Use the build-in ethernet port to control your MaxxFan

It should work with both the Maxxfan Plus and Maxxfan Deluxe series. If your fan has an 8-pin Ethernet jack (RJ45) or 6-pin phone port (RJ11/RJ25) you should be good to go!

Known supported model numbers are 4500K, 4700K, 4800K, 4900K, 5100K, 7000K, 7500K, 8500K, 8700K, and 8900K. Many more models probably support it but have not been verified yet.

You can return the board within 30 days of purchase for a full refund (postage not included). Since we customize each board to your specific setup we’re not legally required to offer returns, but we understand that plans change sometimes.

Make sure the board is in good condition. Send us an email if you’d like to make a return and we will get you sorted out.

We emulate a first-party 3540K button wall control panel for Plus fans or a 3600k (or 3650K) 6 button wall control panel for Deluxe fans. But instead of buttons you have to press yourself we use optocouplers to trigger the signals to the fan electronically. The way this works inside the fan is exactly the same as when you press a button on the control panel, so all inputs you can do there can be done by the VanTurtle controller.

We recommend using a quality cable that is rated for Power Over Ethernet. This makes sure that the wire you use actually has 8 strands inside it, as some cheaper cables only have 4 strands total. It’s best to keep the length of the cable under 10 meters (32 feet) to keep the voltage drop within acceptable ranges.

Note however that the Ethernet port is located in a part of the fan that gets almost entirely cut off when you lower the fan onto the ceiling. Using a compact or “short body” Ethernet plug is a necessity. Neither plug shown above is short enough, they just show the difference in conductor count.

The MaxxFan Deluxe doesn’t use any digital communication protocol like UART, IIC, or CAN. Instead, it relies on simple electrical connections that directly mimic the physical button presses on its control panel. Each button corresponds to a specific pair of wires that, when connected, trigger the same action as pressing the button manually. For example, shorting pins 6 and 8 activates the “Faster” command, while pins 5 and 8 correspond to “Slower”. This makes the fan much easier to control  as no decoding or signal generation is required.

You can read a whole lot more about it in this blog post.

Not even a little bit. Maxxair, Maxxfan and Airxcel are all trademarks by AirX Intermediate Inc. and used on this page as an example of products that are compatible with this controller. We have nothing to do with them. We’re just fans.

Just like with the on/off command, it can’t be done directly but there is a reliable workaround. There are 10 speed levels and if you try to go lower than level 1 it will just beep at you but stay at level 1. So if you send 10 slower signals and 3 faster the fan will always be in a known speed mode of 4. This can be combined with the auto mode trick to “reset” the fan to a known state. Signals can be sent so fast that the fan does not have the time to spin down all the way, so besides the beeping it’s pretty smooth.

Probably, check your fan for an RJ45 port first before ordering. If the fan has the port or is listed to be compatible with genuine wall mounted control panel then you should be all good to go.

Yes! The VanTurtle controller emulates the fan’s button panel, so you can still use the original remote or onboard buttons. Both manual and controller commands work seamlessly together.

No modifications are required. Just plug a cable into the existing port on the fans logic board. We see no reason this should void warranty, as the inputs are the same as pressing the buttons on the fan itself, but we can obviously never guarantee that.

There is a 2×3 block of dupont pins to the left of the screw terminals which control the address. You’ll find markings for A0, A1 and A2 on the back of the board showing you which pins to connect. This allows up to 18 fans on the same I²C bus, use the table below to set the correct address:

Please refer to the documentation for more details.

Installation is simple. Just connect the controller to your fan using the built-in RJ45 or RJ11 port. The board can be mounted anywhere near the fan or your microcontroller using screws through the 4 mounting holes. You can also use adhesive pads or Velcro but they might not survive the next non-paved road. No modifications to the fan are needed.

Keep in mind that the controller generates a tiny bit of heat, so do not mount it in an enclosed space like a ceiling. Make sure there is a fuse between VCC and your battery.

We have yet to see a Deluxe or Plus fan model that we cannot support. If it has a RJ45 or Rj11 port you’re probably good to go. Older models without a port or with non-standard protocols may not be supported. Check your fan model before purchasing to ensure compatibility.