How to Install a Ceiling Fan Remote

Upgrade your fan with a ceiling fan remote.

Introduction

Old ceiling fans may have inconvenient pull chains, brand noise or demand repairs. One easy fix is to install a ceiling fan remote control. You lot may too need to supersede cleaved parts.

Tools Required

Materials Required

  • Capacitor
  • Ceiling fan switch
  • Remote control for ceiling fan
  • Wire nuts

Project pace-by-step (6)

Step ane

Adding new ceiling fan remote controls: Check the fit

fan

In this easy DIY project, we'll show you how to change a ceiling fan by calculation a remote. For starters, slide the ceiling fan remote receiver into the space above the down rod. If it doesn't fit, try other locations inside the canopy.

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Step 2

Set the transmitter

switch

Flip the DIP switches to change the transmitter frequency if you have bug with interference. The switch positions on both ceiling fan remote units must match.

There are many "universal" ceiling fan remote control kits on the market for overhead fans controlled by pull chains and a singe wall switch. All of them feature on/off and fan speed control. Others as well offer light-dimming and thermostatic control capabilities. But whether you can apply a ceiling fan remote kit depends on the amount of free space within the fan canopy.

Many "ceiling hugger"–style fans take plenty free infinite for the receiver for the ceiling fan remote. But "downwardly-rod" styles may not. Shut off the circuit breaker to the fan and lower the canopy (use a voltage sniffer to make certain the ability is actually off). Check the fit of the receiver earlier yous commit to wiring information technology in permanently. Keep your receipt just in instance.

With the power off, connect the hot and neutral wires to the "Ac-in" wires on the receiver. And then connect the three remaining wires to the fan and light (they're labeled by the manufacturer).

If yous have neighbors nearby, yous may have to modify the frequency on the ceiling fan remote transmitter and receiver to preclude you lot or your neighbors from controlling 1 some other's fans.

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Pace three

Fixing ceiling fan problems: Remove the capacitor

capacitor

Reach into the housing and gently pull out the capacitor. Untangle information technology from the other wires. So cutting the capacitor lead wires 1 at a time, or remove the wire basics and cut off the wire strands.

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Stride four

Shop for a new capacitor and switch

wires

Note the number of wires and the microfarad (uf) rating on the old capacitor. Buy a new i with the same number of wires and uf rating.

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Pace 5

Insert the capacitor, and so the wires

tape

Utilise double-sided foam record to the capacitor and stick it to the housing cap. So pack the wires into the eye, making certain the wire nuts stay continued.

A ceiling fan can run nonstop for years without a hint of a problem. Then, out of the blueish, it can quit completely, cease working on some speeds or start making a loud humming sound. You may recall the motor is shot, but information technology's probably not. Those are all symptoms of a burned-out capacitor. The capacitor and the pull chain switch are the only ii components that control the fan speeds. Switches rarely wearable out. But they can break if you pull the concatenation too hard or it gets caught in the blades. You lot can hedge your bets and replace both the capacitor and the switch in less than an hour for near $twenty. Hither'due south how.

First past shutting off the power to the fan and the lights (if equipped). You'll take to proceeds access to the housing where the speed and direction switches are located. In fans without lights, only remove the bottom cover. Double-cheque the power with a voltage sniffer before yous stick your fingers in the housing. If your fan has lights, remove the globes and bulbs. Then remove the light kit. That'll expose the wiring in the housing.

Next, remove the capacitor. A burned-out capacitor might accept a burned smell, swollen sides or scorch marks. Those are sure signs it'southward bad. Merely fifty-fifty if yours appears to exist in good shape, replace it anyway because it'southward notwithstanding the most likely cause of your speed/bustling trouble. If you lot have any doubts about the fan switch, supervene upon it, also. Remove the pull-chain switch past unscrewing the knurled outer knob. Pull the switch into the housing and disconnect the wires. Take both pieces to a ceiling fan or appliance parts store to get replacements. If you don't take a local source for parts, go to eceilingfans.com. Click on the "Capacitors" or "Wall Switches" tab to match each to a replacement. Finish the job past connecting the new parts and tucking everything back into the housing.

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Step vi

Fixing A Ceiling Fan Remote Control

receiver

Ceiling fans with mill remote controls don't use traditional capacitors to control fan speed. The remote receiver varies the voltage and electric current to modify the fan motor speed. But ceiling fan remote control units tin go bad besides. Before you even recollect about vehement the fan autonomously to diagnose a problem, replace the batteries in the transmitter first. Then press the transmitter buttons to come across if the LEDs light up. If you lot're non sure whether the problem is in the transmitter or receiver, you lot tin can send both units to eceilingfans.com for testing (testing and repair commonly run about $25). The receiver is usually tucked into the fan's mounting bracket, which is connected to the electrical box.

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Originally Published: December 17, 2022