I just installed a ceiling fan with the intention of using a switch that allows me to dim the lights and control the fan speed from the switch. It's definitely wired correctly as the dimmer works perfectly for the light and the fan switch correctly sets the fan to the right speeds. The problem is there's an awfully loud hum coming from the fan motor. It's not too bad in the low and high position but the medium position is really loud. When it's off, there is no hum.

The switch is made by Lutron (model: S2-LFSQH-WH) and, as per the instructions, should accomodate a unit that is 120V / 1.5A fan / 300W light.


The fan is a 36" Hampton Bay "San Marino" model. The fan specs say that the fan operates at the following:
LOW: .36 Amps / 32 Watts
MED: .34 Amps / 35 Watts
HIGH: .40 Amps / 47 Watts

Does anyone have any helpful advice?

I actually have another one of these fans to install in the same room (different box, same circuit) and was planning to use the same setup but I don't want to do this until I know how to solve this issue.

Any info would be much appreciated.

Thx.

 

Using a fan controller with a fan that it was not designed for is the most likely problem.

You need a fan controller made by Hampton Bay for a fan made by Hampton Bay.

 

OK, that sounds simple enough. Anyone have any idea where I might find Hampton Bay-specific switches? Hampton Bay is Home Depot company so I assume I'll have to ask someone there, but their website (hamptonbay.com) yielded nothing of value.

 

Disregard everything above. I tried the fan using a regular switch and it still hummed like crazy. Then I realized the problem may have been self-inflicted: I was testing without the fan blades attached. Once I attached them, the hum diminished considerably. Who knew?

Anyway, thanks for the reply, racraft!