[Shop-talk] attic fan switches (does this exist?)

[John Innis]

Surprisingly my Arduino-base projects have gotten a MUCH higher degree of
Spouse Approval, mostly because the Insteon, X-10 and Z-wave stuff was just
too unreliable.  After two or three times of the Home Automation stuff not
doing what it was supposed to, my wife was done with it.  The Arduino stuff
required more know-how to get set up and working, but once it was it has
performed flawlessly.  I am also able to customize it based on her
preferences.  She wanted a button that would turn the fan on and have it
run for 30 minutes.  I already had a 4-button remote and was only using two
of the buttons.  A few simple changes to the Arduino program and I was able
to make it do exactly what she wanted.

On Thu, Jul 30, 2020 at 10:00 AM Peter Murray <peterwmurray at gmail.com>
wrote:

> My solution is to have a switch in-line with the thermostat, in our
> upstairs hallway. When I don't want to hear the fan at 11pm, I switch it
> off.
>
> My fan in my attic has the standard mechanical thermostat that came with
> it. I think I set it a hair too low, or the hysteresis is too broad,
> because it'll still be running at 11pm. Then again, we've had 27+ days of
> 90+ here in Northern Virginia. It is nearly 11am here now and 89 degrees,
> and the fan is not on yet. (Hmm, did I turn the switch back on?)
>
> I know, Pat's heart bleeds for me.
>
> I like the idea of making operation of the fan a bit more sophisticated,
> but writing Arduino code is likely more than my wife, 3 kids under 8 and
> self-employment will allow. I'm looking at Home Assistant and some Z-Wave
> devices, but need to do more research before I start spending on hardware.
>
> The problem I'd had was that I wanted the fan to run to reduce melting
> when we had ice dams developing at the roof edge. Of course, the proper
> solution is to improve my insulation up there!
>
> -Peter
>
> On Thu, Jul 30, 2020 at 10:18 AM Pat Horne <patintexas at icloud.com> wrote:
>
>> I’m not familiar with x-10 but I assume you will be using like a
>> controller for a table lamp where the output is a socket. If you have a
>> controller with isolated contacts it’s even easier.
>>
>> If you want the x-10 to override  the thermostat so that the fan runs
>> until you turn it off, all you need to do plug a relay into the controller
>> & wire its normally open contacts across the thermostat.
>>
>> Peace,
>> Pat
>>
>> Pat Horne
>> We support Habitat for Humanity
>>
>>
>> On Jul 30, 2020, at 5:34 AM, eric at megageek.com wrote:
>>
>> I have an attic fan that is on a thermostatic switch.
>>
>> I was wondering if there was a way that I can have it on a  thermostatic
>> switch AND a remote switch (like X-10)
>>
>> What happens is that  I want to turn on the fan on some nights or days,
>> but it isn't hot enough to trigger it to go off.  If I reduce the
>> temperature setting, it stays on most on the time.
>>
>> But I do want it to go on if it gets too hot when I'm not home.
>>
>> Is there anything like this on the market?  I also couldn't figure out
>> how to wire 2 separate switches safely to accomplish this.
>>
>> Any ideas?
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>> Mule
>>
>> "Be as beneficent as the sun or the sea, but if your rights as a rational
>> being are trenched on, die on the first inch of your territory." Ralph
>> Waldo Emerson
>> -Who is John Galt?_______________________________________________
>>
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>> _______________________________________________
>>
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>
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