DISCLAIMER: You may notice there are a lot of over-used keywords or phrases as well as English that seems a little off. This is because these articles are used to feed our AI Robot (Ira) and she needs the data to be structured in a certain way.
REMINDER: This switch is only to be used to control AC Motor exhaust and ceiling fans. Do not use the switches on any sort of lighting load or DC Motor.
NOTE: There is currently a bug in Home Assistant that is preventing some of the settings entities from being created. These settings can still be changed with the ZHA cluster configuration as well as through button combos on the switch. [Device Support Request] Inovelli VZM35-SN Fan Switch · Issue #2640 · zigpy/zha-device-handlers (github.com)
IMPORTANT: Before installing your fan switch, please ensure the fan motor is set to high speed. If you notice that after you install your fan switch the speeds are not as fast as they were prior to installing your switch, it's likely that the motor was not on high (please adjust if you find this is the case).
This is the digital setup instructions for the Blue Series Smart Fan Switch (Exhaust or Ceiling) on the Home Assistant (ZHA) platform.
Navigating the Instructions
Please click on any of the sections in the Table of Contents to get started. We recommend working your way down as it follows an intentional flow that is user friendly and hub/gateway specific. As always, any questions, please see the Additional Resources links section or submit a ticket, we’re happy to help.
Quick Setup Instructions
Follow these if you have already installed the Fan switch before and are just looking for some quick pairing instructions. If this is your first time installing the Fan switch, please skip this section and work your way through the various sections below starting with the Prerequisites.
Let’s begin:
Make sure your switch LED is lit up blue
With your LED pulsing blue, open up your Home Assistant App, click on the hamburger bar at the top left (three lines) and select, "Configuration"
Then select, "Devices & Services" and scroll to your ZHA integration
Click on, "Configure" and then, "+ Add Device"
Make sure your switch LED is pulsing blue as shown in Video #1 – if it’s not, press the config/favorite button three (3) times as shown in Video #2
Home Assistant should then search for, find and initialize the switch
Video #1 & Video #2
Video #1 & Video #2
Video #1: Switch Already Pulsing Blue
Video #2: Press config/favorites button to initiate the LED pulsing blue
If your LED bar refuses to pulse blue, then please hold down on the top of the paddle as well as the config/favorites button for approximately 20 seconds until the LED Bar turns Red and then let go. The LED Bar will blink red three times to confirm as shown in the video below.
Video Demonstration
Video Demonstration
NOTE: Video sped up to save time/space
Prerequisites
There are three prerequisites to pairing this switch to ZHA and they are:
Install ZHA
Run Home Assistant version 2022.4.0 (as this version is where button presses for Zigbee were added)
Compatible Zigbee USB Sticks
We've tested the following Zigbee sticks to work with our Blue Series switches: Compatible Zigbee Sticks • Home Assistant
For a full list of compatible ZHA USB sticks, please see the following link from the Home Assistant Documentation: Home Assistant ZHA Compatible USB Sticks
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Installing ZHA
Once you've plugged in your compatible ZigBee stick, the setup of ZHA should be pretty straightforward.
With your ZigBee stick plugged in, restart Home Assistant by pressing the hamburger menu at the top left (three lines) and then selecting, "Configuration"
Scroll down to the bottom and select, "Settings"
Scroll to where it says, "Home Assistant", press, "Restart" and then, "Ok"
Home Assistant should then restart -- wait for it to connect and move to the next step
Click on the hamburger menu at the top left (three lines) and then select, "Configuration"
Then click on, "Devices and Services" and you should see that your USB stick should be auto-discovered (if not, please click on the URL at the bottom to be taken to the official Home Assistant ZHA instructions) -- click on, "Configure"
You will then be taken to a page confirming you'd like to setup ZHA -- click, "Submit" and then wait for ZHA to configure and if successful, select an Area and click, "Finish"
Click the back button at the top and you should now see your ZHA integration -- You are ready to now start adding your switch!
For troubleshooting and/or official instructions, please see the ZHA installation guide: https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/zha/
Installation Instructions
Before setting up your switch within Home Assistant, you will have to manually install your switch in the wall and have it powered up. In order to do that, you (or your licensed electrician) will need to follow our Wiring Instructions which can be found below:
Pairing Instructions
The below instructions assume you have installed ZHA prior to pairing.
Open your Home Assistant App (web or mobile) and click on the hamburger menu at the top left
Click on the, “Configuration” tab at the bottom
Click on, “Devices & Services”
Scroll down to your ZHA (ZigBee Home Automation) section and click on the, “Configure” link
Click, “Add a Device” and Home Assistant will start the pairing process
While your Home Assistant is scanning, make sure your switch LED is pulsing blue as shown in Video #1 – if it’s not, press the config/favorite button three (3) times as shown in Video #2. The LED Bar should start pulsing blue and, if successfully paired to Hubitat, it will briefly turn green
Video #1: Switch Already Pulsing BlueVideo #2: Press config/favorites button to initiate the LED pulsing blue
In addition, your app will show your switch (likely called, “Inovelli VZM35-SN” or something similar)
Feel free to rename the switch and place it in the area of your choosing
Next, click on the back button at the top, and then click back again to be taken to the integration page
On the integration page, scroll to your ZHA integration, click on the devices URL (ie: 2 devices, 3 devices, etc) and then select your switch
Finally, scroll down to the, “Controls” section and toggle the, “Level, on_off” on and off to check if the fan turns on remotely
Once your switch is successfully paired, check to make sure you have basic functionality of your switch by turning it on/off (and if you have it as a dimmer, test the dimming) in the app.
If you'd like to change your switch to a ceiling fan switch or need to program it to work in a multi-way setup, please move on to the, "Switch Configuration" section below.
Switch Configuration
In this section, we will help you change your switch mode (ie: Exhaust or Ceiling) and type (Single-Pole, 3-Way Aux).
If you are trying to setup your switch in Smart Fan Mode, please still select the Switch Mode and Type from the below instructions, and then follow the directions to setup Smart Fan Mode
Switch Mode (Exhaust or Ceiling)
To change your Blue Series Fan switch from an Exhaust Fan to a Ceiling Fan or vice versa in Home Assistant, please follow the instructions below (NOTE: You can also use the manual button combo method):
Find the device inside of Home Assistant and click on it. At this point you can click on the "3-dot" menu next to "RECONFIGURE" (like shown below), and click on "Manage zigbee device"
Next, choose the cluster and attribute as shown below. The attribute is "output_mode". In the text box below type either:
Bool.false = Ceiling Fan (3-speed) mode
Bool.true = On/Off (exhaust) mode
Finish by clicking on "WRITE ATTRIBUTE" to send the command to the switch.
Switch Mode - Combo Button Method
If you prefer, you can change the setting physically from the switch with the following procedure:
Exhaust Fan (On/Off Mode)
To put your Blue Series Fan Switch in Exhaust Fan (On/Off) Mode, hold down on the top part of the paddle (on) while simultaneously tapping the configuration button three (3) times (do not let go of the paddle when finished tapping the config button). Wait for the LED Bar to flash solid red (and then let go of the paddle) indicating the switch has changed to an Exhaust Fan switch.
Video Demonstration
Video Demonstration
Ceiling Fan (3-Speed Mode)
To put your Blue Series Fan Switch in Ceiling Fan (3-Speed) Mode, hold down on the bottom part of the paddle (off) while simultaneously tapping the configuration button three (3) times (do not let go of the paddle when finished tapping the config button). Wait for the LED Bar to flash solid orange (and then let go of the paddle) indicating the switch has changed to a Ceiling Fan switch.
NOTE: If your switch does not have a neutral wire, you will only have 2-Speeds.
Video Demonstration
Video Demonstration
Switch Type (Single-Pole, Multi-Way Aux)
To program your Blue Series Fan switch to operate in a Single-Pole or Multi-Way Aux in Home Assistant, please follow the instructions below (NOTE: You can also use the manual button combo method):
Find the device inside of Home Assistant and click on it. At this point you can click on the "3-dot" menu next to "RECONFIGURE" (like shown below), and click on "Manage zigbee device"
Next, choose the cluster and attribute as shown below. The attribute is "switch_type". In the text box below type either:
1 = Aux Switch mode
0 = Single Pole mode
Finish by clicking on "WRITE ATTRIBUTE" to send the command to the switch.
Switch Type - Combo Button Method
If you prefer, you can change the setting physically from the switch with the following procedure:
Multi-Way (3-Way) + Aux Switch Mode
To have your Blue Series Fan Switch work with an Auxiliary (Add-On) switch in a multi-way (3-Way) setting, hold down on the top part of the paddle (on) while simultaneously tapping the configuration button five (5) times (do not let go of the paddle when finished tapping the config button). Wait for the LED Bar to flash solid white (and then let go of the paddle) indicating the switch has enabled 3-Way + Aux Switch Mode.
NOTE: If your switch does not have a neutral wire, you will need to program it to work with an Aux switch. Please follow these instructions to do so: Blue Series Fan Switch • Special Programming for Aux Switch in Non-Neutral Mode
Video Demonstration
Video Demonstration
Advanced Feature Setup
This switch is packed with features and most of them come directly from this community. They've been debated back and forth, added to wishlists, and talked about over the course of 4+ years (as this switch builds on our Red Series lineup).
Below we will explain all the parameters and show you how to change them from within Home Assistant (ZHA) and then we'll go into some of the advanced features and explain how to set them up in ZHA. If you have any questions along the way, feel free to create a post in our community as there are many Home Assistant users here who are excited to help.
Parameter Explanations
A parameter is a setting within the switch firmware that allows you to change how the switch operates. For example, you want to change how fast your lights dim on and off, the color of the LED bar, minimum dimming level and much more -- all with a few clicks within the app.
For a list of the most up-to-date parameters and the firmware version they are associated with, please visit the Blue Series Fan Switch Parameter Page
Scene Control
Scene control, in this context, refers to activating a scene from your light switch via a tap sequence (ie: double-tap, triple-tap, favorites button, etc). This is not to be confused with setting up scenes in your Home Assistant app, which is different.
To learn how to setup multi-tap scene control, please visit the following article: Setting Up Multi-Tap Scene Control • Home Assistant - ZHA
Zigbee Bindings
Zigbee binding is when two or more Zigbee products communicate directly with one another without the need to communicate with a hub. There are two main benefits of utilizing Zigbee binding: speed & local control.
From a speed standpoint, cutting out the middle-man (hub) can save precious milliseconds or even seconds depending on your cloud and/or processing power off your hub. Whereas from a local control standpoint, if your hub goes does down and cannot communicate, your products can still talk to each other.
To setup Zigbee Binding with Home Assistant (ZHA), please see this article: Setting Up Zigbee Bindings • Home Assistant - ZHA