Advances in auto countdown and humidity triggered fan switches.

[Snagglefoot]

I came across some better products from Lutron.
They always had a countdown timer where you select the amount of time you want the fan to run. It used to be a fairly deep housing taking up 1-1/2 inches of space. If the electrician used the box as a junction box, sometimes there wouldn’t be space for the count down switch. The new switch is a 1/2 inch shallower so for some, there is now space to install one.

They also have a programable switch that will come on automatically come on when a certain humidity is reached and shut off when the humidity goes back down. My old one was a Broan and required a big box extending a few inches from the wall. The Lutron version is almost flush with the wall and can be programmed to do timed circulation required by some building codes out there. Here are a few shots. Enjoy. Old and new for the countdown switch, then old and new for the humidity switch. Sorry the the sideways views.

 

[factorytuned2012]

im not a fan of the humidistat style. i have a timer in my bathroom set for an hour run time all you got to do is push the on button it will recall the last selected run time. just like this one.

 

[eljefino]

I've got a few years old humidity sensor in my bathroom and it's all but worthless for that. It does also have a manual override with timer that I generally use.

Have an issue with everyone else in the house steaming up the bathroom, hoped it would address the issue, did not.

 

[factorytuned2012]

There are select exhaust fans available with humidistat built in. Kind of a set it and forget it deal.

 

[Rand]

Had to replace mine.. Hurry job..
only thing HD and lowes had .. has goofy settings
5min 10min 30min 60min 2 hour 4 hour.

10min not long enough.. 30min too long.

 

[Pablo]

Had to replace mine.. Hurry job..
only thing HD and lowes had .. has goofy settings
5min 10min 30min 60min 2 hour 4 hour.

10min not long enough.. 30min too long.

If it takes more than 4 hours take a dump at a store or restaurant or something

 

[Rand]

If it takes more than 4 hours take a dump at a store or restaurant or something

4 hours must be the "contracted food poisoning" setting

 

[Pablo]

4 hours must be the "contracted food poisoning" setting

Sends a signal to CDC

 

[Snagglefoot]

I wonder if they have a switch that detects odour instead of humidity.

 

[Snagglefoot]

Tried out the default setting in the humidity sensor. After using the steam shower the fan came on automatically, then turned off after the humidity came back down. All good.

 

[Snagglefoot]

I checked out the default for a manual push on the start button. It turns on for 20 minutes then shuts off.

The auto start for humidity has a default to start up at 50 % RH but can be programmed to start at 65% or 90 % for those in more humid areas.

 

[KevinMalone]

Thanks for sharing. I replaced a bunch of rotary switch timers with the Leviton DT digital countdown timer. It is one of the better no-neutral-required timers on the market. I have neutral wiring but it's no fun digging it out from the back of a full box. The UI is more intuitive than the older Eaton PT18 IMO:

I used the DT160 version with 10-20-30-60 min options. The 5-10-15-30 min options on the DT130 didn't seem long enough for bathroom exhausts.

The next upgrade will be to switch to the new Lutron humidity sensor switch. I don't have an HRV/ERV so the "air cycle mode" on it would be nice to have:

However, I think I would prefer that the fan be on at the beginning of a shower, rather than letting humidity build up. A humidity sensor located at the fan would be better.