I have a stacked switch that will hold 8 wires there were 2 black 1 grey 1green and 1 purple. Some one replaced it and got it wired wrong the fan stayed on low and the switch would not effect it.
I took and old single layer switch from another fan touched the black to each wire to find the speeds than hooked it up black to L and slow speed to 1, medium speed to 2 and high to 3 .
It works fine . A single switch is $2.49 and a stacked is $12.98 my question is why the stacked switch if it will work on a single one and could this cause any harm to the fan. Ty for any replys.

What model fan is it? If there was a stacked switch it was for a reason.. . However each fan wired with these switches is different. If the switch had 8 wires, now you're not using 4 of them, correct? Does the motor run in both directions?

I would use an amp meter to make sure the fan is not drawing more current than it is supposed to, if you continue with the single layer switch. If you don't have an amp meter you can wire it in series with a light bulb.

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The stacked switch had holes for 8 wires 2 for L , 2 for #1 , 2 for #2 and 2 for #3 it was wired with 1 wire in each L and 1 wire in #1,#2,and #3 for a total of 5 wires. I did not check to see if the fan would reverse as it is my neighbors and he is not home now.
But I will check that. Ty.

The stacked switch had holes for 8 wires 2 for L , 2 for #1 , 2 for #2 and 2 for #3 it was wired with 1 wire in each L and 1 wire in #1,#2,and #3 for a total of 5 wires. I did not check to see if the fan would reverse as it is my neighbors and he is not home now.
but I will check that. ty.

So your original fan switch was a double-stack with 5 wires, and now you're using 4 of those wires with a single-stack switch? What is the remaining wire?

There was 1 green I put with a green
There was 1 grey I put with a grey
There was 1 purple I put with a purple
There was 2 blacks I put 1 with the black on the L
There is 1 black that is not connected and there is no other wire to connect
It to.

Did you ever determine what model fan it was, and if it in fact works in both directions?

Ok sorry for the delay.
I was not able to find out what brand or model #
But it dose run 3 speeds both directions.

If it functions as it should, and it's not drawing more current than it should, I can only imagine you are fine with the current wiring. If you have no way of measuring the current, tell your neighbor to keep a close eye on it the first few times he uses it for any extended period. Without knowing the make/model I can't tell you more. Send me a picture of it if you like.

I have the same problem... bought a (up to 8) replacement switch, replaced them exactly as it was and now only get 2 speeds , however from all the info I have gathered from the net, the color orders are differing from what they said it should be (but I did them one by one exactly as old switch was)...

Please help!