Could I fit a dimmer switch to an ordinary ceiling fan ?

All the ceiling fan's i've ever seen use induction motors,their speed is controlled by the frequency of the supply so can't be controlled by a dimmer.

 

I think you're more likely to damage the dimmer than the fan. Dimmers are designed for resistive loads but the motor is an inductive load, I think you should forget the dimmer idea really, unless you wanted to arrange a separate supply & switch for the fan motor, (not very practical).

 

Aurora Switches are all pants.

You wont be able to dim an inductive and combined fan/light load. Listen to Seneca

 

Most ceiling fan lights i have installed have provisions for 2 switch wires in the fitting, so if you really want dim the light, change the switch wire to a 3 core and earth so you will then have your two separate switch wires, and fit a 2 gang grid switch, one side normal for fan, one side dimmer for light

Or fit. Lower wat bulb if the light is just too brught!

 

If the fan is a 'timer' model (as most are) then it's quite acceptable to use a dimmer switch without fear of damage to either the dimmer or the fan. The reason for this should be quite obvious, but for those who don't understand the nature of a timer-fan, I'd be pleased to explain.


Lucia.

 

Lucia, I think the op is talking about a ceiling fan/light unit as often fitted in bedrooms and conservatories rather than the conventional bathroom timer fan?

 

What, a CEILING fan, Lucia ?

On a dimmer ?

Dimmer isn't a speed regulator.

Surely the fan needs full/constant power ?


Mr. HandyAndy - Really

 

^^^^^

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Lucia, I think the op is talking about a ceiling fan/light......

Thank you Seneca. I see what you mean. I'm a silly billy once I've had one over the eight.....


Lucia x

 

No problem Lucia, it happens to us all at times!

 

Step 1 - go out and buy a ceiling fan.

Step 2 - take it apart.

Step 3 - come back on here with your results.

Step 4 - er, not a step, but a question: why not a 'halogen'?

 

Before you do anything you need to drop the ceiling fan and check it has provisiobs for the two switch wires otherwise no matter what you do it wont be possible to do what your after.
Once youve dropped it if you see 5 separate connector blocks on the fitting, with something like loop, neutral, earth, ls1, ls2 then you know you can do this. If theres only 4 blocks then changes are this fitting wont let you do why your after.

However, if the fitting is ok, run a new 3 core and earth cable from switch to light, and disconnect old switch wire as its now redundant. Then connect as follows
In light:- brown to loop, grey(with brown sleeving on) to ls1, black( with brown sleeving on) to ls2, and sleeve the earth and connect with the rest
In the switch, brown to common on one switch with a link to common of 2nd switch, then grey to l1 in dimmer switch, and black on to l1 on the other switch which will be normal.( grey and black may need swapping over depending on which one operates fan or light. And also connect the earth in the switch to earth lug in the back box.if the switch you buy is metal then this will need earthing too.
Good luck

 

Why don't you just give up on this one, accept it's not feasible and just put a smaller lamp (bulb) in if it's too bright?