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

[Peter Murray]

Bruce-

Thanks for the tip. I hadn't thought about any rating further than the
typical residential lighting load when I grabbed the switch from the
contractor box of 10. I'm certain it was a bog-standard 2 horsepower
switch, though. I don't believe the motor is over 1/3 hp.

-Peter

On Fri, Jul 31, 2020 at 7:50 AM Bruce Bubeck <bbubeck01 at gmail.com> wrote:

> Peter,
> Not sure if this was mentioned already but make sure that whatever switch
> you use has a motor rating for the fan you have. Some of those switches are
> only rated for lighting loads.
> Bruce
>
> On Thu, Jul 30, 2020 at 11:00 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
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>>
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