Another Ceiling Fan Question

[Old Moparz]

A few years ago I installed a ceiling fan, a Hunter, cast iron body model with a lifetime warranty. The fan itself is great, it's quiet & moves the air well, but the issue I am having is that the 3 speed switch has stopped working on the lowest setting. This is the second switch now, also a Hunter brand with a rotary knob.

When the first switch stopped working after just a few months, I simply bought another one thinking it may have been a bad switch. I didn't return it because it was purchased a few years ago & beyond the warranty. (Slowed project is the reason.) The second switch worked fine, but then after the warranty period, it also stopped working on the lowest setting.

My guess now, is that I have some kind of electrical problem & not 2 bad switches in a row. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I should look for when troubleshooting? Obviously I need to buy another switch, but I'd like to find out why they've stopped working on low. Medium & high settings still work & the fan does not have a light if that makes a difference.

Thanks.

 

[kbs2244]

I would not be surprised if you got two bad switches in a row.
Hunter buys them from the lowest bidder just like everyone else.
Do you ever change the speed?
If you keep it on low all the time, I would just hard wire it.

 

[Old Moparz]

I would not be surprised if you got two bad switches in a row.
Hunter buys them from the lowest bidder just like everyone else.
Do you ever change the speed?
If you keep it on low all the time, I would just hard wire it.

Thanks, & funny, I posted this question on a car forum & got a couple of responses telling me the same thing, 2 bad switches. I may try one of the remote style switches now. I do keep the fan on low in winter so I can blow the hot air back down, but use the other settings in summer.

 

[hewl35]

I have had this problem quite a few times irregardless who makes the switch. Anymore I install a 3 speed fan switch on the wall wired to the fan. Turn the fan on high and let the wall switch control it.

 

[5wndwcpe]

Thanks, & funny, I posted this question on a car forum & got a couple of responses telling me the same thing, 2 bad switches. I may try one of the remote style switches now. I do keep the fan on low in winter so I can blow the hot air back down, but use the other settings in summer.

I thought this looked familiar...

 

[Old Moparz]

I have had this problem quite a few times irregardless who makes the switch. Anymore I install a 3 speed fan switch on the wall wired to the fan. Turn the fan on high and let the wall switch control it.

Okay, you kind of lost me on that. The fan I have is already wired to a wall switch. The wall switch controls the power & the 3 speed settings.

I thought this looked familiar...

So you're on Moparts too?


Today I bought a 3rd switch, a different brand, & the low speed setting doesn't work at all. I have no clue what the issue is, & would think the fan is the problem except that the low setting did work for a while with the 1st two switches. I wish it were a rotted piece of wood I could cut out & replace, I hate working on electrical stuff, lol.

 

[Old Moparz]

Update.

I called Hunter Fans during my lunch break & got through to the tech dept. I gave them the model numbers on the fan & the switch, & they told me the switch I have is the wrong one for my fan. Turns out that the switch is rated at 1.5 amps & the fan I have requires a higher one. I wish the manual for the fan or even the switch, had made mention of it.

Time to stop at the electricl supplier on the way home & hopefully the right switch will solve the problem.