I’ve been exploring ways to integrate my QuietCool 2-speed whole house fan into my SmartThings ecosystem, and I thought I’d share my journey and findings with the community. While there are plenty of posts on integrating a 2-speed fan, I wanted to take a slightly different approach that incorporates safety measures and keeps the manual toggle switch functional, which is important for my wife who prefers traditional controls.
The challenge with a 2-speed fan is ensuring that both high and low speeds don’t run simultaneously, which could damage the motor. To address this, I decided to use a dual Z-Wave relay switch (Enerwave ZWN-RMS2 PLUS) along with a 30A DPDT relay. This setup ensures that only one speed is active at any given time. The high-speed circuit goes through the normally open (NO) contacts of the relay, while the low-speed circuit uses the normally closed (NC) contacts. This creates a failsafe mechanism to prevent both speeds from operating simultaneously.
For automation, I’m using Simple WebCore Pistons. I’ve set up virtual switches in the SmartThings app that mimic the fan’s physical controls. For example, if the high-speed switch is already on and someone tries to turn on the low-speed switch, the system automatically turns off the high-speed switch first. This prevents any accidental overlap. The system also includes safeguards to ensure smooth transitions between speeds.
One thing I’m still experimenting with is the exact logic for switching between speeds based on temperature thresholds. I’d love to hear if anyone has a more efficient way to handle this transition to ensure optimal performance without manual intervention.
From a hardware standpoint, the 30A relay was a crucial addition. It handles the higher current draw of the high-speed setting (5.1 amps continuous) without any issues, even during startup. The low-speed setting, drawing just 1.1 amps, runs directly through the Z-Wave relay without any problems.
Keeping the manual toggle switch on the wall was a priority for me, as it provides a failsafe in case of any SmartThings connectivity issues. Plus, my wife appreciates having the traditional control option. The entire setup is neatly tucked into a single gang box in the attic, making it clean and unobtrusive.
I’d love to hear if anyone has alternative approaches or improvements to this setup. Whether it’s a different relay configuration, a more efficient automation logic, or even a completely different integration method, I’m all ears! Happy tinkering everyone! 