Posted: May 12 2004 at 16:30 | IP Logged

Hi, new poster here. I've been using powerhome for a couple months now and have my home reasonably well integrated.

This isn't exactly the right forum, but I'm trying to figure out how to integrate my ceiling fans with the rest of my system.

Has anyone had any luck using X-10, or preferable rf from their pc to control a ceiling fan?

The straight x-10 appliance module isn't really aceptable as there is no control over the speed / direction of the fan. A dimmer switch does not work either as "cliping" the voltage into the fan causes the fan to hum

Separate topic: Why not post a forum specifically for people to showcase macros they are proud of? Powerhome is powerful, but the macro language can be daunting.

Posted: May 12 2004 at 17:13 | IP Logged

There are ceiling fan controllers out there. I'll dig up some info later tonight.

I like the idea of the macro forum. We just need a good way to post the macros (the sql format is a bit tough to read when you are trying to pick it apart ).

Posted: May 12 2004 at 18:50 | IP Logged

I've seen some x-10 controllers - there's a project for building one, and some more expensive solutions.

I'd like to keep the original remote usable, so I guess what I was hoping for was some info on driving rf from the pc. There is a module that one can modify a Pronto remote with (see http://www.embed-x.com/pronto.htm) which sort of gets me closer, but I'd like to be able to work with powerhome

Posted: May 12 2004 at 22:59 | IP Logged

I havent played with this yet myself, but there is a lot of good information to be found here: http://www.mbx-usa.com/appnotes.htm.  This is some info from Dave Houston whose health is failing so Im not sure how long this info will be available.  I see you've already found embed-x.com so you might be familiar with this site as well.

What I would do, is get the RF controlled ceiling fans and then build one of the IR to RF circuits and use Dave's Codegen software to generate the codes necessary to control the fan.  He has several circuits that will allow you to convert the IR from an Ocelot, a USB-UIRT (soon to be supported by PowerHome), as well as generic IR to RF converters.  This would then be very simple to control from PowerHome.

I'll create a forum dedicated to the sharing of macros and other code tidbits.  I think that there is probably a lot of info out there that can be shared.

Let us know how it goes,

Dave.

Posted: May 13 2004 at 13:44 | IP Logged

Yes, I've seen dhouston's information and have even played with codegen (I'm a longtime pronto user/hacker).

I've placed orders for the parts to build an appropriate ir2rf module. The transmitter is coming from Australia so it could be a while.

It just seems so unsatisfactory going pc -> ir -> rf

Thanks for the help!

Posted: June 22 2004 at 17:42 | IP Logged

Ok, so I got the parts to build the ir2rf module, and put the thing together, and... nothing. Anyone actually get one of these kits to work?

Codegen seems pretty straight forward, and my pronto seems to like its output, it just seems that the fan doesn't hear anything from my ir2rf module. I don't have access to any real test equipment (i.e. a scope), or even a 304mhz reciever so I can't tell if my sloppy soldering is the problem.

Knowing that someone made one work would prompt me to tackle it again...