3 Garage fan + 1 Switch

[Jakethegriff]

Guys I'm looking for a little bit of help here… I have a project I'm working on where I am adding three ceiling fans on a 20 amp circuit in my garage. They are three speed fans with no light. I purchased a Lutron three-way 1.5 amp switch, with three speed control - looking at the specs on my fans they show the following amperage

Low - 0.19
Medium - 0.31
high - 0.43

Can a single switch handle all three fans ? 1.3a roughly when on high, and the switch is rated for 1.5a... also here is a link to the switch ;

Swithch;
https://www.menards.com/main/p-1444438522801.htm

fans (spec on page 10);
http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/pdfImages/87/872a2ef2-de24-442b-b5d2-d9f53fe38bc7.pdf

Any help is appreciated.

 

[Jakethegriff]

Any idea?

 

[Kaizen]

no idea but from my experience using limiter switches like that causes an annoying hum on the fans. I always go straight switch and use a pvc pole with a cut out to reach really high pull chains if I have to change speeds. I like quiet

 

[Jakethegriff]

I'm really not worried about humming, or noise... I just don't want to short something, or burn up any switches etc...

Figured i would hook the three up, in Parallel, then set fans to highest setting, and control them with the single switch..

Wishful thinking? I just don't want to run 3 switches, if I don't have to.

 

[pattenp]

Amp wise the switch will handle the running load based on your numbers. Not too sure about the startup load of the three fans at once. Worse case is the switch contacts will burn out sooner than later. I'd just do it and see how long the switch last.

 

[Jakethegriff]

Would wiring in series then reduce the load on startup? Forgive the novice questions here, I'm just trying to make sure it's done correctly, and not creating a dangerous situation.

 

[amkluttz]

We have four ceiling fans run off of two switches at our church. One fan is run by one switch and the other three fans are all run by the other switch. The switch is designed specifically for fans and I believe it is a Hunter branded switch with a slide for off and then speeds in steps. It has never functioned correctly and all three fans on that switch run at different speeds. The single switch/fan combo works as it is supposed to. Just something to be aware of. I'm almost certain they weren't wired correctly.

 

[pattenp]

Would wiring in series then reduce the load on startup? Forgive the novice questions here, I'm just trying to make sure it's done correctly, and not creating a dangerous situation.

You can't run them in series. They need to be run in parallel.

 

[Jakethegriff]

thanks, this is my first real electrical job, and I'm teaching myself as I go - but trying to take my time, as to not overlook anything. I will wire it up as planned, and see what happens.

 

[CJ7VFR]

I have a question. Is the start up amperage required to get the fans moving more if the fan starts up from a higher speed setting then if they were to start up from the lowest speed setting?

Example: If your fan speed is set to high, and you turn it on, does it require more start up amperage than if the fan speed was set to low and it started up?

Because you have to set all the fans to high speed in order for the switch to be able to adjust the speed, you might be pushing it if all three of the fans start up at their highest setting and that highest setting requires more start up amperage than if you started all three fans at their lowest fan speed setting.

Jim

 

[Jakethegriff]

I believe you are correct. In talking and discussing with some friends today, I think I'm going to just use a 20a switch (fans are on a 20a circuit), wire them in parallel, and adjust the fan speeds as needed.

Thanks for the replies gents.

J

 

[CJ7VFR]

I believe you are correct. In talking and discussing with some friends today, I think I'm going to just use a 20a switch (fans are on a 20a circuit), wire them in parallel, and adjust the fan speeds as needed.

Thanks for the replies gents.

J

I saw that Home Depot sells a 5 amp rotary fan switch for about $14.00. That might work for you and you would be able to have variable speed on the fans instead of just High/Medium/Low.

Jim

 

[nsula_country]

Guys I'm looking for a little bit of help here… I have a project I'm working on where I am adding three ceiling fans on a 20 amp circuit in my garage. They are three speed fans with no light. I purchased a Lutron three-way 1.5 amp switch, with three speed control - looking at the specs on my fans they show the following amperage

Low - 0.19
Medium - 0.31
high - 0.43

Can a single switch handle all three fans ? 1.3a roughly when on high, and the switch is rated for 1.5a... also here is a link to the switch ;

Swithch;
https://www.menards.com/main/p-1444438522801.htm

fans (spec on page 10);
http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/pdfImages/87/872a2ef2-de24-442b-b5d2-d9f53fe38bc7.pdf

Any help is appreciated.

These switches have resistive taps for speed control. Just went through this with a friend. 3 of us did a group buy on some Emerson HF1160BQ fans (very powerful, +10,000 cfm). These fans have no speed control on the motor, nor are they reversible, single speed and require a controller.

I installed 4, each with a Lutron Toggler fan control. Low is Low and High is High, like they are designed.

Friends electrician wired 2 fans to one controller (included with each fan). Low is SLOW and High is about like my MED. I suggested that he invite his electrician back to put each fan on its own speed controller, he doesn't seem concerned until the controller burns up...

The other friend used a Leviton 5 amp controller running 2 fans. This controller may be electronic, not resistive. They operate correctly.

CT