Ceiling fans hum

[overdriv]

I installed two ceiling fans that have cheap Chinese motors. I have them ganged together to run off one controller. Each fan draws .9Amps

The de-hummers that I have found on the internet all seem to be rated to handle 1.5 or 1.6Amps. Is there any thing I can get that will quiet them down when running slower than full speed?

 

[cowboyjosh]

Buy a better fan is my only suggestion.

 

[Frank The Plumber]

Might be the 2 on one controller thing, especially when running on low. Wifes in lighting she says it may be.

 

[TheShrine]

Put each one on an appropriate controller. Not all light controllers work well with fans.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Try running just one fan on the controller. I think most controllers are only designed for one fan.

Buy some Home Depot "industrial" 60" fans, they each come with a 4 speed controller.

Charles

 

[overdriv]

The controller I have is rated for up to 2.5A. The guy I got them from says it will run two fans easily. It does, but they hum.

I would have to rerun my wires to connect them separately. I really don't want to do that.

 

[-JP]

Sounds like you have two problems, cheap fan and a cheap controller.

I understand you don't want to change the fan or wiring so I would go with a quality controller...Lutron Maestro series if you want an electronic controller with infinite speed adjustment. It is rated for multiple (up to 4) fans and eliminates hum. See attached cut sheet...

If you don't need infinite control or you just don't want to spend the money for the high-end controller, you can use a preset speed controller which eliminates the electronics found in the infinite speed type. The cheap quality electronic controllers have no devices installed to help eliminate the hum.

JP

 

[Frank The Plumber]

You have to use a controller for each of the fans, the controller must be a controller with presets. You can not use a slide or dimmer type controller. Even a quality fan has these requirements, you will burn out your controller if you attempt to use a single. You could use remotely controlled fans, but you already have these.

 

[-JP]

You have to use a controller for each of the fans

Not true. Read post above and look at cut sheet.

...the controller must be a controller with presets.

Not true. Many electronic controllers are rated for fan control. The one shown above from Lutron is just one available from multiple manufacturers.

...you will burn out your controller if you attempt to use a single.

Not true. Again, read post and look at cut sheet above for listing from reputable manufacturer where up to 4 fans can be controlled from single controller.

Sorry to disagree with your post but I just wanted to make sure a guy struggling with an issue gets the right information to work with.

JP

 

[thammel]

Years ago I put a ceiling fan in our bedroom in a prior house. I bought a cheap one from HD or the equivalent then. It cost $30. It hummed like crazy. No way was I going to tolerate that trying to go to sleep. I took it back and bought a more expensive one for about $100. Put it up and it hummed less but still made noise. Took it down, took it back and said the heck with it and bought a good Casablanca fan. Put it up and it was dead quiet. Since then I've only bought casablancas and have loved every one of them.

You get what you pay for.
Tom

 

[scuba0459]

The fans in the ceiling of our Chalet style house are 20' up. When we moved in they were real noisy. I did not have a good way to take them down. While painting the house I noticed that one of the controllers had a swollen side from getting to hot. I replaced it with a new one and the fan became instantly quiet. I have since replaced the rest of the fan controllers in the house and all the fans went from a little noisy to absolutely quiet.

In my Garage I will have two ceiling fans and they will be controlled by Canarm controllers. I hope they are just as quiet.

 

[Frank The Plumber]

Not true. Read post above and look at cut sheet.

Not true. Many electronic controllers are rated for fan control. The one shown above from Lutron is just one available from multiple manufacturers.

Not true. Again, read post and look at cut sheet above for listing from reputable manufacturer where up to 4 fans can be controlled from single controller.

Sorry to disagree with your post but I just wanted to make sure a guy struggling with an issue gets the right information to work with.

JP

Well then he should call technical services at the fan manufacturer. The information I forwarded to him was from one of them. I tried to use the Lutron unit which was a 3 speed unit on some cheap fans in my shop, they hummed, I bought some better fans after they failed within a year, the better fans did not hum. I guess it depends just how cheap the fans are.

 

[overdriv]

Well then he should call technical services at the fan manufacturer. The information I forwarded to him was from one of them. I tried to use the Lutron unit which was a 3 speed unit on some cheap fans in my shop, they hummed, I bought some better fans after they failed within a year, the better fans did not hum. I guess it depends just how cheap the fans are.

Well the fans have chinese motors but they weren't cheap. $120 a piece I think. I have hunter fans in my house. They have three speed controllers built in. They don't hum. With 14' ceilings, I didn't want two strings hanging down to change the speed.

So OK, I bought cheap fans, can we get past that and find a way to run two fans on the same speed controller. It does not have to be an infinite speed controller, three, four, five speeds is fine.

Just point me to the control I need to adjust the fan speed, with no hum.

Thanks a lot for all the advice and help.

 

[Frank The Plumber]

The Hunters are what I replaced my $49 fans with. I think you should contact either Hunter or Lutron and ask the tech guys there. Their answer will be good.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Are these fans in your shop? are they gold plated? At $120 each they ought to be.

best shop fans for the money I've seen are the Home Depot "industrial" shop fans, 60 inch, four speed each comes with its own controller. They are about $75 each, sometimes on sale cheaper.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11627

Charles

 

[overdriv]

Are these fans in your shop? are they gold plated? At $120 each they ought to be.

best shop fans for the money I've seen are the Home Depot "industrial" shop fans, 60 inch, four speed each comes with its own controller. They are about $75 each, sometimes on sale cheaper.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11627

Charles

Actually they are three blade white, and yes they are in my shop.

Here is the link.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

48" Downflow, 21,500 CFM

I sometimes question specs. The Home Depot fans are 3 blade, 60", and according to the info on the box. slightly over 10,000 CFM. They have a fairly steep pitch blades.

Yours are a foot smaller in diameter and flow twice the CFM's, yet draw only .61 amps. I think my HD fans draw about .9 amps each. Amps easily converts to wattage and thus to horsepower, and I don't think you can get free air movement, you gotta pay for it in the form of horsepower.

Charles

 

[attitude32]

I bought 'cheap' fans also ..no hum..ran separate circuit for my fans..3 on one curcuit..all controlled by 1 light switch...they have ran all the time ..i don't think i've turned them off in 5 yrs..but no hum

 

[overdriv]

48" Downflow, 21,500 CFM

I sometimes question specs. The Home Depot fans are 3 blade, 60", and according to the info on the box. slightly over 10,000 CFM. They have a fairly steep pitch blades.

Yours are a foot smaller in diameter and flow twice the CFM's, yet draw only .61 amps. I think my HD fans draw about .9 amps each. Amps easily converts to wattage and thus to horsepower, and I don't think you can get free air movement, you gotta pay for it in the form of horsepower.

Charles

I'm sure the home depot fans are much better. I never paid much attention to the CFM as I just want to run them fast enough to move a little air in hot weather. On high they move lots of air, to much for most anything I can think of.

I'd just like to slow them down without the hum.

 

[Frank The Plumber]

I have a Casablanca stealth. I don't want to tell you what that fans value is, My wife received it as a gift from them. If you did not use a preset controller, which they supply with this fan, it would hum also. It's the controller not the fan causing the hum, in this case. I still recommend calling Lutron as this technology is constantly evolving.

 

[overdriv]

I was talking to a retired electrician friend today about my problem. He suggested calling a local electrical supply house and talk to them.

They suggested Pass & Seymour DDH16PW
link

So I ordered one and we will see if it works.

 

[ToddyB]

Are the speed controls regular dimmer switches? If so change them with switches rated for fans. There used to be some fan switches you could set the lower limit on to stop humming. Make sure the fans have their switches in high also. Most fans will hum at any rpm slower than their low speed setting on the pull chain.

 

[overdriv]

Are the speed controls regular dimmer switches? If so change them with switches rated for fans. There used to be some fan switches you could set the lower limit on to stop humming. Make sure the fans have their switches in high also. Most fans will hum at any rpm slower than their low speed setting on the pull chain.

The control I'm currently using is a fan control that has a low speed adjustment. It hums at any speed but high.

 

[ToddyB]

If the Fan hums in low on a regular switch I would would think the fan is bad. If it hums with the fan in high and your fan control switch set at any level above the fans low setting I would agree its the switch.

 

[overdriv]

If the Fan hums in low on a regular switch I would would think the fan is bad. If it hums with the fan in high and your fan control switch set at any level above the fans low setting I would agree its the switch.

The fans are a one speed fan, hi. They make no noise in hi. But as soon as you turn the knob to slow it down, the humming starts. Not real loud, but annoying.

 

[overdriv]

I installed the Pass & Seymour DDH16PW fan controller. Three position speed control. On anything but high speed the second fan on the curcuit will eventually stop, which is not good on the fan motor. There is no hum now though.

So I guess I'll have to put the fans on separate curcuits and run two controllers.

Thanks to all who offered help and advice.