Ceiling fan turns slow

[skcj213]

I have a question for the electrical geniuses in the group. I have a ceiling fan that turns slow and hums. When I say it turns slow I mean when on high it turns about what I would expect out of the medium setting. It is wired through a speed control on the wall. I suspected the speed control may be the problem, it was many years old, so I replaced it with no change. I have confirmed the fan is getting 120v. It has done this since it was purchased new. Does this sound like a bad capacitor?

 

[American Locomotive]

Could be a bad capacitor, or a bad motor, or bad motor bearings.

 

[skcj213]

I don' think it is bad bearings. It spins easy with the fan off.

 

[Mongo68]

Turn it on and spin it by hand. IF it stays going after the cap is bad...

 

[James-W]

If it has done this since it was new, how do you know it is turning slow? Maybe that is the speed it was designed to turn at.

 

[skcj213]

My neighbor has the same fan in his garage and it spins much faster with no hum.

 

[yeldogt]

What kind of fan and type of control ... the old hunter originals can't use a solid state control. Also -- make sure the fan is property set up for remote control. Most times this requires the onboard speed control to be bypassed .. through wiring or having it on high.

 

[kbuhagiar]

Also -- make sure the fan is property set up for remote control. Most times this requires the onboard speed control to be bypassed .. through wiring or having it on high.

This.

 

[skcj213]

I am not using a remote control, just a wall switch to control the speed. I think the switch was made by Lurton. The fan is set on high but turns at the same speed as it does on medium. I was going to change out the cap, they are cheap, to see if that was the problem. The cap in it has a rating of 5/6/6. I can’t find a 5/6/6. I found a 4.8/6/6. Will that work?

 

[nadogail]

I have been known to go into a shop that sells and services fans to “pick the thier
brains” and buy the right parts.

 

[skcj213]

The new capacitor fixed it. 15 minutes and $5.50 well spent.

 

[ddurrett896]

The new capacitor fixed it. 15 minutes and $5.50 well spent.

I've got a Minka Aire fan that came with a "remote" that is hardwired in place of the wall switch.

When I hit the "remote" wall switch, it doesn't matter if I hit 1 (low), 2 (medium) or 3 (high) - it only spins on low. Fan worked perfect for 5 years and recently had this happen.

Manufacture said I need a Capacitor ($7) and a receiver ($30). Do you think I just need the capacitor? Thanks!

 

[Corndoggeh]

Spray WD40 into the bearings on the motor, sometimes dust over the years gets in and gums it up enough to slow it down. I have to do it to mine every year because theyre only shielded bearings.

 

[skcj213]

Replacing the capacitor worked for me. They are cheap so I would give that a try first. there are many different capacitors with different ratings. Get the rating off your and find one that matches. I got mine from Amazon for about $5.50. Mine also hummed rather loudly, which it doesn't now. Does you fan make any noise?