Ceiling fan w/lights using dimmer switch


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Old 07-24-09, 06:57 AM
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Ceiling fan w/lights using dimmer switch

Installed above replacing old fixture and standard wall switch.Blue and black from fan to hot;white to neutral. Replaced wall switch with dimmer. Dimmer was controlling both the light AND the fan. Internal fan wiring issue? Disconnected dimmer and reinstalled standard switch; works fine. Any ideas?
Thanks,Dave
 
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Old 07-24-09, 07:28 AM
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fan control switch needed

you cannot use a standard dimmer to control a fan motor

but if you only have a 2 wires going to the fan

then get a wireless dimmer/fan control switch

Lutron makes a nice one , kinda pricey at 50 bucks, but it works with only a hot and nuetral, with or with out a remote availbe at HD.. they also carry Hunter Bay wireless fan controllers, similiar, and need only 2 wires like the Lutron, just not as nice as the Lutron, those are about 30 bucks..

in a fan - blue is lights, black is motor, white is nuetral
 
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Old 07-24-09, 08:16 AM
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Thanks for the info, mike. Funny, I've installed ceiling fans with lights before, and never had an issue with a dimmer switch, in either of the installation areas. Dimmer switch controls the light; pull chain controls the fan. That's why I was wondering if it was an internal wiring problem with this particular fan.
 
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Old 07-24-09, 06:27 PM
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dimming and fan control

you can use dimmers with a fan, if the fan lead ( the black one ) is wired constant hot, and so the dimmer only controls the the light, otherwise dimmers are not rated for fan motor control, they will work to a point then you will burn out a dimmer or the fan capacitor(s), that's why the fan control switch do not dim the motor lead, but rather limit the voltage in 3 distinct stages, hence why the fan must be left on hi and let the fan switch control the speed.
fans use capacitors to control speed function
 
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Old 07-25-09, 07:18 AM
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Lighting dimmers start out on low, kind of like starting off a manual transmission car off in 3rd. It is very hard on the motor and will lead to premature failure. You were just not supplying enough voltage to start the motor spinning.
 
 

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