There is a multi part capacitor for starting the motor, in the canopy. That can be the problem, they occasionally go poof. Little, usually square part with 2-4 wires sticking out. But running a motor on the wrong type of dimmer can damage the motor. The hum you hear is a cry for help, wrong type dimmer control. Use only a dimmer rated for fan motors.
Smoke, sparks and pops from ceiling fan - need assistance on proper wiring
2
Hi there..
I installed a harbor breeze springfiled fan about 1.5 years ago..thought i did it right but things always seems amiss
Wall switch was a GE speed control unit and the "dimmer" on it controlled motor and light speed/brightness and it made a loud hum at low speeds until it was turned up a bit..
Anyways 2 weeks ago out of nowhere with just the fan running and lights off got some popping noises, a little smoke and a little shooting blue flame out of the fan..was quite a way to wake up..
I don't want to write the fan off just yet - it seems fine upon taking it down and looking at it.
Pretty sure that either the speed control should not have been used with the motor and/or it was miswired in the ceiling..
I don't hve pics of how it was wired..not enough arms/hands to take a pic when i was taking it down.
But you can see in the pic here that something was def wrong..got some partially fried wire housings..if you cant make out the pic there's 3 wider guage house wires in the box with a smaller guage white and black wire attached to the center house and the right house wire.
Already bought a simple on off switch and want to try rewiring for switch = light turn on / off and chain for the motor..
Can you please tell me what you think might have gone wrong and what would be the correct way to go about wiring in the fashion i just mentioned? I know this is bordering on "get an electrician you dummy" but i really do think there was a basic improper setup that be quickly fixed.
Thanks!
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I installed a harbor breeze springfiled fan about 1.5 years ago..thought i did it right but things always seems amiss
Wall switch was a GE speed control unit and the "dimmer" on it controlled motor and light speed/brightness and it made a loud hum at low speeds until it was turned up a bit..
Anyways 2 weeks ago out of nowhere with just the fan running and lights off got some popping noises, a little smoke and a little shooting blue flame out of the fan..was quite a way to wake up..
I don't want to write the fan off just yet - it seems fine upon taking it down and looking at it.
Pretty sure that either the speed control should not have been used with the motor and/or it was miswired in the ceiling..
I don't hve pics of how it was wired..not enough arms/hands to take a pic when i was taking it down.
But you can see in the pic here that something was def wrong..got some partially fried wire housings..if you cant make out the pic there's 3 wider guage house wires in the box with a smaller guage white and black wire attached to the center house and the right house wire.
Already bought a simple on off switch and want to try rewiring for switch = light turn on / off and chain for the motor..
Can you please tell me what you think might have gone wrong and what would be the correct way to go about wiring in the fashion i just mentioned? I know this is bordering on "get an electrician you dummy" but i really do think there was a basic improper setup that be quickly fixed.
Thanks!
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I knew there was a reason I liked your line of thinkingMotors don't run on electricity, they run on smoke. :huh:
The electricity is only required to keep the smoke in. :yes:
Once the smoke gets out, the fan is no good.
:whistling2:
sounds more like they installed a lawn mower instead of a ceiling fan.Motors don't run on electricity, they run on smoke. :huh:
The electricity is only required to keep the smoke in. :yes:
Once the smoke gets out, the fan is no good.
:whistling2:
Yup, just like dark absorbers. They're the thing in the ceiling sucks all the darkness out of a room when they are activated:thumbsup:Motors don't run on electricity, they run on smoke. :huh:
The electricity is only required to keep the smoke in. :yes:
Once the smoke gets out, the fan is no good.
:whistling2:
here's a diagram of the situation in my ceiling box. I know I tied the fan into the uncapped whire at location C but dont remember what i did with the fan's black and blue..when i took it off i didnt have enough slack to leave wires in tact.
Seeking to have wall switch turn on/off light only and have pull chain operate fan.
If the attachment is too small, save to desktop and open with paint. ty!
Seeking to have wall switch turn on/off light only and have pull chain operate fan.
If the attachment is too small, save to desktop and open with paint. ty!
Attachments
So, Zstopa, kudos for trying to figure it out. But..... you've got a couple problems:
1. You are burning a lot of calories for a ceiling fan that could be replaced for $75. Part of DIY is learning/playing/taking things apart. But part of DIY is also knowing when to call it a day, park your ceiling fan on your tool bench, and walk away. I've pried apart many a defective item for fun, but some things don't merit fixing.
2. Your plan to have a switch control the light and chain control the fan is going to fail unless you have the right combo of wires in your switch box. If you only have a switch loop at the switch or if you only have the old wiring (shown in the picture) at the switch - then your plan will likely result in a switch that can turn the both fan and light on and off. But not independent action, unless you futz around with the control boxes inside the fan canopy. There are other ways to accomplish what you want to do, but pending confirmation that the fan isn't destined for the dump.... See #1 or #3
3. The problem with cheap things (like your made-in-china fan from the big box store) is that when they fail they tend to end up costing you more than a better quality item would have in the first place (how's that for one convoluted abuse of the english language :wink. You will have to find out what part of the fan failed - something BROKE - hence the sparks/smoke/etc.
Rewiring or reconnecting your jBox and switch is not going to fix whatever went poof.
And, if one thing went poof, it may not have been the only point of failure.
And, just to be a REAL stick in the mud... are you renting? able to do electrical work in your jurisdiction? do you have HOer's/renter's insurance?
There are REAL SAFETY ISSUES at stake here. Old wiring + inexperience = MAJOR FIRE RISK.
Don't let our flippant comments discourage you. Just know that most on the best part of the forum (electrical) are just trying to help you do it right or to save you from the same mistakes we have made.....
1. You are burning a lot of calories for a ceiling fan that could be replaced for $75. Part of DIY is learning/playing/taking things apart. But part of DIY is also knowing when to call it a day, park your ceiling fan on your tool bench, and walk away. I've pried apart many a defective item for fun, but some things don't merit fixing.
2. Your plan to have a switch control the light and chain control the fan is going to fail unless you have the right combo of wires in your switch box. If you only have a switch loop at the switch or if you only have the old wiring (shown in the picture) at the switch - then your plan will likely result in a switch that can turn the both fan and light on and off. But not independent action, unless you futz around with the control boxes inside the fan canopy. There are other ways to accomplish what you want to do, but pending confirmation that the fan isn't destined for the dump.... See #1 or #3
3. The problem with cheap things (like your made-in-china fan from the big box store) is that when they fail they tend to end up costing you more than a better quality item would have in the first place (how's that for one convoluted abuse of the english language :wink
. You will have to find out what part of the fan failed - something BROKE - hence the sparks/smoke/etc.Rewiring or reconnecting your jBox and switch is not going to fix whatever went poof.
And, if one thing went poof, it may not have been the only point of failure.
And, just to be a REAL stick in the mud... are you renting? able to do electrical work in your jurisdiction? do you have HOer's/renter's insurance?
There are REAL SAFETY ISSUES at stake here. Old wiring + inexperience = MAJOR FIRE RISK.
Don't let our flippant comments discourage you. Just know that most on the best part of the forum (electrical) are just trying to help you do it right or to save you from the same mistakes we have made.....
1 - 17 of 17 Posts
