I apologize if this is covered recently, but I couldn’t find an exact answer and the close answers are a couple of years old (so may not cover recent products. What’s the suggested way to control smart lights and the Smart Fan/Light Canopy Module from a single switch?
I currently have a single gang spot with line, load, and neutral, all going up to a fan. There is a dump canopy module right now allowing control of speed and lights. My plan is to bypass the canopy module for the lights and replace them with enclosed rated smart bulbs (specifically a couple of the hues). But whatever smart switch I use needs to be able to:
Have a way to shutoff all the power to the fan (the air gap switch on the bottom seems like it would cover this)
Be set to Smart Mode (always powered)
Support the load of lights and a fan
Be able to adjust the lights (via Zigbee binding to the bulbs)
Be able to adjust the fan speed (via Zigbee binding to the canopy module)
I think that sounds like the Smart Fan switch, but I’m not sure if it can power lights or if the paddle can act as a dimmer.
Either the Smart Fan Switch or the 2-1 (Dimmer) switch can do most of this, but there’s a few caveats:
Neither switch is capable of doing this. When using a smart switch and a smart canopy module, you can not have the canopy module powered by the load terminal on the smart switch since the fan switch is not rated for a light load and the 2-1 is not rated for a fan load. You will have to power both the switch and the canopy module with a line + neutral all of the time.
This means that you will have to shutoff all of the power to the fan via flipping the breaker. The air gap switch will not able to do this.
That is unfortunate. Is that even allowed by code? Also, given the wires I have available, that sounds like the entire canopy/fan/lights unit has to be constantly powered with no switch, so even changing a lightbulb would need the breaker flipped.
AFAIK, there is nothing in the NEC that prohibits supply and continuous power to a fan or light box. In fact, some builders of new homes are cutting costs by wiring the fan box hot without a switch and installing DC fans controlled by remote only.
No, it wouldn’t. When changing a light bulb, cut power to the light socket by telling the canopy to turn the light off. That is no different than turning a light off at the switch. If you want the equivalent of pulling the air gap on a dimmer, then yes, throw the breaker.
Cool. Also, I didn’t realize the canopy module supported an on/off vs. dimming mode for the light, which makes that perfect for the smart bulbs. Thank you for chiming in! Now I just need to get a tall enough ladder and move the 300 pound table out of the way so I can swap it all.
It’s the same light functionality as the 2-1, so you’ll have to put the canopy into smart bulb mode for normal operation. When you want to change the bulbs, you’ll turn off smart bulb mode and then be able to power it off.
I use a BLUE switch with the canopy and it works great! I created an automation with 1 press up/down turns the light on/off. With 2 presses up/down, the fan turns on/off.
Not using smart bulbs (but you can if you want).
Using a basic AC ceiling fan.
Easy to wire.
Is that even allowed by code? Also, given the wires I have available, that sounds like the entire canopy/fan/lights unit has to be constantly powered with no switch, so even changing a lightbulb would need the breaker flipped.