Can You Have A Dimmer Switch On A Ceiling Fan

Dimmer switch ceiling fan compatibility.

Can you have a dimmer switch on a ceiling fan.

Some can even operate a dimmer on the lights. The more complicated answer we are engineers after all. That works with lights but will burn out a motor and maybe burn down the house a fan speed controller is a much more complex electronic device that reduces the amperage to the motor without reducing the voltage avoiding this kind of innocent mistake. The wall dimmer switch reduces power flow and interferes with the fan control.

A regular dimmer switch simply reduces the voltage. This will allow you to control the light intensity and the fan speed which can not be achieved if you re only using the fan s chains. Replace the wall dimmer switch with an on off switch. You cannot use a dimmer switch on a fan motor but you can find fan speed controllers why.

If you don t have a wall switch for both your fan and light you won t be able to use smart switches like i described above. But that could end up being a lot of work especially if you don t know what you re doing. A fan speed control is not the same as a dimmer switch. The ceiling fan lights will be off and the fan blades will stop turning when you turn off the correct breaker.

If your ceiling fan has wiring already in place where you have a separate switch for fan control then you can have the separate controls wired to independent switches. A dimmer switch as the name suggests lets you control the intensity of the light produced from the light to which it is connected such as a ceiling fan with a built in lighting fixture. 3 hold a noncontact voltage tester against the ceiling fan wall switch cover plate. You may need an electrician for this.

Most ceiling fan remote controls have the capability to control the speed of the motor and dim the light fixture. A remote can speed up or slow down the fan turn the fan on and off or turn the lights connected to the ceiling fan on and off. If you re really ambitious you could tear into your walls rewire the ceiling fan and install the desired switches. A dimmer switch should not be used as a motor speed control.

A fan speed control may be used for a compatible ceiling fan motor. In this circumstance the light kit could be connected to a dimmer switch and the fan motor connected to a toggle switch.