Two Fans--One Hum

Verdeboy

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• Oct 1, 2007

• #1

I installed two identical "Hampton Bay" remote control ceiling fans. One is quiet, but the other one makes an (electrical sounding) humming sound that increases with fan speed.

Any ideas?

 

Last edited: Oct 1, 2007

JWelectric

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• Oct 1, 2007

• #2

Maybe something is loose in the fan????

 

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Verdeboy

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• Oct 2, 2007

• #3

If there's something loose, it's inside the motor housing and not something that I can fix. I tightened the heck out of everything I had to tighten during the installation.

It sounds like the humm or buzz you hear when using certain dimmer switches.

 

R

Rancher

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• Oct 2, 2007

• #4

If it's a variable speed fan then it's using a triac based circuit to chop the 120 vac so the fan runs slower, the humming is probably the windings, you could take it apart and try some silicone or hot glue on the open spaces. Or you could take to back to HD.

Rancher

 

Verdeboy

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• Oct 2, 2007

• #5

Any idea why one would make the noise and the other one would not make it?

 

Geniescience

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• Oct 2, 2007

• #6

i agree it's a good question. First, can you swap the two and see what noises the two make then? If the noise goes with the dimmer, it's the dimmer. Why? Well, we'll get to that, umm, OK?

If the noise goes stays with the circuit and fan, it's that. (duh). Then, it would either be the fan or the circuit (duh0).

After all that, i'll be glad to add other duhhmb remarks guessing about possibilities. I also like to mention inductive loads and power factors. so give me a chance to say it please.

David

 

Jadnashua

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• Oct 2, 2007

• #7

One could have a bent or rusted shaft or a funky bearing, which presents a different load. If the shaft is chromed (unlikely) the plating may be uneven or coming off creating a different load. Do they have the same diameter and length of ducts? Are you sure that the damper is opening? Are the ducts actually unobstructed (bird's nest in one)?

 

Verdeboy

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• Oct 2, 2007

• #8

geniescience said:

If the noise goes with the dimmer, it's the dimmer.

Click to expand...

The light has a remote control dimmer, but it doesn't make any noise when dimmed or dimming.

The fan is a remote control 3-speed fan. It makes a loud humm as the fan speed increases.

 

Verdeboy

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• Oct 2, 2007

• #9

jadnashua said:

One could have a bent or rusted shaft or a funky bearing, which presents a different load. If the shaft is chromed (unlikely) the plating may be uneven or coming off creating a different load. Do they have the same diameter and length of ducts? Are you sure that the damper is opening? Are the ducts actually unobstructed (bird's nest in one)?

Click to expand...

There's no damper and no ductwork. This is a 5-blade, 3-speed ceiling fan with dimable light. It is remote-controlled from a hard-wired switch on the wall to a receiver hidden in the mounting bracket.