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    Hensghan's Avatar
    Hensghan Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    Jan 5, 2008, 09:28 AM
    Fan loses power when light turned up
    I have a Hunter ceiling fan with light. Both light & fan are controlled through a Lutron dimmer. When the fan is running and I turn the lights to high, the fan slows down to almost no movement, regardless of the fan dimmer setting. Both the fan and the light work great independently but do not work well together. The light almost seems to drain power away from the fan. Any suggestions?
    donf's Avatar
    donf Posts: 5,679, Reputation: 582
    Printers & Electronics Expert
    		  
    #2

    Jan 5, 2008, 10:32 AM
    Hensgan,

    While is is perfectly fine to control the light package with a dimmer switch, it is also forbidden to control a fan with a light dimmer switch.

    If you want to control the fan's speed, you need to run a second 120 VAC line to the fan, purchase a suitable fan control switch and use two circuit controls one for the fan and one for the fan.

    The reason that the light s dim or brighten as you move the variable control to the fan/light is that when you do that you are manipulating the voltage and amperage available to the fan and lights. As you move the control higher the lights will brighten and the fan move faster. As you decrease the lever, the lights get dimmer and the fan slows.
    Stratmando's Avatar
    Stratmando Posts: 11,188, Reputation: 508
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    #3

    Jan 5, 2008, 11:15 AM
    Since you can't control both with dimmer. Here are 3 of several options:
    1) Install Remote, allows separate control with existing wires.
    2) Maybe spare wire capped off at fan that would allow separate control.
    3) Push or pull extra wire, and a) Carefully cut out single gang mudring and install 2 gang
    To allow 2 full size controls(Light Dimmer + Fan Control)
    b) Combined Light and Fan Control in Single Device.
    Also, an easy way to quickly determine what you have without removing Control.
    A Dimmer goes from Off, then starts low and increases to full brightness.
    A Fan Control goes from Off, then High, and then backs down to Low, as you move the control(You don't want to "Lug" a motor up to speed)
    Hensghan's Avatar
    Hensghan Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
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    #4

    Jan 5, 2008, 12:11 PM
    I don't think I worded my question correctly. I have a dual slide rheostat. The left side slides in increments to control the fan; the right sides slides smoothly to control the light. The rheostat replaced an existing one that worked the same way so I know the wiring is adequate. What happens is the fan works fine when it is on by itself. The lights work fine when they are on alone. Turn them both on, however, and the lights remain bright but the fan slows down to almost nothing.
    ceilingfanrepair's Avatar
    ceilingfanrepair Posts: 5,733, Reputation: 109
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    #5

    Jan 5, 2008, 12:39 PM
    Your dual slide reostat is not wired properly. Chances are you have two wires that are the same color and you switched them by accident.
    ceilingfanrepair's Avatar
    ceilingfanrepair Posts: 5,733, Reputation: 109
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    #6

    Jan 5, 2008, 12:40 PM
    I'll add a question, when you run BOTH the fan and lights at the same time, I know the fan slows, but do the lights operate at full brightness?
    Stratmando's Avatar
    Stratmando Posts: 11,188, Reputation: 508
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    #7

    Jan 5, 2008, 04:13 PM
    I agree with crossed wires, make sure the constant hot goes to line in.
    ceilingfanrepair's Avatar
    ceilingfanrepair Posts: 5,733, Reputation: 109
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    #8

    Jan 5, 2008, 05:12 PM
    The more I think about this the less it makes sense. If the control was wired backwards, then one of the two items wouldn't work independently. With an open neutral they would be in series and neither item would work independently.

    Douple check the wiring at the control, and at the fan, and get back to us.

    Did you replace the fan? Why did you replace the control? Do you still have the old control?

    Ceiling fan wiring - Ceiling Fans N More
    Hensghan's Avatar
    Hensghan Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
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    #9

    Jan 10, 2008, 09:51 AM
    Thanks to everybody who tried to help me out on this problem. After changing out the dual dimmer switch twice, and after even eliminating the dimmers altogether, etc. I finally convinced my electrician that he had possibly made an error in the initial wiring of the fan in the ceiling. He bristled at this and told me he had hung well over 600 fans and that there was only one way to do the ceiling wiring. Needless to say, however, he finally agreed to double checke the fan wiring, switched over two connections to a configuration he said would never work and didn't comply with code, and everything works fine now. I guess even smart & experienced professionals can sometimes make a 'simple' error but the real problem is being able to admit to the possibility! Again, thanks!
    Stratmando's Avatar
    Stratmando Posts: 11,188, Reputation: 508
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    #10

    Jan 10, 2008, 12:43 PM
    He wasn't an experienced professional if he said that, wonder if he had a neutral and switch leg reversed. Good you got it going.
    ceilingfanrepair's Avatar
    ceilingfanrepair Posts: 5,733, Reputation: 109
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    #11

    Jan 10, 2008, 02:06 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by Hensghan
    Needless to say, however, he finally agreed to double checke the fan wiring, switched over two connections to a configuration he said would never work and didn't comply with code, and everything works fine now.
    Ha ha ha, he didn't happen to tell you what wires he switched? As long is ground isn't carrying current, code shouldn't be a problem, sounds like maybe his ego is!
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