[Fan1105]

Hi, I replaced the light kit on my Hunter ceiling fan. Once I turn the lights on it immediately starts giving off a weird smell. I took it apart to make sure I didn't pinch any wires and make sure there wasn't anything burning, everything appears fine. The white wire from the fan did have a brownish mark but looked more like age than burn (20+years old.)

I'm concerned what this smell could be. Particularly concerned that it could be an ozone smell, but I'm not sure what exactly it smells like. It doesn't smell like burning really. More like paint or drywall, almost. Like something heating up sort of, but not quite. It isn't an unpleasant smell really, either. It's hard to describe, and not a familiar smell.

I don't detect any smoke. However the fan is about 18' up so it's difficult to tell where the smell is coming from. Do new light kits give off a smell at first? There was only 2 wires to connect to I'm not sure how I could have went wrong.

Any advice is appreciated, thanks!

 

[Oso954]

Does your light kit have one large glass shade, or several small ones that go on individual arms?
A few years ago, Hunter was shipping glass shades for the arm type fitters with a rubber band or cushion near the rim of the shades where the set screws hold them. The light bulbs were heating the rubber and releasing a smell.

I am not sure whether Hunter is still using the rubber bands or not. If they are, you can use the lights and the smell will disappear after a few days of use. Or, simply remove the rubber bands.

 

[Fan1105]

Does your light kit have one large glass shade, or several small ones that go on individual arms?
A few years ago, Hunter was shipping glass shades for the arm type fitters with a rubber band or cushion near the rim of the shades where the set screws hold them. The light bulbs were heating the rubber and releasing a smell.

I am not sure whether Hunter is still using the rubber bands or not. If they are, you can use the lights and the smell will disappear after a few days of use. Or, simply remove the rubber bands.

Thanks for the response. I used an Emerson light kit. Hunter had a very limited selection and I wanted bullet lights, no glass, like the old kit. I thought it could be the plastic bands on the ends of the lights giving off the smell but I removed them and the smell is still there.

The lights have been on 2 hours now and the house hasn't burnt down and there's no smoke.

Is the ozone smell distinct? Any other ideas?

 

[dmxtothemax]

What is "ozone smoke" ?
I know what ozone is but
"Ozone smoke " ?
I doubt that it is ozone.
Ozone has a very sharp acrid smell
And is toxic in high dosses.
But a small amount won't hurt you.

 

[Fan1105]

What is "ozone smoke" ?
I know what ozone is but
"Ozone smoke " ?
I doubt that it is ozone.
Ozone has a very sharp acrid smell
And is toxic in high dosses.
But a small amount won't hurt you.

No, not "ozone smoke." What I meant was there was no smoke coming from the light kit, indicating something burning up.

There is however a smell that comes from the kit whenever the lights are on, that's strong but not irritating. I've seen a few descriptions of how ozone smells but they all vary from pungent to how an iron smells.

There's a brownish spot on the white wire, which makes me think it could be coming from that. But after having the lights on 3 hours, I shut the power off and opened the kit back up and the wires didn't smell like anything and the brown didn't rub off.

If the wire was heating up and releasing any kind of smell, wouldn't the smell linger on the wire itself or inside the small metal compartment?