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-   -   Ceiling fan only works slow. (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=353512)

  • May 13, 2009, 05:11 PM
    jsmellowguy358
    Ceiling fan only works slow.
    I live in a 2 year old house. The ceiling fan has quit working on any speed but low. I just changed the switch and nothing changed? Could the motor be bad already? It says it is a model AC-552 but no brand. It may be Hampton Bay. I can hear a low leval hum from it.
  • May 13, 2009, 05:13 PM
    ballengerb1

    Press and hold the speed button for about 10 seconds, has it started woking like it used to?
  • May 13, 2009, 05:16 PM
    jsmellowguy358

    What spped button. It only has a pull chain from the switch.
  • May 13, 2009, 05:18 PM
    ballengerb1

    You originally said switch so what exactly did you do? "changed the switch and nothing "
  • May 13, 2009, 05:20 PM
    jsmellowguy358

    When I said switch, I mean the device inside the housing that has a chain feeding from it.
  • May 13, 2009, 05:22 PM
    ballengerb1

    OK, that 3 step switch has likely failed and can be inexpensively replaced but you will need to determine brand and model on your own. This may require you to drop the fan or get inside the housing around the motor.
  • May 13, 2009, 05:23 PM
    jsmellowguy358
    I replaced the switch with the chain. Is that the one you speak of?
  • May 13, 2009, 05:26 PM
    ballengerb1

    Read this related link and hopefully ceilingfanrepair will pick up on your question https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/electr...ent-30041.html
  • May 13, 2009, 06:23 PM
    jsmellowguy358
    Ceiling fan only runs slow
    I live in a 2 year old house. The ceiling fan has quit working on any speed but low. I just changed the switch and nothing changed? Could the motor be bad already? It says it is a model AC-552 but no brand. It may be Hampton Bay. I can hear a low leval hum from it.
  • May 13, 2009, 06:28 PM
    ballengerb1

    You were getting answers to this question last hour, why did you start a new post?
  • May 13, 2009, 06:34 PM
    jsmellowguy358

    You told me to see if the other guys will pick it up.
  • May 13, 2009, 06:37 PM
    KISS

    Speed switches for fans are an oddity. They are not all the same.

    One method is to use a L-1, L-2 and a L-1&2 type switch with a 3 wire capacitor. It would be rectangular and has markings like 3 uf, 5 uf and C.

    I'll bet that one of the caps are bad. Thus, in this case the 3 uf is selected for low. The 5 uf is bad (probably shorted) is selcted for medium and the parallel combination of a 3 uf and short is a short and therfore the high speed doesn't work.

    Caps are available from CeilingFanParts.com Home
  • May 13, 2009, 06:39 PM
    ballengerb1

    Right but not by starting an entirely new post. Be patient and others will read the original post.
  • May 13, 2009, 08:12 PM
    KISS

    <Threads merged>
  • May 14, 2009, 12:04 PM
    jsmellowguy358

    I noticed the differences when I bought the new pull chain switch.
    I feel I bought the correct one but nothing change in it's operation.
  • May 18, 2009, 08:31 PM
    ceilingfanrepair

    Sounds like the capacitor(s) is bad. Put the original switch back in, replace the capacitor(s).

    Ceiling fan capactors - troubleshooting and resources - Ceiling Fans N More

    Or, try these troubleshooting instructions:

    General ceiling fan troubleshooting and help FAQ- Ceiling Fans N More

    Do the blades turn freely and coast when spun by hand?
  • May 19, 2009, 07:48 PM
    jsmellowguy358
    The fan now won't start by itself at all. If I turn the blades by hand, they will continue slowly. Where do you buy capactors?
  • May 19, 2009, 08:02 PM
    niklis
    If your hearing a huming noise I would say that something is holding it like the fans locked up. And id say the fan is trash
  • May 20, 2009, 07:15 AM
    ballengerb1

    The fan is not trash. You can buy a capacitor through the site ceilingfanrepair already provided. Ceiling fan capactors - troubleshooting and resources - Ceiling Fans N More
  • May 22, 2009, 05:52 PM
    ceilingfanrepair

    Capacitors either come from the fan manufacturer, or from CeilingFanParts.com Home

    That should solve your problem.

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