I have searched all over and I can't seem to find any definitive evidence that an IR ceiling fan exists. I have seen plenty that use RF but I would really like to control the ceiling fan and light in my home theater from my Pronto remote. I could use a Lutron IR ceiling fan light switch but then I need to run some new cables from the junction box in the ceiling to the switch that I would rather not have done.

Any help is appreciated.

Use separate X10 switches for the fan and light (you could use a X10 dimmer for the light). Use a IR543 (IR to X10 controller ~ 25.00 at Smarthome.com) and thats it. The pronto knows X10, you might have to download the codes. No speed control, you'll have to use the pull chain for that.

Bud

Thanks. I actually already have an IR543 and I could probably use this but I would prefer to have control over the ceiling fan speed.

The other problem I see is how to wire this. Again, I don't have separate switches (cable runs) for the fan and the light. If I turn off the power in the ceiling fan wouldn't this not allow the circuit to complete so that there was power for the ceiling fan light??

If you have one switch that controls the fan and the light, you are stuck as far as I know. As Bud says, X10 will do it for you, but in your case, it will only control the whole thing (fan and light) as one and trying to dim the light will also slow the fan (the X10 may not be able to handle that either as there are special fan rated dimmers or speed control switches).

Thanks. This is such a bummer. If only someone made an IR controlled ceiling fan/light this could all be resolved. I can't believe this doesn't exist but it appears this is the case.

Hey, look what I found:
http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/ENRC.html
http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Images/Products/size_3/ENRC.JPG

If only it was made for a 110v system...

Drat!!!!

:)

I just installed three fans for my parents yesterday (and a dimmer and a light fixture and ...) and two of them were RF. These had a device similar to what Scott posted. You could have not installed it and used separate switches. My parents had 14-3 wire run, which means that One wire is used for two switches (I guess it uses a common neutral and ground. They have two switches, but need only one, opposite of you! There has to be an IR fan controller somewhere in the good old U.S.!

Bud

What about this? Also, look at the fan canopy module at the bottom of the page.
http://www.lutron.com/maestro/maestrofan.asp

http://www.lutron.com/maestro/images/MIR-LFQTHWwremote2.jpghttp://www.lutron.com/maestro/images/MIR-LFQTHWwremote1.jpg

Here is the install information, looks like it'll work. You'd have to train your remote to learn the Lutron remote though.

http://www.lutron.com/instructions/033100b.pdf

Bud

I thought about this but I sort of see two issues:

1. the crazy thing costs as much as the fan :)
2. in my current setup I don't have two switches setup that control the fan and the light. It is only wired for a light and if I add a fan I need to use the pull chains to control the fan or the light. So running another line is a bit above my expertise...I'm not even sure how I would do it and I would probably need to hire an electrician.

:( I still don't get it. Why doesn't anyone make an IR Fan??? :(

Lucepan does, but its crazy expensive and funky looking (Italian modern art design)

Lucepan Blow (http://www.lumens.com/lumens/search2.asp?search_freetext=luceplan+blow+ceiling+fan&s_id=0&ad_id=OVR&key_id=luceplan-blow)

We just moved into a new house and it has 2 fans that are controlled by remotes. I'll check toight to see if they're RF or IR & try to get some model numbers off them.

My guess is that they ARE IR, but I"ll check the remotes..

My guess is that they ARE IR, but I"ll check the remotes..

Oh please be IR... :o

Lucepan does, but its crazy expensive and funky looking (Italian modern art design)

Lucepan Blow (http://www.lumens.com/lumens/search2.asp?search_freetext=luceplan+blow+ceiling+fan&s_id=0&ad_id=OVR&key_id=luceplan-blow)

The Lucepan website says the following: Control: Infrared remote control for fan speed, light, and dimming operations (included).

The Lucepan website says the following: Control: Infrared remote control for fan speed, light, and dimming operations (included).

True, but the price and modern looks are bit too much.

OK, I think I (we) finally have a solution. It was actually what chinadog referenced before with the Lutron Maestro IR wall switch and fan canopy module. I initially saw this before I made this post but admittedly I don't know much about the electrical side of things. I assumed that since there were two buttons on the single wall plate there needed to be separate cables for fan control and light control. This doesn't seem to be the case.

What helped me spark this realization was today while I was out home depot I saw the Maestro and it said single pole. I'm still not quite sure what that means but I'm going to guess it means there aren't separate cables for the fan and the light, instead, it looks like it utilizes a simple light switch (single pole) which is what I have. It appears the IR signal is taken into the wall plate and through the elctrical cabling it sends a signal to the fan canopy module that is in the fan. Then this module can adjust power to the fan and the light accordingly. I'm really pretty amazed. I only hope it works in practice as well as it does in theory.

If I don't have something right here and there is a very good chance of that someone please feel free to let me know. What I also like about being able to do this is now I can choose from just about any fan/light combo I want!

I haven't hooked it up yet just got it but wanted to share the info.

Westinghouse GS--26-78095-WH08

Westinghouse Lighting Corporation
Krefelder Strasse 562
41066 Monchengladbach, Germany

c/o GeoLogistics Ltd.
Hawthorn Road Castle Donington
Derby, United Kindom DE742QR

Skew 4 895105 601797
Model 78095

http://www.mrsharp.net/jpgs/IR_Ceiling_Fan_Remote.jpg

'Single pole' is a standard switch, as opposed to 'Three-way' (or in some cases 'Four-way') switches which are used when you want to have two switches controlling the same light. They do not control brightness although the name makes it sound like they do!