I am putting a fantech inline fan in my bathroom. I am wanting to use an insteon switch of some sort to control the time on but also be able to control it somewhat with the isy. I also want to control the fan speed. They tell me that the fan speed can be controlled and am wondering what someone would use from insteon for that? Sometimes I would just like it to run for an extended period of time but at a low level because this fan has so much suction on high I have had to hold on to something so I did not get sucked out of the room I want to tone it down a little sometimes. Thanks.

There are no Insteon devices that can control a fans speed.

There is a whole thread on this subject in the Smarthome forums.

http://www.smarthome.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=7992

They tell me that the fan speed can be controlled

 

Who are "They"? Did they tell you how to control speed? I see nothing on the fantech web page suggesting anyting with regards to insteon.

 

Since you did not say which particular model of fantech you installed, I can only assume that this is some type of electric motor-driven device. My understanding is consistent with Brian H: there is no insteon device rated to control speed of inductive loads, such as an electric motor.

 

You could use a relay to control on and off only. Any of the insteon relay devices would work, assuming that they meet the needed power ratings. You could use the ISY to automate on-off cycle times.

Thanks. Do you have any suggestions? Could I use an 8 button timer from insteon in parallel with a switchlinc? Would a dimmer switch not work? Or is this slide switch different? http://www.waveplumbing.com/store/index ... ts_id=3008

Thanks for the help.

"They" is fantech and wave plumbing. Here is the fan model. It takes about 60-70 watts of power is all.

http://www.waveplumbing.com/store/index ... ts_id=3533

ingeborgdot

 

I have used an ICON dimmer to control the fan on my fireplace air circulator for years. Definitely not a supported configuration from Smarthome perspective. Could have damaged the ICON dimmer or fan but I was willing to take the risk to see if it would work. Perhaps lucky but it has worked for several years. Of course it does not get year round use but frequent in the winter months.

 

That exhaust fan is an expensive device to experiment with. Perhaps using whatever manual fan control the manufacturer recommends being supplied from an Insteon Relay device would satisfy the need.

 

Lee

Would a switchlinc work the same as the slider dimmer or speed control as they call it? All the slider dimmer does it reduce the wattage or power to the device correct? Is that not what the switchlinc does? Then to put it on a timer use the 8 button in parallel with the switchlinc? I may need to contact them and see what they think?

ingeborgdot

 

No. The electronic dimming used by SwitchLinc and ICON dimmers is not the same as that used by fan controls. The Insteon dimmer could be damaged or the fan motor could be damaged by using the wrong type of control.

 

There has been a long standing requirement by many Insteon users for a fan control.

 

Lee

Crapola There are a couple things that insteon needs to make but they don't. I guess I may have to just use the 8 button timer from insteon and run it in parallel with the speed control that company sells.

Unfortunately. Each fan manufacturer seems to control speed differently. Making a Insteon fan controller that can do all fans would be a challenge.

Yours look like Fantech varies the voltage to it with a control that can take the fans load.

Other manufacturers may switch capacitors or motor leads to vary the speed.

Will the 8 button insteon timer not work with a fan to turn it on for the alotted time on the button?

Will the 8 button insteon timer not work with a fan to turn it on for the alotted time on the button?

 

 

Looking at doing the same with a Fantech fan. I figure I will use the Insteon 8 button for timing the fan. I will has anyone learned anything since this thread was started?

What I did was put an outlet link in the attic and plugged the fan into it. I control the outlet link with my keypad. It works like a charm.

Smarthome has since come out with a product to controll fans, its called Fanlinc. You just have to make sure it's compatible with your model fan.

 

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