Configuring Hue Light and Extractor Fan

[Deleted User 298457]

Hi folks,

Sorry for separate thread but felt an interesting possibility.

I have a light permanently on as it's a Hue bathroom light.

I have an extractor fan you'd expect to come on with the light, but it's permanently live.

I'm thinking of wiring a 3pin plug to the extractor and then using a smart plug.

Within Hue, can I then configure my switch to do various things like turning the extractor on/off with the light? I have a Hue bridge but no Hue plugs.

I do have HA but I'd prefer to not build something so critical on something I often tinker with.

Thanks!

 

[GeX]

Just fit a humidistat, who cares if the light is on or off

 

[200sols]

Just fit a humidistat, who cares if the light is on or off

I guess he does or he wouldn't ask

 

[GeX]

that's not how we do things on here tho, instead of answering the question - you're meant to tell the OP why they're wrong


Back on topic tho, I have some Innr plugs that would do that - I use them for Christmas lights, and they linked into the room groups so are triggered off the motion sensors. Hue seems them as a light. Not sure if Hue has exapnded to cover smart plugs, or they're all fudged like - but either way, it'd do what you want.. if you want the fan on when the light is on. Only thing of note with them, they drop off the network from time to time - which bugs me no end, I don't get that with any other device on the network.

 

[Deleted User 298457]

Just fit a humidistat, who cares if the light is on or off

In my experience they go bad quite quickly? Happy to see a link to what I need though!

Back on topic tho, I have some Innr plugs that would do that - I use them for Christmas lights, and they linked into the room groups so are triggered off the motion sensors. Hue seems them as a light. Not sure if Hue has exapnded to cover smart plugs, or they're all fudged like - but either way, it'd do what you want.. if you want the fan on when the light is on. Only thing of note with them, they drop off the network from time to time - which bugs me no end, I don't get that with any other device on the network.

How did you link plugs; using Hue Bridge/Hue App? Or Alexa?

 

[GeX]

They’re just shown as a simple on/off light in the Hue app.
I don’t like having core stuff setup outside of properly supported Hue.

 

[Begbie]

Just put a normal bulb in and turn it on and off?

How does a smart bulb work in a bathroom? Do you need to take out your phone to not **** in the dark?

It seems very complex for something that is fixed by flicking a light switch on and off.

 

[GeX]

I have smart bulbs in my bathroom that only come on at 5% if you go in there at night, motion triggered. It’s also meant I can put a remote switch low down so my kids can control the lights. Very handy imo

 

[Begbie]

I have smart bulbs in my bathroom that only come on at 5% if you go in there at night, motion triggered. It’s also meant I can put a remote switch low down so my kids can control the lights. Very handy imo

Didn't consider motion activated.

 

[jpaul]

You want to turn the fan on before you start the shower, humidstat is too slow ...
we turn fan on with the light and it then turns itself off maybe 10mins after light is turned off , not sure exactly how it is wired.

 

[Deleted User 298457]

They’re just shown as a simple on/off light in the Hue app.
I don’t like having core stuff setup outside of properly supported Hue.

Interesting - I haven't checked if my Tapo plugs do that but you reckon your Innr ones do?

Just put a normal bulb in and turn it on and off?

How does a smart bulb work in a bathroom? Do you need to take out your phone to not **** in the dark?

It seems very complex for something that is fixed by flicking a light switch on and off.

Stop being a caveman. I haven't used a light switch in 2 years, and the lights follow the temp of the sun so each room feels like daylight/warm light if dark.

The main reason I have this is because the light is much better (it isn't a bulb, it's a Hue circle lighting fitting) but also I had to pull the switch out as it was in the wet zone post refurb and I didn't want a pull switch.

You want to turn the fan on before you start the shower, humidstat is too slow ...
we turn fan on with the light and it then turns itself off maybe 10mins after light is turned off , not sure exactly how it is wired.

Yeah agreed I don't rate humidistats at all.

 

[GeX]

Interesting - I haven't checked if my Tapo plugs do that but you reckon your Innr ones do?

Not sure what the Tapo ones are, but if they're not Zigbee and can be connected to the Hue Hub, then nada - they won't work like that.

Shows up like

Looks like there's a new version of them https://www.amazon.co.uk/ZigBee-Socket-Automation-Philips-SmartThings/dp/B0CFVLK4FL


and I'm totally with you on not doing light switches, slight worry my kids are growing up not knowing what one is

90% of the house is done with motion sensors, Hue Dimmers and voice control for adjusting the lights

 

[DarkBahamut]

You want to turn the fan on before you start the shower, humidstat is too slow ...

I'd actually disagree with this. The amount of air exchange a typical bathroom extractor does in the ~1 minute head start a non-humidstat has is tiny. It basically makes no difference at all.

What is worse is this situation:

we turn fan on with the light and it then turns itself off maybe 10mins after light is turned off , not sure exactly how it is wired.

Fan turns off after 10 minutes after the lights. So you either need to leave your lights on after a shower, or the fan turns off too fast. I can see from our humdity sensor in our bathroom that it usually takes 2-3 hours for humdity to drop back to near normal levels after a 6-7 minute shower (extractor rated at 4.5 air exchanges per hour). Venting for only 10 minutes after leaving the room is far worse than it starting 1 minute slow because humidity levels don't recover that quickly. Humidstats drive humdity levels to much lower levels than timer based fans do, that's the real benefit of them.

 

[jpaul]

I'd actually disagree with this. The amount of air exchange a typical bathroom extractor does in the ~1 minute head start a non-humidstat has is tiny. It basically makes no difference at all.

my theory is, that that, is pulling out the moist air before it has chance to condense on surfaces, which being well insulated, aren't too cold anyway; window is normally opened a jar too, to provide replacement cool air.

Haven't had any mold issues - but perhaps that's not the best measure of a good ventilation strategy.

 

[Deleted User 298457]

Just wired up a basic 3 pin plug to power the fan.

It has a switched live which I can bridge so its effectively "permanently on", which then means my plug can control.

What I need to sort out it ensuring it stays on for a while when the light is off by the Hue switch. Not sure I can make a button press switch a plug off "30 mins later"...

 

[200sols]

I feel like timer fans solved this problem long ago

 

[Deleted User 298457]

I feel like timer fans solved this problem long ago

Yeah that's the annoying thing, because it's switched live, it has a run-on timer, but my smart plug needs switching

I might end up jerry-rigging a 3 pin plug for power and then a 3 pin plug for switched live at this rate!

 

[200sols]

I might end up jerry-rigging a 3 pin plug for power and then a 3 pin plug for switched live at this rate!

Modern technology is great isn't it?

I guess you are just against a pull cord in the room then?

Or even a timer fan on a motion sensor.

 

[Deleted User 298457]

OK this has cost way too much.

I have bought a Hue plug (£27) and a Hue motion sensor (£37). I've bridge the switched live. There wasn't an easy way to make a "switch" time.

Next time maybe a pull cord will work

 

[GSXRMovistar]

Too late now but an other option would be an inline Zigbee switch like this:- https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08RYT9XGL/

Put this on the feed to the extractor, which will always be live due to the bathroom lights being Hue. Then setup a simple routine under Alexa or whatever home assistant you have, call it something like Showertime so when activated it puts the fan on, turns the lights up and then automatically turns the fan off a set time afterwards.