I just purchased a Hamptom Bay Windward II Ceiling fan with a light kit and a remote control. I am replacing a 14 year old Casablanca that has a wall switch wired for the fan and the light kit (I can control the light and the fan independently with a 3 position Casablanca control which has a button for the light, a button for the fan and a button to turn the power off). I want to continue to control the light from the wall switch (I need to be able to turn the light on when I enter the room). What options do I have? Do I disregard the remote all together? Can I control the light from the wall and the fan from the remote? Again, I must be able to control the light from the wall, so I am prepared to disregard the remote completely if necessary. I installed the original Casablanca myself after having the builder wire for a ceiling fan, so I can connect the new fan the same way I assume.

 

Karen your new fan will work both with the remote and the wall switch, no need to disregard the remote. Install it according to the instructions just as you did your casablanca you will be just fine....RL

 

Thanks for the information. It seems from some of the posts by one of the moderators (John Nelson I believe) that it was not possible to use the remote and the wall switch. I got the feeling that it was an either/or situation. But I hope you are right.

 

Karen I should clarify what I'm saying the wall switch after rereading your post must be wireless type as the remote. It is an either or case if you are asking can I use the toggle type switches wired to the ceiling fan. Many times if you have pull chain switches these will work along with the remote. Sorry for my confusion onwhat you were asking....RL

 

I indeed have toggle switches wired to the ceiling, not wireless. This set up is over 14 years old and wireless was not readily available. However, I have two separate switches (currently on one is not being used because the Casablanca control like the Hunter control allows independent control of the light and the fan with only 2 wires. However, since I have two separate switches, I was wondering if I could control the light with one switch, leave the other switch in the on position (for the fan) and use the remote for the fan only.

 

Karen what you are asking is something I have no experience doing however if the wiring of your new fan will allow seperation of the lighting circuit I see where this maybe a possibility. Might need to wait for a reply from someone who has given this a try. Thing that concerns me is making wiring changes to this new fan, not a good idea I dont think. Fans that are operated from wall switches as your casblanca have wiring terminations to the wire that controls the fan and the wire that controls the light, not he case in remote controlled ceiling fans......RL

 

The details of how these things work varies from unit to unit, and they are not well explained in the instructions (probably because they are afraid you won't like it). So just install it and play with it to see how it works.

But some things should be obvious assuming you have simple toggle switches on the wall:

• If the wall switches are off, there is no power to the remote receiver, and so the remote transmitter cannot possibly turn anything on.
• If the remote receiver only has two input wires, there is no way it can work with two switches.
• If you turn the light off with the remote transmitter (while the wall switches are on of course), then the only way you could possibly turn the light back on with the wall switch is to turn it off, and then back on again. Some remotes work this way, and some not.

One key factor is the default mode (boot-up mode) that the remote receiver enters when first supplied with power (i.e., when you turn on the wall switch). Some default to fan-off/light-off, and some default to fan-off/light-on. I suppose it is possible that some receivers would remember the prior state and restore that, but I've not seen any that do that.

There's something new every day, so let us know if you learn something else about your unit.

 

I have had a fan with remote for a few years now. I just mounted the remote next to the door and used it as the light switch. I left the toggle switch in the on position.
I just installed a new fan a few weeks ago with a new remote and it seems that if I have the remote turn the light on afterward I can use the toggle to shut the light off. The remote sensor remembers that the light was on. The fan will not work with the toggle off. The old fan I had if I shut off the power the sensor forgot what it had been doing and left everything off.

 

Thanks for the help. I will be installing the fan next weekend, I will let you know how it turns out.