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Subject - Ceiling fan switch question
Westredd Hi, I bought a ceiling fan for my bedroom. After I opened the box I noticed that the switch that comes with the fan is smaller than the backbox that I have in my wall. I then went and bought a switch that fitted the backbox, but one thing that I have noticed between the smaller switch that comes with the fan and the larger replcement switch I bought is that the smaller switch has a capacitor as part of the switch and the larger replaceent switch doesnt. Does that mean that the larger switch expects the capacitor to be in the fan?

I am worried about installing the new switch (that doesnt have a capacitor in the switch). What would happen when I turn the power on if there isnt a capacitor somewhere in the path to the fan?

Cheers

Mike
kbsparky Is the new switch a multi-speed switch? Or a variable speed switch

I'd be willing to bet that if it is a multi-speed switch (3 or 4 speed), then the capacitor is built-in. If it's a variable speed switch, your fan will hum and buzz when operating at less than full speed.

Westredd The orignal switch that came with the fan is multi speed (3 speed)and has the capacitor on the back of the switch. The replacement that I bought is a variable and doesnt appear to have a capacitor in it. Is it safe to try out the variale one with the fan do you think?

cheers

Mike