Using A Dimmer Switch On A Ceiling Fan

A regular dimmer switch simply reduces the voltage.

Using a dimmer switch on a ceiling fan.

The more complicated answer we are engineers after all. It can also cause problems for the ceiling fan if it is directly connected to it. A typical ceiling fan motor is an ac induction motor. That works with lights but will burn out a motor and maybe burn down the house a fan speed controller is a much more complex electronic device that reduces the amperage to the motor without reducing the voltage avoiding this kind of innocent mistake.

You may need an electrician for this. You cannot use a light dimmer to control a fan. It is always better to be safe than sorry especially when electricity is involved. Replace the wall dimmer switch with an on off switch.

A fan that has no speed control when manufactured has copper windings inside that determine speed and horsepower. Both are bad outcomes. Dimmer switch ceiling fan compatibility. I turned my ceiling fan on it was fine for a few minutes then the lights made loud popping noises and shut off.

For a switch to effectively slow down that type of motor it requires a variable frequency drive vfd or a triac with some extra circuitry. There was a burning smell in the air. If the switch is overloaded it could heat up and start a fire. You cannot use a dimmer switch on a fan motor but you can find fan speed controllers why.

There is a growing misconception that this is safe to do but the logic behind it is flawed. Dimmer switches and ceiling fans electrical question. Never use a standard dimmer switch or unchecked wires to hook your ceiling fan up to a dimmer. The fan is new i installed it 3 months ago.

Don t try to use a dimmer switch as a fan speed control. There is a remote inside the inner working of the fan which responds to a remote control. I know intuitively it seems like it would work but its not a good idea. A remote controlled ceiling fan bypasses one of the wall switches and allows for remote access to the ceiling fan s workings.

1 400 people are injured and 500 die from electrical fires each year so make. The switch could damage the motor on the ceiling fan. The problem with a dimmer switch is that it can be easily overloaded. Now the fan and lights don t work at all.