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-   -   Fan motor switching (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=46866)

  • Dec 5, 2006, 03:57 PM
    cog
    Fan motor switching
    I have a range hood with 2 toggle switches. One is on/off and controls the light. The other is on/off/on and controls the 2 speed fan. I need to rewire the controls to a lower location (wheelchair accessible). I would like to be able to preserve all the functions, but not sure there are enough wires. There is one 12/3 wire available. The wiring diagram shows a separate wire from each side of the rocker switch to the motor. Is this necessary or could I achieve the two fan speeds with a dimmer switch at countertop level? Or, If I have to run two separate wires to a new rocker switch for the fan, perhaps I should skip the low fan speed so that I can also control the light with the 12/3 wire. Or, is there a way to use the 12/3 wire for all 2 functions? Hope this makes sense. Thanks for any help/insights/direction/explanation.
  • Dec 6, 2006, 03:44 AM
    tkrussell
    You can use a #12-3 cable from the hood fan/light down to ADA switch height.

    Connect the white to the feed, mark it black at both ends with a ring of black tape. The white can feed a switch for the light and a dimmer for the fan motor.

    If your not sure about this or have any other questions, get back with them.
  • Dec 6, 2006, 03:53 AM
    cog
    Thanks for the reply.
    Do I combine the two feeds to the motor and then run to the dimmer for the fan motor, or just connect to one of the motor feeds? Will it hurt the fan to put it on a dimmer?
  • Dec 6, 2006, 01:21 PM
    ceilingfanrepair
    I think he has a two speed motor, with a separate lead for each tap. 3 wires is not enough.

    You can either run an additional wire, or have the fan "on/off" from the new panel, and speeds controlled from the original switch.
  • Dec 6, 2006, 02:44 PM
    ceilingfanrepair
    I'll correct myself: I think TK was saying, only use one speed from the motor, and wire in a separate speed control to give you speed selection. In which case, you would only use the motor lead which connects to the "high" side of the switch.

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