A15 smart light bulb? (Making a ceiling fan smart if it has a light)

[JDRoberts]

@Scott_Barton

We currently have a fan with no light. Looking to replace it with a fan with a light. Since we only have one switch on the wall, I figured I’d use a smart light and add a scene controller on the wall next to the fan switch. I see plenty of A19 smart light bulbs but no A15 which is what most fans use.
Anyone know of a A15 smart light bulb. Or a fan that can use smart light bulbs?
Thanks.

There are several different ways to handle the situation.

.1. A15 Bulb

I’m only aware of one networked A15 bulb and it doesn’t work with SmartThings. Or anything else except its own app – – it doesn’t have IFTTT integration or an open API.

The reason is that it’s using Bluetooth. (The SmartThings Hub v2 has a Bluetooth antenna, but it is not turned on yet, and no word on when it will be.)

So this will fit a few use cases, but probably isn’t what you were looking for. It’s the misfit bolt. Originally came out at $50, now you can get it online at Home Depot for about $41 or 42.

Misfit Bolt review: A few misfires with Misfit's colorful, likable smart bulb

MISFIT BOLT 13-Watt Bolt Smart LED Light Bulb B00YZ - The Home Depot

.2. Wall switch for the fan, micro for the light

If you look through the forums, you will find a lot of discussion of the fan – with – light situation. Most people do something similar to what you were thinking of but with one additional twist. They put a zwave switch designed for a fan on the wall (both Leviton and GE make one). Then they put an in wall micro relay, usually Aeotec, at the fixture to control just the light. Once the micro is in place you can put a switch anywhere to control that, even a battery-operated switch or button.

The fan switch will control the current directly to the fan and must be a switch rated specifically for fan motors.

The micro does its work invisibly inside the wall.

The light switch works by sending a message to the hub which then sends a message to the micro so it can go anywhere and be of any type. it doesn’t have to be on the same circuit as the actual light.

So this set up requires three devices instead of two, but you use your regular lightbulb.

One caveat: never use a light dimmer switch to control the current to a fan. You can burn out the fan motor because the physics are different. A fan can be on a regular on off switch or on a switch designed to control a variable motor.

The Leviton fan switch is on the official “works with SmartThings” compatibility list. Some people don’t like the rocker because you only use the bottom part. But I think it’s a more intuitive style for a fan than it is for a light . I did just want to mention that, though. there are other brands if you want a different style switch.

https://www.amazon.com/Leviton-VRF01-1LZ-Capable-Control-Almond/dp/B001HT4M48

The following is a good sample project from a person who did it safely.

Control 3-speed Ceiling Fan and Light Kit?

UPDATED 3/14/17 There is now an alternative option that I am recommending that uses the new Home Depot zigbee device. It controls Fan speed plus the light, easier to install, use RF wireless remote or in-wall remote controlller and less money Unfortunately there isn’t a combo unit to do that today. I ended up using two devices. The GE 12730 Z-Wave Smart Fan Control for the fan speeds. And a second device, Aeon Labs AEDSC19103ZWUS Micro Smart Energy Illuminator G2 for the lights. You can replace your wall switch with the GE and then mount the Aeon up in the canopy. I actually mounted both devices up in my canopy because I didn’t have an existing wall switch on my fan since it was being controlled only through two pull chains on the fan itself. I got the Energy version of…

Oh, and here is the link to the thread that shows all the battery-operated switches and buttons that work with SmartThings.

FAQ: Full list of buttons and remotes confirmed to work with SmartThings [Not all devices listed work with the 2020 Platform]

I’d like to know which buttons and remotes are currently supported or might be supported in the future. Ideally, I’d like to find something similar to the following: http://www.evolvecontrols.com/devices/control-devices/glass-series Though alternatively just a simple nice-looking button which actually works unlike this Aeon according to Amazon reviews: http://www.amazon.com/Touch-Panel-Button-Switch-AL-001/dp/B00GL6B4GG/ref=sr_1_3?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1421468320&sr=1-3&keywords=aeon+button There is an Aeon Key Fob as well, but it doesn’t seem to be very durable or stylish: What else is available?

.3. Two Micros

There are some other ways to do this. It’s possible to put two micros at the fixture in some set ups, one for the motor and one for the light. (Again, remember that you should only use a device for a fan motor which is rated for a motor.).

.4. Two wall switches

And of course some people will use a double gang switch, with separate leads to the fan and the light. That may work too, depending on the wiring. You still need a separate network device for both the fan and the light.

.5. Logitech Harmony as a “man in the middle”

Since you don’t have the fan yet, If you find a fan which is compatible with the Logitech Harmony Universal Remote, then you could use the harmony to control the fan and integrate it with SmartThings that way. The exact options you have will depend on the fan.

Another option that uses Harmony is to get a wall switch that Harmony can control. Lutron makes excellent quality switches, but unfortunately SmartThings does not have direct support for them. However, harmony does have support for many Lutron models, including a wall switch that can control both the motor and the light on a fan. It’s an unusual form factor, but it works very well. And once you have a harmony activity set up to control it, you can use SmartThings to trigger that.

https://www.amazon.com/Lutron-MIR-LFQMT-WH-Maestro-Dimmer-Control/dp/B0017OAWQ0

So those are just some options. The misfit will work, it’s just that the only way you have to control it is with its own phone app. The other options give you better integration with SmartThings.