A fan w/light and 2 - 3ways

[cadpoint]

I have a room with 2-3 way switches for a fan with a light, the switch?s only supply power to the equipment. I?d like to have both be operational from their existing location and do the same thing; IE turn on the light or the fan - independently, but in this case eliminate the use of the pull chains(I know just leave them turned on). :grin:

Does anyone make a switch like this? Do I have to install or change for an additional wire ?

Do I just buy a slider with a switch, or a single device 2 toggle switch and just blank off the other switch? I can do this but not a desirable option!

Does this beast exist, as I described? I?ve sketched up to six or seven try?s and it?s all for not.

What to do, what to do, thanks in advance.

 

[K8MHZ]

I have a room with 2-3 way switches for a fan with a light, the switch?s only supply power to the equipment. I?d like to have both be operational from their existing location and do the same thing; IE turn on the light or the fan - independently, but in this case eliminate the use of the pull chains(I know just leave them turned on). :grin:

Does anyone make a switch like this? Do I have to install or change for an additional wire ?

Do I just buy a slider with a switch, or a single device 2 toggle switch and just blank off the other switch? I can do this but not a desirable option!

Does this beast exist, as I described? I?ve sketched up to six or seven try?s and it?s all for not.

What to do, what to do, thanks in advance.

Sounds like you need some X-10 type equipment.

 

[kwired]

depends on way things are wired - does power hit the outlet first then go to switches, does it hit one of the switches first and then the outlet, there are a number of possibilities.

If there is a way to easily make the fan hot all the time I would just use the pull chain for the fan only and connect the light only to the three way switches.

There are wireless remote kits that can be installed on most fan/lights but you do not want them on a three way because the default on return from power loss is everything is off and with a three way you never know if the switches are on or off.

I have seen wall switches that control fan speed and dim lights via a controller in the fan over a single pair switch loop, they usually came with the fan being installed. Not sure if they can be used in multiple control location situations. I think they may work because if I recall they had code that had to match on receiver and transmitter so you could set separate rooms on separate codes so they would not interfere with each other.

 

[Buck Parrish]

Yeah RF or x-10 . Likely RF is easier to find down at the hardware store.
You will need to buy two RF Kits. And use the controllers from the two. But only one reciever.
Just set them to the same channel.
I do it all the time "by accident" ahhh

 

[kwired]

If using a RF controller I would eliminate the three way switches or you will never know if it is on or off. Putting a single pole in place of one switch may still be required. Depends on where this fan/light is and if there are any other wall switch controlled lighting in the area.

 

[hurk27]

If you don't have 3-wires to the fan, then wireless or line signal is the way to go, I call smart home and they always fix me up with what I need, it can be do several ways, with line signal a transmitter in place of 3-way at the remote box, transmitter at the box with the fans switch leg transmitter in a new single gang that just has a hot and neutral and ground, install transmitter for fan, install dual channel receiver in fan canopy.

The only problem is the above wont give you a speed control for the fan.

the other option which does away with one of the 3-ways, is use the hunter wireless wall control and receiver at the fan, this gives you speed control and light dimming but unless you use two controls set to the same code you will only be switching from one location.
I did find a wireless control a few years ago that would have been perfect for your install, it had a full fan/light control for the switch leg location, and a remote wireless transmitter for light to put in the other 3-way for both 3-way operation, but I haven't seen one in a while, and cant remember the off brand it was.


Ok heres a Lutron that will do what you need, and order the campanion switch for the 3-way operation of the light

http://www.smarthome.com/6614AL/Lutron-MA-LFQM-AL-Maestro-300-Watt-Dual-Dimmer-and-Fan-Speed-Control-Switch-Almond/p.aspx

Companion switch can be found here:
http://www.smarthome.com/6616AL/Lutron-MA-ALFQ35-AL-Maestro-Companion-Dual-Dimmer-and-Fan-Speed-Control-Switch-Almond/p.aspx

 

[cadpoint]

Kwired, I didn't and haven't broken open the switch(es) to determine the directions. I guess I'll have to do that before a final decision! The one catch of the X-10 is that it's only for incandescence lamps.

The fan has seen better days and needs to be replaced (period). I don't mind adding a little quality to this old house where I can!

I've heard of both the X-10 and the RF, I've really not dealt with either, thanks for the thoughts, just the same!

 

[Dennis Alwon]

Cad you can buy fans that work with special switches that control fan and light thru radio wave. You can actually use 2 together as three way switches as I have done this before.

 

[LarryFine]

Does anyone make a switch like this? Do I have to install or change for an additional wire ?

I happen to have just what you need, and doesn't require any rewiring or X-10 stuff. It operated by one or more operations of the existing switch(es) and mounts inside the fan canopy like a remote receiver.

PM for more info.