Can I Put A Dimmer Switch On A Ceiling Fan

A broken ceiling fan motor and a house fire are obviously not ideal outcomes however there is some good news.

Can i put a dimmer switch on a ceiling fan.

You can install a ceiling fan light dual dimmer switch to operate the fan speed and light intensity from the original wall switch location. By all means you can connect a ceiling fan directly to a dimmer switch but you may run into problems along the way. Watch out for regular switches being sold as fan controllers. A fan speed control may be used for a compatible ceiling fan motor.

Most ceiling fan remote controls have the capability to control the speed of the motor and dim the light fixture. An example of this is that the motor in your fan could be damaged and rendered useless. The new switch does require an additional electrical wire. There is a growing misconception that this is safe to do but the logic behind it is flawed.

Even worse the ceiling fan motor could be damaged over time. The switch could damage the motor on the ceiling fan. You cannot use a dimmer switch on a fan motor but you can find fan speed controllers. A dimmer switch should not be used as a motor speed control.

Quick facts about ceiling fan controls. This offers many advantages not the least of which is that you don t have to keep playing with the cords on the fan to reach the speed you want. A regular dimmer switch simply reduces the voltage. If you have a ceiling fan you can install a dimmer or speed control switch for it.

The problem with a dimmer switch is that it can be easily overloaded. If you try using a light dimmer switch on your fan you will most likely hear a loud humming sound on low speeds. Ceiling fans circulate the air in a room and help keep it comfortable in warm weather periods. That works with lights but will burn out a motor and maybe burn down the house.

A fan speed control is not the same as a dimmer switch. Lately i ve noticed a few wifi smart switches being sold as fan controllers.