VTM35 + VTM36 Matter: How do I independently control the fan and light?

VTM35 + VTM36 Matter: How do I independently control the fan and light?

I purchased the VTM35 White Series Fan Switch + VTM36 White Series Fan/Light Canopy Module because I understood this combination was designed to provide a user-friendly way to control both a ceiling fan and its light from a single wall switch, even when there is only a single load conductor between the wall switch and the ceiling fixture.

That is exactly the situation I have. The VTM36 is installed at the fan/light fixture and has constant power, so I don’t have separate switched wires for the fan and light coming from the wall.

Inovelli’s VTM36 documentation says:

“The most common and user friendly setup with the Fan/Light Module involves using a smart switch to control the fan and light from the wall.”

That is why I purchased this combination.

What I have working

My setup is:

  • VTM35-SN White Series Fan Switch

  • VTM36 White Series Fan/Light Canopy Module

  • Matter over Thread

  • Home Assistant Matter Server

  • VTM35 firmware: 1.0.0

  • VTM36 firmware: 1.0.0

I have successfully created a Matter binding:

VTM35 Endpoint 2 → VTM36 Endpoint 2 (Fan)

using:

  • OnOff 0x0006

  • LevelControl 0x0008

This works great.

The VTM35 paddle now directly controls the VTM36 fan:

  • Tap up = fan on

  • Tap down = fan off

  • Hold up = increase fan speed

  • Hold down = decrease fan speed

What I want

I want to use the small program/config button on the VTM35 as a simple dedicated light button.

I don’t need the program button to provide dimming.

Ideally, I want:

Fan paddle

  • Tap up/down = fan on/off

  • Hold up/down = fan speed control

Small program button

  • Press once = light ON

  • Press again = light OFF

That’s it.

The light can remain at whatever brightness it was previously set to. I don’t need the little program button to control brightness.

What I’ve tried

I tried binding the VTM35 controller endpoint to the VTM36 light endpoint:

VTM35 Endpoint 2 → VTM36 Endpoint 1 (Dimmable Light)

using OnOff and LevelControl.

This does not work the way I want because the same paddle commands are then sent to both the fan and light. For example, tapping the paddle turns both the fan and light on/off, and the LevelControl commands affect the light as well.

I removed that binding and the fan returned to working perfectly.

The VTM35 Endpoint 3 appears as a Generic Switch, which seems like it might be the appropriate endpoint for the small program/config button, but on firmware 1.0.0 I don’t see a Binding button for Endpoint 3 in the Home Assistant Matter Server.

Endpoint 6 is an Extended Color Light endpoint, but it also doesn’t provide a Binding option.

My question

What is the intended Matter configuration to accomplish this?

Specifically, can the VTM35’s small program/config button be configured or bound so that a press simply sends an On/Off command to:

VTM36 → Endpoint 1 (Dimmable Light)

while leaving the existing:

VTM35 Endpoint 2 → VTM36 Endpoint 2 (Fan)

binding intact?

I’m not looking for an HA automation if a direct Matter binding is possible. I would prefer the button-to-device control to be direct and responsive.

If this functionality requires a newer VTM35 firmware, I’d also appreciate knowing which firmware version supports it and how I can obtain/install it. My Matter Server currently reports that there is no firmware update available for the VTM35.

Thanks!

I don’t have the White (VTM), but do have the Blue (VZM)…

Typically, on the Blue devices, you’d have the following:

VZM35 Endpoint 2 → VZM36 Endpoint 1

Paddle controlling the Light

VZM35 Endpoint 3 → VZM36 Endpoint 2

Config button controlling the Fan.

As you are using the paddle to control the fan, you should be able to bind the config button to the light… VTM35 Endpoint 3 → VTM36 Endpoint 1. But if that isn’t possible, and you can’t bind Endpoint 3 of the switch as mentioned above, then you might be stuck with using an automation for now, at which point, I think you’d be better off binding the switch to the light and using the automation for the fan.