"Ceiling Fan / Speed Control Compatibility" Topic

I know something about electronics, but not enough for this.

We have a ceiling fan/light in the dining room, and I bought a dimmer/speed control for it. But I understand certain electrical motors can be damaged by certain types of speed controllers. Anyone know how I figure out if the fan I have and the speed control I have are compatible?

Thanks,

Andrew

If your ceiling fan has multiple speed settings already, you should be OK putting it on a dimmer switch.

Regards, the Gorb

It has a switch to change directions, and a chain pull that cycles it through two or three speeds.

The Fan/Light Dimmer says "Important: for use with split-capacitor or shaded pole motors only. Please refer to fan mfg's instructions or rating label on the motor to confirm type."

The motor casing lists a wattage, but no motor type.

Does this obfuscate or clarify?

Andrew

Have you checked the fan manufacturer's web site or called them? They can usually tell you what type motor they have used in the fan.

If you have a multi speed fan with the pull chain (which you do) then you can install the dimmer switch and use it with that motor. Now for the good, the bad and the ugly:

You have to set your fan on the HIGHEST speed it can go for it to work properly or you will be stuck on the lowest setting.

The dimmer WILL stress the motor of your fan as the dimmer setting or variable speed setting of the dimmer does not perfectly correspond with the motors three pre-set speeds. The dimmer/variable speed control essentially sucks power out when set a lower speeds to prevent the motor from getting all of the juice. This builds up heat in both the dimmer and in the motor – which stresses the motor over time.

If someone messes with the settings by using the pull chain to change the speed, it will mess with the variable speed control device you have installed.

IF you have someone mess with the fan control alot – turning it on and off or switching speeds alot, it will stress the variable speed controller and could cause a short in the system, power surge, power spike, or blow a breaker.

I've experienced all of them when doing remodel jobs when working in construction with a master electrician over the past twenty years and had one do just that 4 years ago.

I don't recommend putting an after-market variable remote controlled speed controller on a fan which isn't designed with it – because of these issues.

Generally they work just fine for quite a while, but the life of the fan is reduced and the risk of electrical fire, shorts, and the like aren't worth it in my opinion. If I want a variable speed fan – with a remote – I buy the fan with the variable speed remote built in, it saves time and energy because all of the components are designed to work together.

Just my opinions – your fan and variable speed controller may work just fine with each other, but I've seen so many that DIDN'T that I avoid them.

Well, see, that's the kind of practical thinking that has kept this dimmer thing sitting in my garage for twelve years as I put of and put off installing it.

I didn't try to contact the manufacturer of the fan because its over twenty years old. I suspect the model number wouldn't have got me anywhere.

I'll see if I can find a box with a dimmer for the light and a simple switch for the fan. I could install the thing and if it burns out the fan (which we rarely use) I could then get a proper one, but I don't need the headache.

I do need to replace the light switch portion of the thing. Its not working well, at all.

Andrew