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Panasonic Whisper fans (2)

5326 Views 28 Replies 4 Participants Last post by  GeorgeC74
As part of a dual bath remodel, the contractor added a new Panasonic Whisper Green fan in each, replacing earlier fans. His electrician did the wiring, per the Installation sketch, I blew it up, make it easier for them, and me. there are 3 switches, Light, General (the Red leads) and Fan, L-R in the sketch... Real world, his guys were kids, did the Hall bath, left, so I finished up the Master bath wiring, identical to the Hall's.

General contractor was not an electrician, but his guys were, AFAIK, I checked the wiring at the time, it was right, but now with everything finished, access to the fan end is not really possible without tearing up the ceilings.

I'm not seeing the action I expected. I have a variety of Modules, discovered there were only 3 ports available, But have yet to contact Panasonic, assuming lots of phone time.. Rather sort it out myself if possible, I've read, studied the documentation, but not seeing what the problem is.

Hall bath: Speed & Night light modules.. Not our regular usage for showers, so no Humidity. Light works, Fan goes on with the Fan switch, never shuts down until it's turned off. Not what I expected, I thought it would time out. Night Light only comes on if the Fan is On. That third switch(Red wires) does nothing to affect it.

Master Bath: Speed and Humidity modules.ight works, Fan goes on with the Fan switch, never shuts down until it's turned off. Not what I expected, I thought it would time out, or the Humidity dropped. If the Fan is On, it stays On. That third switch(Red wires) does nothing to affect it.

It's been a couple years, since late 2017 that we had this work done. A few other things, I had to do myself as the contractor, as I said, wasn't an electrician, I did a ton of wiring in my 40 years at Western Electric, it was easier for me to do a lot of it, rather than wait on his guys. I'd do a lot of extras, cleanups after hours, an advantage of being retired, I suppose, plus knowing it was done right. The remodel took out a closet to double the shower width to 5', a linear drain, added new wall mounted vanities, medicine cabinets, LED lighting besides the Panasonic Fan, all Moen, Koehler, top end fixtures, as well as all new tiled floors, tub & shower the tile goes to the ceiling, nicely done, master bath had to have a pocket door, contractor used a cheap set of track & rollers, I replaced it with Johnston, soft open/close hardware. then had painters in to texture, paint as needed.

So the Panasonic fans are my one remaining unresolved problem. We use it as it is, manually handling the fans, I think I have Motion module for both, but am not wanting to confuse the issue.

So any magical ideas, documents?

I have none...

George

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What model do you have. There are a few confusing details there.
It's (They) are the combo light/fan Model: FV-11-15VKL1 Whisper Select Fan/Light, Green 110/130/150 CFM

All the manuals are at this link..

https://shop.panasonic.com/home-and...systems/ceiling-insert-fans/FV-11-15VKL1.html
The Note in this Service Manual Wiring Sketch is confusing to me, calls the Red wire switch a "Hi/Low Switch: When plug-in Multi-Speed Module;On/Off switch:When plug-in other Plug'N Play Modules.(non-powered control wires)".

Not the same info the various modules or Installation docs..

Maybe I'm just not seeing the big picture?

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That is one complex system for a bathroom fan. I’ve read through the controls part of the manual a few times and am starting to get the idea how to configure the options. How is it that you’d like the two fans to work, with respect to the night light, humidity control and motion sensor modules?

If I’m interpreting the manual correctly, the reason to buy the variable speed module would be if the homeowner wanted to run the fan at low speed continually for house ventilation purposes and at higher speed for limited duration ventilation of the bathroom. If a homeowner wants to just do the latter of those two options, they don’t need the variable speed module (I think...).

Chris
The way I read it is the fan stays on 24/7 on the main switch and the fan goes to high speed on the red wire switch and stays high speed until you turn it down.
That is one complex system for a bathroom fan. I’ve read through the controls part of the manual a few times and am starting to get the idea how to configure the options. How is it that you’d like the two fans to work, with respect to the night light, humidity control and motion sensor modules?

If I’m interpreting the manual correctly, the reason to buy the variable speed module would be if the homeowner wanted to run the fan at low speed continually for house ventilation purposes and at higher speed for limited duration ventilation of the bathroom. If a homeowner wants to just do the latter of those two options, they don’t need the variable speed module (I think...).

Chris
Yes, maybe too complex, I'll try to change the speed settings this week, and drop the timer settings, it's been a while since I stuck my head in there to see where it's at, I think I set it at the max, 150 cam, but maybe, if it's going to be on 24/7, it should be lower. If I can ever see it, the Hi/Low (Red) with make a difference, I'll know I'm on the right track. Today was the first time for me to see that second wiring diagram, but I do need to do some checking tomorrow.

On my desk I have a Multi=speed and a NiteLight module, but I have to check, see what I have up in the fan units... Pretty sure the Condensation Sensor is in the Master, along with the fan speed module Not sure of the Hall bath at the moment, other than the Night light... Motion sensor should be in the Master but... Might have unplugged it..

Really like to have it all working, but so far, as I've said, I can't see anything but just manual on/off action..

(Thanks for looking, it all helps clarify this...)
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The way I read it is the fan stays on 24/7 on the main switch and the fan goes to high speed on the red wire switch and stays high speed until you turn it down.
Well, if so, it should be running low, and boost on either Motion or Condensation, assuming those modules are plugged in, have never seen that, so far...

I'm still a tad confused that I can't seem to affect anything with that Red wire switch... As noted above I need to pop the cover see where what is...

At one time I was disappointed that I was limited to just to modules other that the speed/timer, but at this point I'd be happy to see either motion or condensation make a change... I can't reach it without a ladder, I did fiddle quite a bit last year, got nowhere..

(Thanks for looking!)
Well, if so, it should be running low, and boost on either Motion or Condensation, assuming those modules are plugged in, have never seen that, so far...

I'm still a tad confused that I can't seem to affect anything with that Red wire switch... As noted above I need to pop the cover see where what is...

At one time I was disappointed that I was limited to just to modules other that the speed/timer, but at this point I'd be happy to see either motion or condensation make a change... I can't reach it without a ladder, I did fiddle quite a bit last year, got nowhere..

(Thanks for looking!)
If you have a motion sensor, it would be in the center of the grill that has a blue light when activated.


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Even if you’ve got other available modules, it would be simpler to diagnose operation with fewer installed. Let’s run a test on the hall bath (speed and night light modules) to see if the red wire control switch is doing anything.

1. Toggle the wall mounted control switch (red wires) and wall mounted power switches for fan and night light to “Off”.
2. Set the “Multi-Speed Air Volume” dial on the fan to something other than zero.
3. Set the “Time” dial adjacent to it to something other than zero.
4. Toggle the wall mounted power switch for the night light to “On”.
5. Toggle the wall mounted power switch for the fan to “On”. The fan should come on at low speed (if the setting in step #2 above was zero, then “low speed” would be “off”)
6. Toggle the wall mounted control switch “On”. The fan should come on at high speed for the length of time set in #3 above. The night light should operate, depending on ambient light conditions.

If it doesn’t work that way either I’ve misunderstood the instructions (which is entirely possible), the fan isn’t operating as described, or the house wiring isn’t connected as shown in the manual.

Chris
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Tangled up with other projects, but printed it out, and will give it a shot when I finish off... I see from below I have the presence module in, but maybe unplugged, don't remember.. Need a ladder..
OK, had a moment to grab a ladder:

Hall Bath has: Speed/Time, Nite Lite, and Motion modules.
Master Bath has: Speed/Time, Condensation and Motion modules.

There is no separate switch for the night light, it appears to only be operated when the fan switch is On.

Motion has never functioned..

Speed/time are both off zero...

Maybe I don't have the patience, but I'm not seeing any affect of the red wire switch in either bathroom. Never have seen the Motion detection function.

Still as confusing as ever... If I can get through to Panasonic, I'll ask for a local tech guru to come out, take a look. It should be a lot simpler. I think I took photos of the wiring, back on the original installation.. But it sure looked right at the time, as I had printed, shared that Installation wiring sketch at the time. Not too complicated, really..

For now, I'm going to they gym, later ee if I get a chance to install new LED headlights in my '06 F150... The other project.

Thanks for trying...
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Before I purge this knowledge…

If you have the fan low speed set using the rotary dial near the top end (up to 120 CFM), you’ll not be able to discern the difference between that and the fan high speed set using the three position “Pick-A-Flow” switch (110/130/150 CFM).

For the fan to turn off after a set time of running at high speed, the fan low speed rotary dial needs to be set to zero CFM.

Chris
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Thanks Chris, naturally, I just took the ladder back out to the shop... I'll try to get in there tomorrow, drop the rotary to zero... Currently at 50 cfm, with the Air Volume 3 position switch at 150.

It's a but tough to see, but I took photos on my iPhone, so I could look without getting a kink in my neck! If I'm up close it was too close, down a step, too far away..

There seems to be a need for a setup manual, along with a troubleshooting flowchart. As I said before my contractor, and his "electricians" were not to be found when the finish items came along, I had a hit sheet, but assumed these were OK, just wanted the mess done, gone, so I didn't look too close at these fans. Until now...

At least, whoever is going on, the bathrooms are useable, h=Hall bath gets little use, occasional house guests, grandkids, but the Master is a daily shower, etc, so it was a bit dusty..

One of the demo pictures or videos shows a little green light on the Motion detector, I've never seen that, on either unit. Might be a different vintage, or could it matter which port it's plugged into? The Speed/Timer only fits in one spot, so then the choice is either of the other 2 available.. They seem to refer to the ports as being on a common bus, so I didn't think it mattered what went where..

OK, enough tonight...
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BTW, because the model I have has the LED lamp, the motion sensor is off to the edge of the light, not centered. But unlit. Hmmm...
I made a mistake in post #10, referring to the wall mounted power switch as being for the “night light”. I should have just written “light”. That third switch is just for the big light built into the unit.

The only way that the night light module can turn on the night light is if the control switch (the two red wires from the fan) is closed (turned on).

The only way that the humidity sensor and motion sensor can turn the fan from low speed (which could be “off”) to high speed is if the control switch is closed and the fan switch is also closed.

Because of those two things you really need to have the fan switch always closed and the control switch always closed. This means that to manually switch the fan from low speed (which could be “off”) to high speed for a limited time requires you to toggle the control switch open then closed again. That seems odd, but I just watched a YouTube video describing that operation.

Chris
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Thanks again, I've tried it all, but part of my headache, maybe the key, is that I have never seen any action from the Motion Detector, no little light in that sensor, ever. Yet the fan runs, manually, the light, as well, so the unit has power, but seems to be ignoring the plugin modules.. I attached a couple pics, , but I think my next move is to call Panasonic.

I couldn't find a photo of the connecting box on the side of the unit, pretty sure the 'electricians' had closed them up before I had a chance to see them. But since there is power, and the red leads were run, connected, it's hard to imagine how it could be messed up.

I notice there is a later, L2, version, "Panasonic FV-11-15VKL1 150 CFM Ceiling Mounted Customizable Bath Fan with Light and Adjustable Vent Rates" I have the L1, so maybe there was a need for a change. More info that points me to call Panasonic...

https://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-FV-11-15VKL1-Whisper-Select-Light/dp/B00JALSABG

At best, they have the answer, at worst, I have to live with what I have.

Thanks for the help, it shouldn't be this complex...

George...

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Thanks again, I've tried it all, but part of my headache, maybe the key, is that I have never seen any action from the Motion Detector, no little light in that sensor, ever. Yet the fan runs, manually, the light, as well, so the unit has power, but seems to be ignoring the plugin modules.. I attached a couple pics, , but I think my next move is to call Panasonic.

I couldn't find a photo of the connecting box on the side of the unit, pretty sure the 'electricians' had closed them up before I had a chance to see them. But since there is power, and the red leads were run, connected, it's hard to imagine how it could be messed up.

I notice there is a later, L2, version, "Panasonic FV-11-15VKL1 150 CFM Ceiling Mounted Customizable Bath Fan with Light and Adjustable Vent Rates" I have the L1, so maybe there was a need for a change. More info that points me to call Panasonic...

https://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-FV-11-15VKL1-Whisper-Select-Light/dp/B00JALSABG

At best, they have the answer, at worst, I have to live with what I have.

Thanks for the help, it shouldn't be this complex...

George...
I watched the video again. It says you can tell if the motion sensor is working because of the light. So maybe you have no power to it or bad ones.

If you turn the speed to 0 the fan should stop and when you turn the red wire switch on, off it should come on full speed for the time set.



What is this switch for. My red box.

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If you want to stop trying to solve this yourself with our help, just tell us.

With these types of issues it’s always best to simplify as much as possible, see what is working, then add in complexity. You’ve mentioned that you’ve not seen the motion sensor work, but so far you haven’t confirmed that the variable speed module works.

1. Unplug the condensation module and motion sensor modules, to ensure that they’re not causing a problem.
2. Turn off the fan and control switches.
3. Turn the variable speed module to zero and the timer to five minutes.
4. Turn on the fan switch. If the fan turns on at this point then the variable speed module isn’t working properly. When the variable speed module is installed, the red control wires become active and the fan should wait for the control switch to be closed before it does anything.
5. Turn on the control switch. The fan should run for five minutes then turn off.

To test the other modules:

1. Turn off the fan and control switches.
2. Unplug the variable speed module and plug one of the others into either of the other two bus positions.
3. Turn on the fan switch. The fan should not start.
4. Turn on the control switch and do whatever is required to trigger the condensation or motion sensor modules. If you’ve successfully triggered the module the fan should turn on at high speed for 20 minutes (or more if the trigger still exists after 20 minutes).

Let us know the test results.

Chris
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