Fan Speed Control Wiring

16 years ago

I recently installed a 4-speed control switch for two fans(Connected in parallel). The Switch has two black wires one was connected to input AC power and the second to the fans.

The issue is that I can only get two speeds, position 1 max speed, position two low speed and off for positions 3 and 4.

Can someone help, what am I doing wrong ?

Best Regards

PMART

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Comments (7)

don-ump
16 years ago
Pmart,

Have you read the instructions that came with the fan or switch?

Is there a schematic that came with either the fan or switch? Any chance that you can take a digital pic of the switch and copy the schematic and paste the two here?
pmart
Original Author
16 years ago
I don't have the schematics but the fans are std single speed fans, the swithch has only two wires one for AC input and the feeds the fans(two black wires). Neutral white wire goes directly to the fans.

Sorry but that is all the information I have.

Could this be a loading issue, I may need a higher rating speed control ?
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I'm looking at ceiling fans and getting a bit baffled by teh controls available. Casablanca offers a pull chain -- standard style. But they also have wall controls. There's a slide "dimmer" style that offers 4 speeds* and they have the intellitouch. The intellitouch offers 6 speeds. Is that more speeds than the regular control? Or do they count forward 1, 2, 3 and reverse 1, 2, 3 as the six speeds? Anyone have experience or recommendations either way? *From what I can tell, one of the "four" speeds is "off", which seems a bit shady to consider a speed.
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I assume you're talking about a variable speed fan control, not a 3-speed switch. These use a triac like a light dimmer. However, the fundamental design is different They're meant to handle inductive loads. It might work, but it might also cause the light and/or dimmer to fail, possibly (though not too likely) with smoke and/or heat and/or flame involved. If that's not persuasive, you have two other factors to consider. First, every variable fan control I've ever seen starts with the fan on full speed, then reduces it to low as you turn the knob clockwise. Dimmers usually work the other way, starting low and increasing the brightness clockwise. Also, fan controls don't usually go down as low as dimmers do. Second, installing any wiring device contrary to its instructions (in this case, wiring a fan control to a light) is a code violation. Bottom line: I don't recommend it.
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noffo
16 years ago
pmart, You said "std single speed fans". Are you using a ceiling fan control with ceiling fans, or are you doing something else? Info like the mfg/model of the fans and control would be helpful.
heimert
16 years ago
What are the four speeds supposed to be?

High, Med, Low, Off? (Or max, high, med, low, plus off)?

It may be that at the lower speed settings not enough juice is passing through.
DavidR
16 years ago
Most of the fan speed switches (not variable controls) are simple inductors placed in series with the fans. I'd guess that your switch cascades 1, 2, or 3 inductors in series for positions 2, 3, and 4 respectively.

My guess is that the second inductor has burned out.

Check the switch's rating and the fans' power requirement - I wouldn't be too surprised if the two fans consume more power than the control is designed for. That would burn it out in a hurry.

Most likely you'll need a new control. This time check the fans' power requirement and buy one that's designed to provide at least that much (preferably with a 50% buffer).
pmart
Original Author
16 years ago
To All:

The Speed controls position 1-4 are OFF,Low,Med and Hi Speed.
I just disconnected one of the two ceiling fans, and the speed control works fine with just one of the two.

Any clues ?

Pmart
normel
16 years ago
The speed control you purchased is not designed for more than one fan.

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Fan Speed Control Wiring

Comments (7)

don-ump

pmart
Original Author

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noffo

heimert

DavidR

pmart
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normel

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Fan Speed Control Wiring

Comments (7)

don-ump

pmartOriginal Author

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noffo

heimert

DavidR

pmartOriginal Author

normel

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pmart
Original Author

pmart
Original Author