off and turns it off after a specified time.... but in theory this program could cause a continuous loop. With testing, the program doesn't seem to re-trigger itself... but it does look like I need to update it to something like this:

 

If
       (
            Control 'Front Bath Light' is switched On
         Or Control 'Front Bath Light' is switched Fade Up
       )
   And Control 'Front Bath Light' is not switched Off

Then
       Wait  5 minutes 
       Set 'Front Bath Fan' On

Else
  - No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action')

[oberkc]

I would be afraid that your updated program would not work as intended. What happens if the light is turned off before the 5-minutes countdown ends? Does the condition then become false? If so, would the countdown cease and the fan remain on?

 

What about two programs/ The first something like:

 

If

(

Control 'Front Bath Light' is switched On

Or Control 'Front Bath Light' is switched Fade Up

)

And Control 'Front Bath Light' is not switched Off

 

Then

Wait 5 minutes

Set 'Front Bath Fan' On

 

else

 

The second something like:

 

if

control 'front bath light' is swithed off

then

wait 15 minutes

shut fan off

 

 

Of course, if they leave the lights on, the fan continues to run.

[sfhutchi]

I should have explained that I do have a second program:

 

"Front Bath Fan Off"

 

This program kicks in any time the fan is seen 'On'. It works if the fan is manually turned on... or is turned on by a program.

 

I have a folder called 'Timed Off' that actually has similar programs for different fans throughout the house and different bedroom lights, bathroom lights, etc. They are basically catch-all type programs to monitor for something that has been left on too long. I don't have any motion sensors yet (tried the X10 ones before the Insteon ones were available and it was more trouble than it was worth).. so I rely on other logic to shutoff lights and other devices. It has worked out pretty well because in most situations where I turn a light on with various programs.. I don't have to worry about how it is going to get turned off.. .I just fall back on the 'Timed Off' programs that I have.

 

If
       Status  'Front Bath Fan' is On

Then
       Wait  15 minutes 
       Set 'Front Bath Fan' Off

Else
  - No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action')

[oberkc]

Sounds good.

 

Regarding X-10 motion sensors, I use several. I have found, however, that the better reciever interface is a useful addition to ensure reliable reciept of signals.

[sfhutchi]

Regarding X-10 motion sensors, I use several. I have found, however, that the better reciever interface is a useful addition to ensure reliable reciept of signals.

 

I probably didn't give it enough of a chance. I tried one as an experiment and was having reliability problems so I put the project on the back burner. Now that the Insteon ones are out, I will probably give it a try again.

[ingeborgdot]

What timer switch are you using?

[oberkc]

What timer switch are you using?

 

I have no "timer switch". All programming is through the ISY-99

[ingeborgdot]

So what switch are you using? It has to have a switch doesn't it?

[apostolakisl]

I have the same sort of thing running on my bathroom fans but don't incorporate the lights at all. I figure that it is the deicision of the person using the bathroom as to whether the bath fan is necessary. Going in to comb your hair or empty your bladder isn't a fan situation so why have it turn on. I have the program wait 10 minutes after the fan is switched on and then have it switch off.

 

The only change I have considered making is if after 10 minutes the bathroom lights are still on. In that case, they may be taking a long shower and still want the steam cleared.

 

The coolest would be if their were a foul odor detector and a high humidity detector. The humidity thing is very doable, I am not familiar with any available stink meter. Maybe a float switch on the toilet tank, but then you would get fan for peeing as well. Maybe a switch on the TP dispensor, again, however, woman would set it off after number one. Perhaps only if the TP switch were tripped twice in less than 30 seconds then the fan would turn on.

[oberkc]

So what switch are you using? It has to have a switch doesn't it?

 

One could use any insteon switch as a trigger for the programs. Most of mine are the togglelinc variety. You could also use an X-10 switch (if communication allows).

[Sub-Routine]

if the TP switch were tripped twice in less than 30 seconds then the fan would turn on.

 

I'm afraid that wouldn't save you from the FF (female factor).

 

[jbs2009univ]

I think the humidity detector would be a wonderful detector for kicking on the fan, but the "stink-o-meter" would be a bit more of a challenge. What about a sensor on the toilet seat that measures temperature which would rise the longer that you sit on there. If you sat on there and it increased to a certain temperature, it would kick on assuming you were doing number 2!