Ceiling fan stopped working
#1
08-25-11, 07:03 PM
Ceiling fan stopped working
My friend has a ceiling fan in the bedroom without a light. It's controlled by a slider type variable switch. Shave told me that it stopped working a couple days ago.
What should be my plan of attack for troubleshooting this?
Not sure if it's related, but today the breaker for that room popped. I reset and all is well (except the fan is still inoperative). She doesn't know exactly when it popped (like if she was using the hair dryer, etc).
What should be my plan of attack for troubleshooting this?
Not sure if it's related, but today the breaker for that room popped. I reset and all is well (except the fan is still inoperative). She doesn't know exactly when it popped (like if she was using the hair dryer, etc).
#5
08-31-11, 04:23 PM
OK, I bypassed the switch by connecting the two black wires and turning the breaker back on. No luck. Just for fun I checked for 120VAC at the switch and per my test light it's good.
There are no switches or pull chains on the fan.
Is the next step checking for voltage at the fan? For the life of me I can't figure out how to get the cover off of the ball/bracket at the ceiling. There are no screws at all. I tried pulling and twisting and it doesn't feel like it wants to come off.
There are no switches or pull chains on the fan.
Is the next step checking for voltage at the fan? For the life of me I can't figure out how to get the cover off of the ball/bracket at the ceiling. There are no screws at all. I tried pulling and twisting and it doesn't feel like it wants to come off.
#6
09-27-11, 06:17 PM
Ok I finally got back to this. Got the cover off. I used a meter and stick the probes into the wire nuts for the black and white wires. Measured 120VAC with the speed control on full.*
Bad motor? Replace the fan?
Bad motor? Replace the fan?
#7
09-27-11, 08:07 PM
Always best to remove and replace the wire nuts. You could have a loose wire or corrosion inside the wire nuts. Also often the wire nuts that come with some fans are "fake". They are just a plastic insulator with out the wire spring normally found in true wire nuts.
#9
10-02-11, 08:59 PM
Connections look good.
I was going to take it down but this confused me. A bare, multi-strand silver-colored cable from the fan up into the cable box. Whatever it's connected to is in the attic; it comes straight from the fan and up through the hole in the box with the other wires. The fan does have a green ground wire as well.
I was going to take it down but this confused me. A bare, multi-strand silver-colored cable from the fan up into the cable box. Whatever it's connected to is in the attic; it comes straight from the fan and up through the hole in the box with the other wires. The fan does have a green ground wire as well.
#10
10-03-11, 03:25 AM
If it is gray or silver, it is most likely the antenna for the remote control. Will it pull down from the hole in the ceiling? Do you have the remote control?
#11
10-03-11, 03:38 AM
Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Michigan, USA
Posts: 63
Received 0 Votes
on
0 Posts
"A bare, multi-strand silver-colored cable from the fan up into the cable box."
More than likely is a safety cable, whether it's attached in the attic is a different question. Antenna wires typically are insulated.
More than likely is a safety cable, whether it's attached in the attic is a different question. Antenna wires typically are insulated.
#12
10-03-11, 10:52 AM
I was sort of thinking safety cable. I pulled it out of the attic a bit but once it started to get difficult to pull since I didn't know what it was attached to. I do NOT want to go into the attic on this house.
The fan has no remote that in aware of. It's controlled by a slider wall switch.
The fan has no remote that in aware of. It's controlled by a slider wall switch.
#13
10-03-11, 04:12 PM
Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Michigan, USA
Posts: 63
Received 0 Votes
on
0 Posts
I know what you mean. I didn't want to be in the attic I was in today, but that's a different story. Look the fan over. It must be attached somewhere. Maybe you can get to that attachment point so you can at least get it down.
#14
10-03-11, 04:32 PM
Do I really need it? I've never had one on any others that I've messed with.
The cable goes down the tube and into the fan somewhere. Not sure what I could take apart to find where it's attached but I'll look.
The cable goes down the tube and into the fan somewhere. Not sure what I could take apart to find where it's attached but I'll look.
#15
10-03-11, 04:51 PM
Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Michigan, USA
Posts: 63
Received 0 Votes
on
0 Posts
Many fans don’t have them, the heavier ones can have them. The fan end of the cable might be looped through or around a pin near the motor housing. Might be able to disassemble some parts to get to it.
If you’re going to replace the fan with a ‘standard’ size, you probably won’t need the cable with the new one, it which case you could just cut it and tuck it away, preferably into the attic and out of the box. It looks like in the photo that the fan box is rated for use with a fan. If the box is securely mounted, there’s a good chance you wouldn’t need the cable with a new fan. But it’s best not to hurt the cable if you don’t have too, until you’re sure the new fan doesn’t need it. Might save you a trip to that dreaded attic.
If you’re going to replace the fan with a ‘standard’ size, you probably won’t need the cable with the new one, it which case you could just cut it and tuck it away, preferably into the attic and out of the box. It looks like in the photo that the fan box is rated for use with a fan. If the box is securely mounted, there’s a good chance you wouldn’t need the cable with a new fan. But it’s best not to hurt the cable if you don’t have too, until you’re sure the new fan doesn’t need it. Might save you a trip to that dreaded attic.
#16
10-03-11, 07:15 PM
I'll see what I can do about disconnecting the cable from the fan.
She said she had the fan installed a couple years ago and there was nothing there before, so I assume they used the appropriate hardware.
She said she had the fan installed a couple years ago and there was nothing there before, so I assume they used the appropriate hardware.
Since the circular hole is 7", most of the undermount task lights have a smaller base and will not cover up that big a hole. I can mount a new ceiling box no problem but am not sure what to do with the big hole. If it's sheetrock I can just patch it, I am wondering if there exist any sort of a "base plate" for such purposes?
The other option is to stick with recessed lights but swap them out with the recessed light that can mount those adjustable lamps inside?