Help from electrician? Ceiling fan fell

[Formerjeeper]

Not technically in the garage but hoping I can get some help from an electrician on here. This ceiling fan fell in the middle of the night, do I just push the wires back up into it and reattach the threaded connector, or would the fall have created some damage that would mean I need to replace wiring or the fan? Thanks in advance!

 

[jmiller_2308]

How did it fall? Did the mount fail? Did it just come apart?

If the fan was mounted to normal ceiling box and not a box with fan supports than it was installed and should be taken down.

If the fan came apart why? There are typically pins and other locking devices to prevent that. Was the fan not installed correctly?

Before you even think about putting it back up make sure you know why it fell and correct those issues. If you fail to do that it will likely just fall again and possibly hurt someone.

 

[Higgins]

looks like the fan detached from the rod! Pin vibrated out ???

 

[Innovate1]

I agree. Looks like the pin came out or something similar. There are parts to keep the pin in place that were either not installed right (most likely) or broke. I would figure out why it fell, fix that, and inspect the wires at both ends. Quite a bit of strain on the wires when stopping the fan from falling. Might have cut the insulation where it exits the down rod tube.

 

[yatg]

That's a lot of extra wire for a short downrod. Take it all down, including the canopy and bracket. Check the wiring and fix if needed. Put it back up. Make sure the setscrew is tight this time.

https://www.manualslib.com/manual/719831/Hunter-Ceiling-Fans.html?page=8#manual

 

[Formerjeeper]

Much thanks. Looks like set screw vibrates loose and then threaded collar vibrated loose. Fan is in fan box and was installed about 10 years ago by a contractor.

 

[m32825]

Wow, good wire nuts! Was it still running in the down position?

-- Carl

 

[Formerjeeper]

Ha ha yes, the multiple times this morning that my daughters have forgotten and turned it on, it still runs.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Yeah set screw may have not been tightened down

 

[Mike Folks]

Some BLUE Loctite(a drop) not RED, as it's kinda permanent after evaluations as to why it failed,on vibration affecting parts,if possible. No Loctite on plastics, as it will crack and craze them.

 

[Zeke]

Glad you have the proper fan rated box or it might have done more damage. But I have to agree that a full inspection is in order all the way to where the house wire enters the box.

That's a lot of strain to fall like a horse thief being hung.

 

[Formerjeeper]

The outcome is I'm impressed with the wire nuts. Took it all apart and reinstalled. Looks like the set screw worked loose (or was never tightened, who knows) and the downrod gradually vibrated itself loose. I disconnected and reconnected all the wire nuts and only one really looked worrisome. Pretty lucky not more damage. The set screw is now good and tight and I was out of loctite but it'll get some next time I go to the store. Thanks to all for your thoughts.

 

[nadogail]

For years Nail Polish has been used to "lock" adjusting screws.

 

[tfi racing]

I'm surprised more fans don't fall from the ceiling, they all come from you know where, and no matter what you pay for them they all have the same no name threaded garbage hardware. All you can do is attach the safety wire to the structure, tighten everything up and hope for the best.

 

[p_mori7]

Normally, there should be a safety wire properly secured into structure above the fan or thru the box into structure by a lag screw.

 

[tonyciambrone]

Ha ha yes, the multiple times this morning that my daughters have forgotten and turned it on, it still runs.

turn the breaker off...

 

[Innovate1]

Normally, there should be a safety wire properly secured into structure above the fan or thru the box into structure by a lag screw.

Sounds like maybe a Canadian thing. Never seen a mechanical safety wire on fans here.

 

[slow]

Sounds like maybe a Canadian thing. Never seen a mechanical safety wire on fans here.

I have only seen external safety wire at some of the theme parks, I am sure it is due to liability. It's a good idea but have never seen it in residential here either.

 

[sparky 1971]

Sounds like maybe a Canadian thing. Never seen a mechanical safety wire on fans here.

I put up four Kichler fans last week and they all had a safety wire. I cut them off.

 

[Jim greengo]

How did it fall? Did the mount fail? Did it just come apart?

If the fan was mounted to normal ceiling box and not a box with fan supports than it was installed and should be taken down.

If the fan came apart why? There are typically pins and other locking devices to prevent that. Was the fan not installed correctly?

Before you even think about putting it back up make sure you know why it fell and correct those issues. If you fail to do that it will likely just fall again and possibly hurt someone.

What he said

 

[ddawg16]

If I remember correctly, there is a pin at the fan end. I don't think I've ever screwed the rod into the fan end....if I did, you took out the pin....screwed in the rod until the holes matched up and then put the ping back in. The screw was just to tighten the connection to help prevent wobble.

From what I can see, there is a pin. It looks like maybe they screwed the rod in until it hit the pin.

But I could be wrong.

 

[sparky 1971]

If I remember correctly, there is a pin at the fan end. I don't think I've ever screwed the rod into the fan end....if I did, you took out the pin....screwed in the rod until the holes matched up and then put the ping back in. The screw was just to tighten the connection to help prevent wobble.

From what I can see, there is a pin. It looks like maybe they screwed the rod in until it hit the pin.

But I could be wrong.

I have seen two kinds of rod hung fans. One, the rod slides in and has a pin go through with a hitch clip. Those are the cheap store brand pieces of ****. The other type, the rod screws in and has a set screw to keep it from backing out.

 

[ddawg16]

I have seen two kinds of rod hung fans. One, the rod slides in and has a pin go through with a hitch clip. Those are the cheap store brand pieces of ****. The other type, the rod screws in and has a set screw to keep it from backing out.

I guess I'm a cheap *******.............

 

[Innovate1]

Emerson fans aren't cheap and have pins and as I recall there is a piece that goes over the pin at the top so the pin can't get out. There is a screw to hold the additional piece but gravity won't let it come loose - it's also the ball of the upper socket so is only going to make noise if it comes loose, not fall. The bottom end has a pin and clip. Seems far superior to a threaded rod that could back out. Don't think I have ever seen where the rods screwed in on a fan either - just seems like a poor idea.

 

[sparky 1971]

Emerson fans aren't cheap and have pins and as I recall there is a piece that goes over the pin at the top so the pin can't get out. There is a screw to hold the additional piece but gravity won't let it come loose - it's also the ball of the upper socket so is only going to make noise if it comes loose, not fall. The bottom end has a pin and clip. Seems far superior to a threaded rod that could back out. Don't think I have ever seen where the rods screwed in on a fan either - just seems like a poor idea.

Hunter fans have threaded rods that screw into the top of the fan. It will come unscrewed if the set screw isn't tightened. The set screw has some kind of thread lock compound already installed to keep it from backing out. The fan in the original post to this thread has a threaded rod with a set screw. I would bet dollars to doughnuts that the set screw didn't get tightened in the first place.

I have to take back what I said about all fans with the pins being cheap ****. I had forgotten all about Emerson, and Kichler fans also use the pin. I don't see very many of those. I have put up my share of Hampton Bay and whatever the Lowes house brand is and they use the pins.

 

[like2wheel]

Hunter fans have threaded rods that screw into the top of the fan. It will come unscrewed if the set screw isn't tightened. The set screw has some kind of thread lock compound already installed to keep it from backing out. The fan in the original post to this thread has a threaded rod with a set screw. I would bet dollars to doughnuts that the set screw didn't get tightened in the first place.

I have to take back what I said about all fans with the pins being cheap ****. I had forgotten all about Emerson, and Kichler fans also use the pin. I don't see very many of those. I have put up my share of Hampton Bay and whatever the Lowes house brand is and they use the pins.

I put up a seemingly expensive Hunter 25 years ago, it used a pin to mount. I remember because I needed a long downrod & made my own.

 

[Chance9]

Not technically in the garage but hoping I can get some help from an electrician on here. This ceiling fan fell in the middle of the night, do I just push the wires back up into it and reattach the threaded connector, or would the fall have created some damage that would mean I need to replace wiring or the fan? Thanks in advance!

I am trying to solve this mystery before I go to y grave. I had an older model Monte Cristo (20 year old; about 30 lbs) at 10 ft from ground height, pop out of the ball cradle and fall to the ground about 3 feet from where I was quietly reading. 25 lbs from 10 ft accelerating at 32 ft/s - you do the math/damage to someone's skull (praise Jesus!) The Ball was still solidly attached to the downrod, and the cradle for the ball remained intact on the ceiling box. I had a custom made light kit attached - which added another 5 pounds. It worked for 7 years with no issues, except for a very slight back and forth rock in one drection of about 2 inches in travel in the light kit at low speed. Medium and Hi worked without any swinging. The fan was used daily thoughout summer months (which is 9 months in FL). The fan itself had no perceptible wobble, so I did not attempt to balance anything. The custom light kit had a single horizontal bar that supported globes, so I figured the wobble was caused by the unbalanced weight in two directions (like drawing a diameter in a circle), yet life was good for 7 years (to the month!). I initially thought the bracket had a bad case of metal fatigue, and broke - but no. Close inspection shows no breaks. Anyone with a similar experience or an explanation.

 

[JohnX14]

Either the ball that drops into the ceiling mount socket (with a notch in the ball dropping into a key in the ceiling mount) was never dropped in properly, or the ceiling fan wobble allowed it to 'escape' from the proper positioning is all I can imagine. Was this on a flat or sloped ceiling. Sloped ceilings can magnify problems and not allow the 'ball and socket' to seat adequately.

Do you have pics of the fan/ mount/ etc.? I've hung hundreds, if not thousands, of ceiling fans.

 

[Chance9]

Flat ceiling.

Sounds logical - but for 7 years at all speeds? I did the install myself, and as a former HandyMan have installed several of this type fan over the years.

All that remains is the cradle. See pics.

 

[ehcsrop]

Something is broken on the cradle. That pawl holding the keyway in the ball was not very deep to start with. I submit that the unbalanced fan ***'y worked to deform the keyway, the ball moved forward sitting proud of the pawl putting undue pressure on the now broken ends of the cradle, it broke and it jumped out. You don't have to see the fan wobble to determine unbalance. Certain dynamics will quiet the wobble but the unbalance doesn't go away. It just passes through a resonance at an RPM then at points it will settle down while other dampers disguise the wobble.

A couple of incidental events may have contributed: if this is on the first floor of a 2-story home, there could have been a sudden movement from the floor above. Kids playing, whatever. Also, you could have had a slight earthquake if you live in EQ country. Probably the least likely scenario was that a door slammed creating a gust of air that acted on a blade just at the precise moment.

If it didn't fall when it did it wasn't going to be long.

 

[Chance9]

Something is broken on the cradle. That pawl holding the keyway in the ball was not very deep to start with. I submit that the unbalanced fan ***'y worked to deform the keyway, the ball moved forward sitting proud of the pawl putting undue pressure on the now broken ends of the cradle, it broke and it jumped out. You don't have to see the fan wobble to determine unbalance. Certain dynamics will quiet the wobble but the unbalance doesn't go away. It just passes through a resonance at an RPM then at points it will settle down while other dampers disguise the wobble.

A couple of incidental events may have contributed: if this is on the first floor of a 2-story home, there could have been a sudden movement from the floor above. Kids playing, whatever. Also, you could have had a slight earthquake if you live in EQ country. Probably the least likely scenario was that a door slammed creating a gust of air that acted on a blade just at the precise moment.

If it didn't fall when it did it wasn't going to be long.

Not withstanding your assessment of likely deforming of keyway, as to the "broken cradle" I might impose upon you one more time to examine these add'l photos of the circular entry point where the Ball slips in. The edges on both sides are identical in shape with powder coating still in place (no jagged edges or raw metal exposed), therefore no indication of an identical break on both sides (highly unlikely). Are you still of the opinion that it broke at the entry point, thereby making it easier for the ball to exit?

 

[TRWham]

If it's been wobbling for 7 years, it would not be shocking to find either or both components have worn or deformed. It would seem you could assess any deformation by test fitting the ball in the bracket.

 

[ehcsrop]

Not withstanding your assessment of likely deforming of keyway, as to the "broken cradle" I might impose upon you one more time to examine these add'l photos of the circular entry point where the Ball slips in. The edges on both sides are identical in shape with powder coating still in place (no jagged edges or raw metal exposed), therefore no indication of an identical break on both sides (highly unlikely). Are you still of the opinion that it broke at the entry point, thereby making it easier for the ball to exit?

Nope. Better pics produce better comments. It didn't look like much breakage anyway. Just thoughts, that's all. Not my problem how it actually fell. I use safety chains. I've installed quite a few of those. They seemed to look safe. Yours found a way to not be so.

 

[Junkman]

We have 7 Casablanca fans in the home, and not one has ever fallen in 43 years. Some have developed electrical problems and have stopped working, requiring repair or replacement. Hunter bought out Casablanca and uses the name, but not the original quality with which they were built. Unfortunately, they have become more difficult to find in working order, but if you are persistent, they are still out there.

 

[Dagny]

teenage boys around?