Ceiling fan runs slow on highest setting

**mylomine** · 04-26-2011, 07:02 AM

So I have three identical ceiling fans in my home. Two of them run on a single normal wall switch and seem to operate as expected. The ceiling fan in the master bedroom however does not. This is the second fan I bought for this room because the first fan operated slow as well which leaves me to believe it's not the fan that is causing the problem. There are two wall switches in this room. One of them is a lighted switch so that you can see it in the dark when the switch is in the off position. What could be causing this fan to run considerably slower than the other two? Could there be a wiring issue? Everything I research on the web points to a faulty capacitor but that wouldn't explain two fans doing the exact same thing? Ideas?

Thanks,

super hot in phoenix summers, josh

**DonL** · 04-26-2011, 07:39 AM

Hello mylomine,

Maybe your fan motor is connected in series with another circuit, rather than in parallel.

I think that you are correct about it not being the cap, unless they had a bad batch of caps.

I would measure the voltage at the fan motor an see if it is getting 120V.

I would think that if the fan had lights also, then they would be dim also.

I have also seen bad light switches, that arc inside, but you can normally hear them arcing. (making bad connection)

Good Luck with your project

Have a Great day.

DonL

**mylomine** · 04-26-2011, 08:15 AM

Hi DonL and first off, thanks for replying.

The lights don't appear to be dim and seem to be operating normally.

Is there a way to check the voltage without completely taking the fan down?

Now I have heard one of the switches make a sparking noise once in awhile. Is this what you are referring to as arching? Would that mean I should replace it or start there first?

There are two switches that control this light/fan. They are either both on or both off no matter what position the switch is in. Does this have anything to do with the series vs. parallel thing you were talking about?

I really appreciate your response and have a great day as well.

Josh

**DonL** · 04-26-2011, 08:38 AM

Hello Josh,

I would suspect one of the switches. If there is any resistance in one of the switches then the voltage would be low. You might try
turning one switch on and the other off, If it is a two way switch circuit, you can test it that way also.

Normally you can remove the light fixture and measure it there. Or remove a light bulb and carefully measure the voltage
in the lamp socket, should be the same voltage that the fan motor is getting. I prefer a screw in outlet adapter that screws
in to the light socket, It make measuring much safer. Especially when the fan may be moving the light socket.

You could also measure the voltage at the wall switch itself.

DonL

P.S. You might have a normal operating Fan , and just the distance from the ceiling to the blades can effect fan speed. You can sometime test by reversing the motor and see if it runs faster. If it is a high efficiency fan, it don't take much to slow the speed down, even blades out of balance can change the fan speed.

**ActionDave** · 04-26-2011, 10:35 PM

Could be a wiring problem.
You did not mention if you tried yanking the pull chain on the fan that controls the speed.

**jwelectric** · 04-27-2011, 05:09 AM

Switch the switch that controls the light for the one that controls the fan to see if it is a problem between the switch and the fan motor.

Did you keep the fan and light separate in the ceiling box?

**mylomine** · 04-27-2011, 06:12 AM

It's not two separate switches that control the light vs. the fan. There is a one switch on the north wall that gives all power to the fan and light. There is also one switch on the south wall that controls all power to the fan. If I turn on the power to the fan with the north switch then I can turn the power off by switching the the south switch (not sure if this makes sense)

I have not had a chance to test any voltage yet as I am waiting to find some time. I am planning on doing some testing today after work.

hj · 04-27-2011, 08:25 AM

Having two single pole switches in series like that, which seems to be what you are describing, is unusual, and although that should NOT be causing the symptoms you describe, I have the feeling that it is actually the cause for some reason which you have not told us, and probably do not know yourself.

**mylomine** · 04-27-2011, 10:03 AM

Originally Posted by hj

Having two single pole switches in series like that, which seems to be what you are describing, is unusual, and although that should NOT be causing the symptoms you describe, I have the feeling that it is actually the cause for some reason which you have not told us, and probably do not know yourself.

Would you suggest that I disable one of the switches and then see if the problem persists?

**mylomine** · 04-27-2011, 06:09 AM

I have tried all three speeds on the fan by pulling the chain. I would say that when the fan in my room is on high it is comparable with low to medium with the other two identical fans in other rooms.