question about ceiling fans

18 years ago

I recently changed the 3 fans in my outdoor pavilion from the original string pull 3 speeds to the Home Depot brand commercial grade ceiling fans because they'll move almost twice the air that the old ones would (9500cfm vs 5000 per fan). These have no strings and utilize a 4 speed switch.

The power used to flow through a switch on its way to the fans and I changed speeds by pulling the strings.

I added their 5 position switch (off and 4 speeds. It's rectangular like a GFI plug and the clicker goes up and down like a sliding dimmer) after my switch by placing a 2x4 junction box over the existing box.

My problem is that I have a really great high speed (twice the air as the old fans) and next to nothing on the 3 lower speeds. My guess is that on high all the voltage goes through the switch and I'm betting that the remaining speeds are based on one fan per 4 speed switch. Since I have 3 it's probably dividing the ideal voltage for one and making the fans run with a third of the power of what each fan needs to achieve proper speed RPM.

I can't make new runs to each of the other fans without doing a lot of carpentry work .

Do you guys think I could replace their 4 speed switch with a sliding dimmer and use the slider to regulate my speeds. I guess that they would then be variable speed depending on slider position.

I can post pic's if it'll help.

Any input from you guys would be deeply appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

See ya,

Kelly

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Comments (4)

lonesparky95
18 years ago
No, Kelly, don't do that.

We are electricians. We are bound by Code and the manufacturer's instructions. When it's called for, we can be creative at times. Hell, I can recite Edgar Allen Poe if ye' like, but in cases like this, we ain't creative, we are conservative. We do not wish to be the subject of disciplinary action.

Now then, any further info on this ceiling fan? What brand might it be?
joed
18 years ago
You need to check the amp rating on the fan control and the amp rating of your fans. Add up the fans and it should not exceed the rating of the fan control.
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huskyridor
Original Author
18 years ago
I checked the amp rating on the 4 speed switch and I'm certain that the sum of the load from 3 fans is more than it's rated for so I had to turn off it's breaker. I'm going to Home Depot to see if the amp draw is written on the box since I already burned mine.
I'd be willing to bet that Graybar or CED should have a high wattage dimmer. I'd bet a 500 watt would do it but I'm going to see if they have a 1000.
I remember one on a pool with 3 lights that was so big it wouldn't fit in a normal 2x4 box and my electrician had to put in a 4x4 box. If he wasn't in Colorado enjoying a 5 day weekend skiing I'd already have an answer.
How come I have to take my cell phone on vacations but my sub's don't???
My problem is that I'm as dangerous as an unloaded pistol because I have just enough knowledge to be dangerous but not enough to know anything, LOL!!!
Thank you guys for your insight, I never even looked at the rating on the 4 speed switches provided with the fans. All I did was snatch the old fans down, add a box, and wire in the new switch.
It could have been ugly if I turned on the fans and left them running for hours unattended.

See ya,
Kelly
normel
18 years ago
DO NOT use a dimmer made for lighting to control your fans. Hunter makes a multifan controller (AllFan) that will work with up to 12 ceiling fans. That is what you want to use.