I installed a new ceiling fan and control (with dimmer and 3 speed fan setting) a little over 2 weeks ago. It has been operating fine until this morning. The fan and light were both on and the switch made a popping sound and started smoking. I quickly shut off the circuit and it has remained that way while I try to figure out what to do.

Another piece of information is that the light on the fan has always seemed dim to my wife and me. It takes 4-40W bulbs. I wasn't in the room this morning, but according to my wife when the popping sound occurred the lights shut off then came back on brighter than it had been (what she thought was normal brightness for 40W bulbs), then off and back on again and the switch started smoking.

Assuming it is a bad switch, I am considering just installing another switch, but I want to make sure it is not something else. Please give me some possible explanation and/or steps to take to make sure its safe.

Thanks.

Need to know more information on how you wired things to determine the situation.

Tell us more about the switch, is it a wall mount duel switch made for a fan?

Tell us more about the switch, is it a wall mount duel switch made for a fan?

+1

Did you just purchase the control, or is it older?

Ceiling fan remote controls - help and FAQ- Ceiling Fans N More (http://www.ceiling-fans-n-more.com/ceiling-fan-controls.php)

Both fan and control are brand new. Fan is Redington IV 52" came with remote control option (which I did not install). Wall mounted control made by Hunter... model 27182 (three wires red/blue/black). Control has light dimmer and 3 speed control for fan. Wired as the following:
Black (switch)/Black (Power In)
Red (switch)/Red (to light)
Blue (Switch)/Black (to fan)
White (Power In)/White (to fan) (white is spliced, does not connect to switch)

Hope this gives you what you need... I don't know all the proper terminology. Thanks.

Does the remote control for the fan (that you did not use) have a reverse button?

No. The reverse switch is on the fan itself.

Ok, try wiring the fan without the control and confirm everything works properly.

I hard wired the fan and it operates perfectly with the pull chains. And in fact the bulbs are shining a what we believe to be normal brightness. To me that means it was the control.

In the mean time I contacted Hunter about the control. They are sending me a new one, although I might change switches anyway. Anybody have any recommendations for a good control... preferably with dimmer. Thanks for the help.

There's a good chance the control was wired wrong, so be careful with the new one. Hunter brand is fine.