wall switches
#1
05-09-03, 10:50 PM
wall switches
I recently took a lighting strike that has knocked out a ceiling fan. I'm not sure if it fried the fan or the wall switch. The wall switch has three wires, black, white and green ground. How should I use a volt meter to check either the fan or the switch. The fan is remote controlled and has light attached. I checked the breakers and none were thrown. I believe that the fan was in the on position when the strike happened.
Thanks
Thanks
#2
05-10-03, 04:39 AM
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Start at the switch (it is more convienient).
Turn the breaker off.
pull the switch away from the wall box without removing the wires.
Turn the breaker on.
Use the volt meater to measure from black to white and then black to green. Both should indicate approx 120V. Green to white should be appox 0V. The measurement between black and white should change with the position of the switch.
The process is the same at the fan.
Turn the breaker off.
pull the switch away from the wall box without removing the wires.
Turn the breaker on.
Use the volt meater to measure from black to white and then black to green. Both should indicate approx 120V. Green to white should be appox 0V. The measurement between black and white should change with the position of the switch.
The process is the same at the fan.
Last edited by HandyRon; 05-10-03 at 08:10 AM.
#3
05-10-03, 06:25 AM
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At the switch the white wire is not a neutral and therefore will not necessarily show voltage across the black and white especially if the fan has an open circuit. you can check the voltage hot to ground at the switch and should read 120v but I suspect this switch is fed from the fan box and that is where you will find the neutral. I would probably bet the electronic speed control got whacked and went to electronic heaven.
#4
05-10-03, 08:18 AM
Take the switch off the wall and remove the black and white wire. Use a wire nut and connect the black and white. Turn the breaker back on. The fan should work. This bypasses the switch to be permanently on.
