I have a few ceiling fans in the house that I wouldn’t mind have it z-wave enable. The ceiling fan is probably about 15 yrs old. It has two pull strings on the fan itself, one to control the speed of the fan, while the other one the number of lights to turn on (off, 2 lights, 4 lights, etc). Not sure about the wiring but in all cases, there are two switches on the wall. One switch to turn on the lights on the fan, while the other switch makes the fan spins. (the number of bulbs and the fan speed are still control by the pull strings)
I am controlling the on / off on the fan light by z-wave right now, but not sure if i can control the spinning of the fan also? I don’t recall if it was a dry contact or full wiring like a light bulbs. In any case, would this require a special (heavier load) z-wave switch for ceiling fan?
For Multi speed fan control, or any variable motor, you need a switch specifically designed for motors because the physics are different than a normal on/off switch. Specifically, you tend to get a very very high power spike right at the beginning when the device is turned on and that can literally burn out an ordinary light switch.
If the fan is just a simple on/off fan, like the exhaust fans in some bathrooms or kitchens, then you just need to match the amperage.
There are several devices available for Multi speed fan control That work well with smartthings. See the community FAQ. Although the thread title mentions Alexa, you use the same devices whether you are going to use a voice assistant or Not