Ceiling fan wiring for knuckleheads
davidmeiland
| Posted in Energy, Heating & Insulation on
Two years ago I was wiring part of our place and my wife walked and said “It’s be nice to have a ceiling fan in here”. I said “Yeah” and ran a switch leg up to a fan box. Now, shopping for fans, I see they have lights and multiple speeds and even stereo sound if you want it. All I have is a single, switched 12/2 running to my fan location. The fan we want has no lights but has multiple speeds. There’s a control available but it’s ugly and comes with a single cover plate, and it needs to go in a two-gang box next to another switch. What am I looking at here?
Replies
I am assuming that this is a nominal size residential unit and not a 5 hp, 10 ft blades for shop use.
For fan only, and if you get one with a remote, it is simple. Leave the fan on high.
And there are any number of 3 speed, plus off, controls that fit in single gang box and use standard decora or toggle coverplates.
Here is a sample of what is available.
http://www.lutron.com/products/dimmers/fanspeed.asp?s=17000&t=17200
I have used the Ariadni and with it you set the speed on the little lever and then just on/off on the main handle.
I thing that the Skylark is the same.
I think that the other all require you to step through all of the steps to get off from high.
However, Diva and/or Maestro might remember the last speed and then you have to hold the up or down to get it to step through the speeds if you want to change them.
The Ariadni runs about $20 and HD has them.
William the Geezer, the sequel to Billy the Kid - Shoe
If the ceiling is accessible, replace that 12/2 with a 12/3 and you're good for fan & light on separate controls, hard wired. The controls adjust the brightness & speed.
That said, more & more fans are coming wired with electronic controls that will work on 2-wire installs. Basically, either remote controlled or the "remote" is permanently in the switch box. They work fine, but IME, they are sensitive and easily damaged by static discharge -- I've blown out 2 or 3 just by touching them after walking over the carpet in the winter.
Mike Hennessy
Pittsburgh, PA
Everything fits, until you put glue on it.
I've done several fans (including seven in my own house), and don't bother with a switch leg. I hardwire to the fan box, and install a remote for the fan. The fan speed switch is left on (or set to) HIGH, and the remote can be left in a convenient place or attached to the wall in a holder.
My fans run almost year round and blow down during the summer and up during the winter. Each spring and fall, they're turned off, cleaned, and reversed.
I put a ceiling fan in a rental property of ours and used a wireless remote from Home Depot. It has three speeds for the fan and adjustable brightness for the light. It takes a 9V battery in the wall controller. It's been three years and no problems. I think it was $29.95. I haven't even changed the battery yet.
That is the only way to control the fan/light. In other words, there is no separate wall switch. As it turned out I think that, in my case, it was a better way to go because between a wall switch and the remote switch for fan/light, and the pull chain switches on the fan/light, renters would never have figured out why the fan/light wouldn't operate.
Ordered a fan this morning... no light, just a fan. Sounds like I can control it with the switches Bill mentions.
They will, other styles also available - I have one which is a little less pretty but provides 4 speeds out of a "3 speed" fan. Notched, slider type switch, fits in a single gang box, also has a on-off switch which allows you to hold the speed setting, decora switch plate. Made by Hunter I think. HD supplied.
JimNever underestimate the value of a sharp pencil or good light.
You could use a simple remote control and have it switched from multiple locations. This allows you to control the fan from both entryways to a room, or have a control by the door and another next to the bed. They will all have a single push button for lights, but you could put a piece of black tape over it if it really bugged you :)
Tu stultus es
Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CA
Also a CRX fanatic!
Look, just send me to my drawer. This whole talking-to-you thing is like double punishment.