Can You Put A Dimmer On A Ceiling Fan Light

How to install a ceiling fan light dual dimmer switch.

Can you put a dimmer on a ceiling fan light.

If you try using a light dimmer switch on your fan you will most likely hear a loud humming sound on low speeds. I forget the brand but it does not even have a pull cord switch made into it. No light on the fan the dimmer controls the speed of the fan itself. It was sold to use on a dimmer to control the fan speed.

Even worse the ceiling fan motor could be damaged over time. You cannot use a light dimmer to control a fan. For example if your fixture has 10 60 watt bulbs you ll need a dimmer with a 600 watt max but if your fixture only has five 60 watt bulbs then a 300 watt max switch will work. This will allow you to control the light intensity and the fan speed which can not be achieved if you re only using the fan s chains.

If you don t enjoy using your ceiling fan s pull levers to control the light and speed of the fan you can always install a dual dimmer switch instead to give you more customization of your ceiling fan. Ronnatalie you can put a dimmer on some fans. There is a growing misconception that this is safe to do but the logic behind it is flawed. If your ceiling fan has wiring already in place where you have a separate switch for fan control then you can have the separate controls wired to independent switches.

A fan that has no speed control when manufactured has copper windings inside that determine speed and horsepower. Watch out for regular switches being sold as fan controllers. Andy be aware that a dimmer for lights does not work for fans though it may sometimes appear to work you can end up with noise problems such as the light attached to the fan not working the. In this circumstance the light kit could be connected to a dimmer switch and the fan motor connected to a toggle switch.