Do you have plans then to sell the canopy module separately too as an option? I have an insteon setup with three fans and two switches in a 3-way type of setup and would love to move to something supported if I could and this sounds like it might be the closest I might come with current offerings out there. Independent control of the fans is not needed at all so that simplifies things.
Yes, definitely. On that topic, I’ve been meaning to ask bc I’ve been scratching my head on this setup and wondering what the point is to have a smart canopy module.
I’ve seen many ppl ask about this, but for some reason I never thought about it until recently when we were talking about how to best innovate against the fan/light switch.
What is the benefit of having just a canopy module that’s smart?
In thinking it through, wouldn’t you need some sort of switch to communicate with that module? If not, you’d have to leave that switch on permanently and hope no none shuts it off (or I suppose you could rewire it so that there’s constant power at the module, but even still, how would you control the module aside from an app or voice control?).
I’ve heard people talk about using an RF remote to talk to their smart fan, but even that is confusing bc I’d think it would get out of sync quickly.
Curious to hear your use-case!
Will the “Dual Switch” also be capable of dimming?
In my case I have one fan hooked to one switch and two fans hooked to the other but all three fans are on the same patio with one switch at either of two doors (one at each end of the patio), currently wired at their respective switches to be always on. While the switches control speed and light to all three being the same setting when locally controlled via some script glue, it is nice to have the flexibility to be able to use my OpenHAB or Alexa to only control a single one if say I know I’m only going to need light or cooling at one end of the patio since one of the fans is just outside the master door & window while the others are nearer common areas. All my switches are also 6 button Keypadlincs with the fan button kit like this one, which honestly I think makes for a more user friendly interface but I’d be willing to trade that out for your zwave alternative if it were available. Hope that all makes sense
It’s called Home AUTOMATION! Switches are like, so, unautomated. I’ve seriously thought about putting the LZW36 switch into a plastic electrical box with a lamp cord for power, so that it can control the canopy unit via RF acting as a Z-Wave bridge. Set the fan speed based on temperature, turn the light on based on lumens and motion, etc. I honestly haven’t touched an LZW36 in months, because “Siri, set living room fan speed to 33%” from my Apple Watch is easier than pushing a button…
That’s the ask, yes 
The reason I am looking to canopy module is be my fans have a integrated led light, are rf controled, and dc motors
With rf controled fans they are always out of sync with HA and no good way to fix that. I can use power mounting on my red to know if the light is on and if fan are speeds 4 to 6. Speed 1-3 aren’t higher then the 1.6 w that red report as on when the fan is turned off.
Also with the integrated LED, witch is the way fans seem to going, I have no way to split it off to a second switch for control. My house has the needed switches, but they do nothing, unless I set them to use automations.
DC motors, just for how quite they are and power usage.
Also i really don’t want to go WiFi for my ceiling Fan, I don’t see any good reason why ceiling fan needs internet access. Alot wifi fans I see wan lt you to use there app. There some BT controled Fans so I guess that a Option.
I’m extremely frustrated by the newer fans.
I, also, have wall switches for the fans and lights.
No way do I want the operation and life of my fan based on access to a web site and yet ANOTHER app on my phone.
I also don’t want to have to replace my fan every 1-2 years because an led conked out (thousands of hours before they should).
I also don’t want my ability to operate my fan, light totally dependent on a remote control that will get mixed up with the ones for the 7 other fans in my house or simply lost.
It’s a shame that consumers are buying into these devices that have so many mid to long range problems.
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How would you control that with a canopy module? I assume they’re still only intended for use with AC motors.
Well, I don’t think my current canopy is doing the ac to DC conversation. I think it is in the motor it self, I could be wrong by it should be doable.
I think the hardest part would be controlling the integrated led. Beside simple one off stuff.
Here’s the DC fan I have (cheap model from Litfad). AC-DC happens inside this controller; I bought an MHCozy relay board hoping to provide constant power to the fixture and control the output, but the DC output rating was too high for the relay and I wasn’t able to quickly identify which wire to tap for even the lighting, so I abandoned that project. All that to say, we have a lot of ways to control devices using AC line voltage but when you’re dealing with DC every device can be different and it’ll require some thought beforehand.
(yes, this is marked for 240V input but I did confirm with the manufacturer that it actually takes 120 before I installed it. I hate this fan because of the DC issue and some dumb design decisions that were made, but I wasn’t happy with any of the alternative enclosed fixtures to install over a bunkbed, so I just went with it)
I have look at the canopy module then and see if I have any marketing that says where the conversation happening
Can a AC to DC converter fit in the normal size rf canopy?
Just out of curiosity:
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Will there be a wall outlet with z-wave or zigbee control one day?
It seems many manufacturers produce switches but the selection on outlets is rather slim. Bonus points if both outlets would be switchable independently.
What about in-wall modules? -
it seems a lot of the devices are moving to solid state switching (2-in-1 devices, new 800 series). These have a reasonable rating for lights but cannot handle inductive loads. Makes me wonder if there will still be a relay based switch capable of handling the full 15 Amps. I use several (Jasco) Z-Wave switches for outdoor outlets. And things we plug in there are inflatables, leaf blower and occasionally lights.
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More of a dream: An in-wall RGB controller. Maybe with two sliders and a wheel? They do exist but they are too bulky and generally impossible to integrate with HA.
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A Scene Controller similar to the Leviton VRCZ4-MRZ. It has four toggled paddles for scenes and the 5th allows to dim associated dimmers. Using the dimmer toggle selects the last used scene button. It also has color changing LED’s in each paddle.
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A notification decora “thing”. Should have dimensions of a normal switch and fit into a one gang box. It would feature two columns with 4 - 5 rows of RGB LED’s. Each LED can be addressed individually. This should serve as some kind of notification device. Here is a switch, that has two RGB LED’s for notifications: KAUF RGB Switch – Kaufman Home Automation. I do not really need the switch part, just the RGB light. This is intended to be an indicator that the garage door is still open. Or that there is some kind of system alarm… I want this, just with more LED’s (to be fair, I most likely build something like this with an ESP board…)
Double bonus points for one that’s rated for outdoor installation, e.g. on a deck or porch. Weather cover required, of course.
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@Eric_Inovelli Now with Blues Shipping and finally getting some breathing room. Any chance on getting a 2023 road map on what we can look forward to?
Things on my wish list:
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Fan Switch to match the 2-1 style with full led bar (and can work in 3/4 way setups
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Aux switch to match 2-1 style with full led and led sync with original 2-1 switch or fan switch
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Outlets with both being controlled. (If possible)
3a) GFI versions also dual for outdoor rated
- Wall mount Wireless 5 button remotes to match look of other switches. ( no gang, like hue switches)
4a) Wall switch like above but just a paddle to sync with other 2-1 switch to controll switch so we dont ha e to wire in a 3 way when not cost effective. (Even if its made to fit a single gange box but wireless. Maybe 4aa or 4aaa batteries to it can also have the LED light bar to match/sync with original.
All Blue Series Style.
You know we dont ask for much. LOL.
Thanks again for everyrhing the inovell team does. And please let them all know we appreciate every single one of them.
Some great ideas… I’ll add one that I haven’t seen anybody mention yet… or haven’t found one that is similar.
Outdoor Motion floodlight…
- Standard motion detections triggers light, with ability to set dawn to dusk, or other normal schedules
- Ability to control via scenes at the same time. Motion in one triggers the other… Person detection from camera trigger: trigger all lights from dim to full bright, etc, trigger path lights, etc
- Scenes / binding could bridge multiple lights around the outside of the house and/or binding to extra zigbee motion to cover current coverage gaps.
- Motion sensor back to HA to track motion or use for other items.
I really want to separate the motion sensor from light control. I’ve been toying with the idea of pulling apart an older motion sensor light and add in a shelly or something, but would love love love to have one from Inovelli that works out of the box. This would be awesome as I currently have a handful around the house.
Would love this also… as I think of some scenarios now I will have all the lights on Blue, I would love to have a multi button ‘remote’ that could sit on a table (or wall).
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I can’t find the post, but I’m pretty sure this was originally in the running design-wise for the White Series. Unfortunately if memory serves, due to the cost to get parity with the 2-1 switch, etc you were basically building and paying for another 2-1 (since now you’d need all of the smarts to handle binding, etc) so they decided to go without the led bar in order to offer an affordable Aux switch. To get the matching LED bar you can just use multiple Blues and bind them together to get the desired behavior.
Edit - Found it! I was mostly remembering right, though it wasn’t quite the same price (though costs have gone up since last year so who knows), just a lot closer and the process to get it working was going to be a lot more involved and subject to error. Would definitely recommend Eric’s full answer for clarity on why they ended up going the non-LED route.
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Aw ok, now that you mention it, I remember seeing that post, so that’s why the aux have no led. Extra Blue switch works for me.
There was a recent ask about an exterior motion sensor for floodlights in the Hubitat forum. One of the things that came up (although people would prefer a ZigBee-based one) is the Homeseer HS-FLS100+ G2. Motion sensor that can basically replace the existing motion sensor many exterior floodlights have. Reports motion, lux, and temperature. One thing that is NOT clear about it and that Inovelli is really good at is being able to control smart bulbs.
So a ZigBee-based one that adds in additional features including the ability to leave the relay on (unless commanded by the controller) so that the controller can tell installed smart bulbs to go off. Something like that could be worth replacing my existing ones. It would also be nice if the range/sensitivity could be controlled by parameters.
Additional things that would help SAF (but not add functionality):
- Smaller/nicer looking (more like the 4-in-1 sensor?)
- Replaceable/paintable covers so it is not the obvious (and typical) white
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