In-wall relay for fans

Does anyone have any suggestions on in-wall relays for fans?

On/off is fine, I don't need to control the speed. Can be Zwave or Zigbee, I am mainly worried about the load on startup of the fan. Not sure if the Qubino flush relay (Qubino Z-Wave Plus Flush 1 Relay Module ZMNHAD3 - The Smartest House) would survive that.

Thanks in advance for your feedback.

Do you have the load value from the fan's manual? That should help narrow the options. I also assume you are doing this for a ceiling fan not a vent fan...

Correct, ceiling fan. Unfortunately, I don't have the manual, the fan was in the house when I bought it...

I guess I should hook-up a power-meter to measure the load value on start...

Unless it is some industrial fan I highly doubt any typical ceiling fan would draw more then 1100W at startup.

The load isn't the problem. :frowning:

Think about what a motor is, electrically speaking... it's a very long wire, rolled into a coil. At the moment electricity is connected to that coil, it's just a very long wire.. almost a dead short, in other words. A few milliseconds later, the magnetic field forms and and the magic happens. But it's the way a coil of wire behaves in an AC cycle that makes ordinary dimmers die. A smart Switch uses a relay and that will work better BUT those contacts can get welded together.

GE makes a fan controller switch that specifically deals with what motors do:

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If there is no light on the fan, I agree @csteele option is defiantly the best.

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Thanks. Yes, when I said load I meant startup load, behavior of a motor on start. The switches use a relay to handle these situations and the Qubino modules are relays too, so I figured I ask if someone has experience there as the Qubino modules are much smaller. Was trying to avoid going the full switch route.. I guess I should just buy the Lutron Fan controller and stop procrastinating....

:point_up: yep!

:slight_smile:
Or the Hampton Bay, in-canopy. I have several.. in fact half of my massive 9 device Zigbee network are those HBFC. :slight_smile:

I tried to get those Hampton Bay in-fan ones when they first release fans with them. Are the ZigBee units available separately (finally) or do you just have the fans?

If you are looking for a fan switch... There are more options than relays. I have been having decent luck with my HomeSeer one at this point.

Yes, and on sale now for $40.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Hampton-Bay-Universal-Wink-Enabled-White-Ceiling-Fan-Premier-Remote-Control-99432/206591100

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I was trying to avoid switches in general, hiding things away as much as possible, that's why I was asking about the relays. But there are limitations and maybe the fans are the one where I can't go a different route. I have several Picos in the house so I will probably go the Lutron route to have a common appearance.

The Qubino relay handles 10A load (1100 W at 110VAC - way overkill). This is your first thought and it is on the compatible device list for Hubitat.

Before you buy any option, assure that your electrical has a neutral wire. If not, then you will have to rig a solution that works (beyond my expertise).

Of course, the Hampton Bay option might also work. Check if Zigbee or Z-wave and if it works here.

Ummm...:thinking: 10A x 110VAC = 1,100 Watts , not 11,000 Watts.

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Major brain fart.

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Guys, I have a question. I've found the fan,I like, but it has a DC motor, instead of AC motor most of the fans use. Is it possible to use GE smart fan control or Hampton Bay fan control with the DC motor? Manufacturer told me that the fan, which has 6 speeds, will work only with included remote control.

The AC controller will not work with a DC motor. Believe the manufacturer.

6 speeds is beyond what most of the common controllers handle anyways (I am not sure I have seen any besides 3 or 4 speed). If the manufacturer says it only works with that remote and you cannot find a switch or controller that SPECIFICALLY says it supports that fan type... I would side with the manufacturer also.

dan.t, from what I've seen consumer AC motor fans are nominally <=100W, DC seem to run about 1/3 the power for equivalent air flow. Neither type should generate enough inrush/flyback to bother a load controller rated for 3A+. A brushless DC motor would also have a rectification circuit that would likely prevent the load controller from experiencing the surge. A large pancake motor is indicative of much more common/economical AC motor variety.

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