Ceiling Fan Control

[Dolby]

I’ve never wired or even owned a ceiling fan - but moving into a home with 5 x old units (all different makes, models, colours and sizes )

All seem to have pull chains and most are in rooms with only a single switch (I assume switch ‘on’ turns only the light on & the fan is via the chain). In these rooms, there are no other lights and the room relies on the fan light.

One is in a room where there are two switches (and this room has its own lights). Again I’m assuming, but one switch may be for the room lights & the other is the fan light (with chain for the fan).

I’m looking at changing all 5 of the same.

What I’m curious on is how do most people control these? The way they see? I see many with remotes - do these still have a wall switch continually ‘on’? With the old pull chain types like what I have - does the chain control the speed? Guessing all the old fans were AC?

 

[koffiejunkie]

The ones you describe usually have two chains. The wall switch gives power to the unit, and the two chains allow you to operate the light and fan independently. These, I think, are usually used where the ceiling fan was fitted at a later date, and they didn't want to run the cable for controls to the wall switch.

The last place I lived had ceiling a wall switch that integrated the ceiling fan controls, i.e. you can turn the light on/off with the usual switch, and a dial for the fan (off, low, medium, high or whatever). This requires more cabling between the fan and the switch, but worth it IMHO. The fan still has the switch to reverse direction.

 

[Dolby]

The ones you describe usually have two chains. The wall switch gives power to the unit, and the two chains allow you to operate the light and fan independently. These, I think, are usually used where the ceiling fan was fitted at a later date, and they didn't want to run the cable for controls to the wall switch.

The last place I lived had ceiling a wall switch that integrated the ceiling fan controls, i.e. you can turn the light on/off with the usual switch, and a dial for the fan (off, low, medium, high or whatever). This requires more cabling between the fan and the switch, but worth it IMHO. The fan still has the switch to reverse direction.

Thanks!

Sounds like sorting out the new place to my spec Will be expensive then

 

[NR7]

What I’m curious on is how do most people control these? The way they see? I see many with remotes - do these still have a wall switch continually ‘on’?

I hate those old fashioned chain ones, the chain always ends up breaking at some point.

Got a ceiling fan with a remote.

Basically
- Light switch off, all off.
- Light switch on, light comes on automatically. Remote for finer control - fanspeed, timer to switch fan off after 2/4/8hr and light on/off so you can so you can run the fan with the light off and stuff like that.

I like it.

 

[Dolby]

I hate those old fashioned chain ones, the chain always ends up breaking at some point.

Got a ceiling fan with a remote.

Basically
- Light switch off, all off.
- Light switch on, light comes on automatically. Remote for finer control - fanspeed, timer to switch fan off after 2/4/8hr and light on/off so you can so you can run the fan with the light off and stuff like that.

I like it.

And default power? Off?

Ie the fan is on and you switch the wall switch off - is the fan off next time?

 

[NR7]

And default power? Off?

Ie the fan is on and you switch the wall switch off - is the fan off next time?

Yes. Fan loses it's "memory" every time you switch the light switch off and defaults to off.

 

[Dolby]

Heres another one - how bright are the fan LEDs really?

In the bedrooms, they seem to have replaced the single light with a fan/LED ... and I've always thought those weren't great.

 

[JerryMungo]

I see many with remotes - do these still have a wall switch continually ‘on’?

Yes, and if you have a power failure, the light usually defaults to on while fan off after power is restored - this is to allow you to turn the light on and off at the wall without the remote.

With the old pull chain types like what I have - does the chain control the speed? Guessing all the old fans were AC?

The chains usually control on and off for the light and speed for the fan (two separate chains). They should all be AC. You can get a fan speed control independent of the switch if you want to control it at the wall, you'd just have to wire it accordingly.

 

[JerryMungo]

Heres another one - how bright are the fan LEDs really?

In the bedrooms, they seem to have replaced the single light with a fan/LED ... and I've always thought those weren't great.

Depends on the "globe". You get different wattages. What type is it?

 

[Dolby]

Depends on the "globe". You get different wattages. What type is it?

Well, I'll be changing all of them as some look like 20 or more years old.

'm still looking - but maybe something like this. It seems to have an 18w light.

But I changed one of my curret rooms to downlights and it's amazing with multiple sources of light. I'm wondering how bright this is going to be with 18w single source.

 

[JerryMungo]

Well, I'll be changing all of them as some look like 20 or more years old.

'm still looking - but maybe something like this. It seems to have an 18w light.

But I changed one of my curret rooms to downlights and it's amazing with multiple sources of light. I'm wondering how bright this is going to be with 18w single source.


View attachment 1912293

18W LED would be bright. Just take a look at the individual one you buy - we noticed two of the same brand and models came with different globes, fortunately the globes are common and we could match the warm white we wanted. One actually came with a halogen globe - nice light but chews lekky.