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**Rupp** · January 26, 2008, 10:10 PM

Only use a relay style module or you will burn the motor up. If a dimmable module was accidentally dimmed it could damage the blower motor.

**Rotech** · January 26, 2008, 10:19 PM

Originally posted by Rupp View Post

Only use a relay style module or you will burn the motor up. If a dimmable module was accidentally dimmed it could damage the blower motor.

Rupp

where can you get one of these relays??? I got a situation where I have a ceiling fan that I would like to control. Currently I have a rotary switch that has on,off,1,2,3,4, (speeds) its a KDK brand fan, will the relay work with this type of Fan?

**Steve Q** · January 26, 2008, 11:29 PM

Originally posted by TeleFragger View Post

motor with wires to a on off knob that has a plug on it ...... needs to be automated!!!!!!!!!!!!

guidance?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

You should start by using an appliance module( x10) or something similar, to turn the fan ON/OFF. Set the speed knob at the speed where you like it. I think you will find that once you have a speed you like you will probably not change it very often. Your automation will consist of having the fan turn ON/OFF when it needs to. If you really want to control the fan speed, it will add a lot of complexity and a lot of cost. You will need a special controller (you may be able to use a ceiling fan controller) which will cost around $100. I don't think the benefit of controlling the fan speed is worth the additional cost.
I have 3 ceiling fans controlled with in-line fixture modules. They work great - when I need to change the fan speed, I use the manual slide switch.

Steve Q

**TeleFragger** · January 27, 2008, 11:23 PM

Ok well I got the fan in and all wired up.... however the fan really sucks... so I didnt bother doing anything with it....

my house is still very cold as all the heating parts stores were closed today!!!!!
so I have to take off of work tomorrow and go buy parts....

my gas bill should be better this month now!!!
instead of being 74 degrees it is a nice 58 degrees!!!!

**stevene** · January 28, 2008, 09:14 PM

Originally posted by TeleFragger View Post

Ok well I got the fan in and all wired up.... however the fan really sucks... so I didnt bother doing anything with it....

my house is still very cold as all the heating parts stores were closed today!!!!!
so I have to take off of work tomorrow and go buy parts....

my gas bill should be better this month now!!!
instead of being 74 degrees it is a nice 58 degrees!!!!

I can sympathize, recently our very new heating system had stopped working about 4 different times over 3 months, once we woke up to a 50 degree house and no hot water. The other 3 times the house was in the 60's.
Needless to say I was losing my temper, after 4 visits they seem to think there was a batch of bad oil filters for the furnace.

StevenE

**TeleFragger** · January 28, 2008, 10:16 PM

yeah well mcallisters (pretty known local heating company) came out and the guy figured it to be the controller board... $446 installed plus the $70 diagnostic fee!!!! they dont remove the diagnostic fee!!!!!

so I said screw it... found one on google. and bought it... $106 and will be here tomorrow!!!

funny thing is the guy was cool. I even showed him the controller (universal replacement for mine) and he said it would work.... also while he and I were looking at my old unit.... I held the safety button on so he could show me that the diagnostic led wasnt working... well the heater fired up... and i was like... DAMN MY FINGER IS ON THE BUTTON!!!!
so I removed my finger and we put the cover back on and the unit fired up.. seems this is the norm... so $180 in 2007 wasnt the problem...a oh look it fixed it but really didnt..... and ta boot... $180 is $70 diag fee and $110 for the glow piece that I picked up today for $20!!!!!!!

yikes...

**stevene** · January 29, 2008, 07:43 PM

I opted for the maintenance plan, which included the annual tuneup.

So for $280, I got a tune up and 4 service calls so far... I am hoping no more service calls.

StevenE

**RCE** · January 29, 2008, 08:56 PM

Originally posted by TeleFragger View Post

but im going to install a fireplace can (we have had it for 2 years now..but havent installed)
what it is is a fan motor and wires... you plug it in to an electrical box which i have to run from another feed (that is another story)....
anyhow.. I have to put a box in and this fan motor has a plugin electric plug.....
so how to automate? I automate when I have to modify something..

so I put the electrical box in and what... lamp module?

Never try to control anything other than lamps with a lamp module, normally you are restricted to incandescent lamps with these modules. Controlling anything else with them is for someone who knows what they are doing.

A motor is different and needs a special type of drive if you want to vary the speed, these units are normally called an inverter. Basically as others have already advised you need to use an appliance module, which is a relay that switches the load on and off.

**TeleFragger** · January 29, 2008, 09:47 PM

yeah lamp modules can be bad if you dont add up the watts too... I had a lamp module controlling my track lights...
8x60w= TOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH!!!!!!!! got hot!!!!!!!! melted the lamp module...

so for once something worked in my life.... first shot and all go..

my $106 universal controller came in for my heater... the plugs were in different spots.. so I used masking tape and wrote on the individual wires... looked and mapped everything out.. put the new controller in and viola... heater fired right up... so heat is back on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

now for my nastygram to mcallisters.... they should not charge the $70 if they do the work.. it just pisses me off that they were at my house in 2004, 2007 and never fixed the real issue.. it was intermittent.. but this guy had no problems....

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