Ceiling Fan Controls

[71blackcheyenne]

I might have messed up when i wired for my 2 ceiling fans, was gonna run them both on one circuit/one controller, but now my buddys tellin me that i can only run one fan per control? Can anyone shed any light on this or know of a control capable of running 2 60" fans, nothin fancy, jst the reg old white 60" industrial fan, not sure on amp draw since i havent purchased them yet.

 

[Jose G]

read on your control manual, some are only 1A rated (one fan), some other are 5A (multiple fans).

i use "Canarm" control and it is 5A rated, its a reversing control in my case, you have to wire more wires to make the reverse working. i just put 2x 14-2 and tape the ends of it Blue and Yellow if i recall. (im using 2x 56" ceiling fan)

there's probably other model with only one way of turning

hope that help!

 

[Sureshot]

I have two fans on one controller. Doesn't reverse. Not sure on the rating. Was just the controller they had in the hardware store from what I remember.

 

[ptgb]

Just ran into this last week with my two fans; learned a few things while researching it.

I put in two Westinghouse Industrial 56" fans, no lights, no reverse. They each come with a five-speed controller, but these controllers were cheaply made, surface mount junk. I wanted to control them from 1 controller. I talked directly to Westinghouse and my electrical supplier. Here's what I found out:

- was told not to use a variable speed controller on the fans, as trying to run a fan with set speeds on a variable speed controller will either burn up the controller or the fan motor. Make sure your fan does variable speed if that is the controller you want to use.

- mostly all of the 5A speed controllers I found to run multiple fans are variable speed, thus I couldn't use them.

- Westinghouse told me any controller that does individual speeds (3 or 4 or 5 speeds) can be used with their fans. I couldn't find any 5 speed controllers.

- The amp draw on these Westinghouse fan was .5 amp, but my electrical supplier told me when you first turn them on they may hit 1.5 amps to start the motor. Because of this, I decided not to try to control them from one controller.

- I bought two Leviton, 4 speed, 1.5 amp controllers from Amazon :http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002YQ8FA/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00

- Just mounted a 2 gang box and each fan has their own 4 speed controller. No big deal to turn each one on individually, and I figured, better be safe than sorry.

Hope this helps, YMMV

 

[hillbill9889]

My experience is you cannot daisy chain fans and expect to be able to control them from a single controller using anything but full speed. In my case at least, the controller would on low setting only provide a low amount of power to make the fan spin on slow and then would not be enough power to drive the second fan.

I had to rewire to have each fan on a different run from a separate controller to allow for full speed control of both fans. If you only intend to run them on full speed, go ahead, but might as well get a on/off switch for them.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

I recall this was thrashed about early in the year or further back than that. More than one person had problems with running a couple of fans on one controller. Someone did get a HD controller and made it work.

My Fans came with a four speed controller and that is what I used. I installed a pilot light type snap switch to control the current to all three controllers, and leave the controllers set to the desired speed. I just walk in and flip the switch and they are on. If I am working under one, and need to slow it down, I can, but usually don't mess with the controllers but a couple of times a year.

I ran one neutral to all three fans and three hot wires, one from each controller, dropping the hot off at its appropriate fan and the other(s) continuing on in the conduit. Again, all controlled by one breaker and one snap switch.

I just made a new faceplate for the gangbox to include a master switch for the heater also........ You probably can get the plates special punched or find someone to CNC mill it, but I spend a couple of evenings with a hacksaw and files adding three decora cutouts in place of the three middle switch punchouts in a 5 gang faceplate. Thumbnail is new faceplate. Here is what the old one looked like. I made it from a blank and spaced out the controllers, as they do generate a little warmpth and I didn't forsee the need for any thing else in the box. (sorry it isn't sized right, but I won't be using it again anyhow, just pulled it out of my GJ control panel of pics archive.)

Charles

 

[Charles (in GA)]

HERE is a link to a Dec 2011 thread on fan speed controls

HERE is another thread from Dec 2006 on fan controllers and problems and cures.

Charles

 

[Jose G]

as i said, i got 2x 56" fan on ONE controller. they work non-stop on low setting (low can be ajusted with a screw) and they work good on any level inputed from the controller.
fans and controller are Canarm brand. but im sure any brand work.

working for months...

stop buying low amperage controller please...

 

[Spudland_Dave]

Wow...who knew ceiling fans would be such an issue...glad I put in a 3/4" ENT conduit to my fan box now....SO wall/control box...to control a single fan (maybe 2) what kind of box should I be planning on mounting in the wall?

 

[Tim The Tool Man]

I installed one of those beasty double fans (pic below) in my in-laws house. They are basically two fan motors on one switch. When I put 2 fans in my shop (Home Depot El-Cheapos) I wired them both to the same type single 5 amp (IIRC) multi-speed switch that I ordered from emerson. I really wanted a 3-way switch but nobody made one at the time that I could find.

 

[mrpowderkeg]

Just get a few of these and run them off of one motor?

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Wow...who knew ceiling fans would be such an issue...glad I put in a 3/4" ENT conduit to my fan box now....SO wall/control box...to control a single fan (maybe 2) what kind of box should I be planning on mounting in the wall?

If you are finishing the walls, get a switch box, it has ears for attaching each device, then you use a regular cover plate. If you are not finishing the walls, it depends on what you want it to look like. You could use a regular gang box with a flat face plate, where everything attaches to the faceplate, or a gangbox and mud ring to attach the devices then a face plate. In any case allow yourself more room in the box than you think you need. Better to have a blanked off space than wishing you had more spaces.

3 position switch box with holes for mounting switches and other devices.

Variation of above

Cover for gang box with no lugs for devices. This is a raised mud ring and you still need a cover plate.

Flat cover plate that switches mount to, no other cover needed.

This is the gang box the two covers above attach to.

There are similar boxes in plastic.

Be sure and add appropriate 2x4 or whatever to brace and mount boxes. Some gang boxes have braces with them that span the distance between studs. Lots of plastic boxes have the braces.

Take your time, shop, know what you need, don't settle for less that exactly what you want and need.

Charles

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Just get a few of these and run them off of one motor?

Neat! I like this old fan. I can just see a motor on the wall with belts running to several fans down the length of an old pool hall or the like.

Charles