Lighting, Light Fixtures, Ceiling and Exhaust Fans - Dim ceiling-fan light after replacing pull chain
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tb22
08-25-05, 06:36 PM
The pull chain switch that turns the lights on/off on our ceiling fan recently broke. After replacing it, the lights turn on again but they are about 50% less bright than before. I wrote down the wiring connections and believe I replaced them correctly while working on the light. Any thoughts on what might be causing this?
joed
08-25-05, 07:26 PM
If you could give us some idea of the connections you made it be helpful.
I suspect you wired the lights in series instead of parallel.
I suspect you wired the lights in series instead of parallel.
John Nelson
08-25-05, 07:28 PM
Is the switch you installed an exact replacement of the switch you removed? There are a million different kinds of these things. I suggest you contact the fan manufacturer and get an exact replacement.
tb22
08-25-05, 08:05 PM
I'll answer the easy question first: The replacement switch is exactly the same as the old one.
As for the hard question, here is the wiring (as best I can describe it):
Three white wires run from each of the three light sockets and are all joined in a bundle. Then a fourth 'connector' white wire runs from the bundle up to a white wire in the ceiling. I did not have to touch these connections to change the switch.
Similarly, three black wires run from each of the three light sockets and are joined to a fourth black wire that comes from the chain-pull switch mechanism -- these four wires form a second bundle that does not directly connect to wires in the ceiling. (I had to disconnect this 4th wire from the bundle during the switch replacement and connect the equivalent wire from the new switch.)
Lastly, a 5th black wire comes from the chain-pull switch mechanism, and connects to a blue wire in the ceiling. I also had to disconnect this wire from the original switch and connect the equivalent wire from the new switch.
One other piece of information that may help is that the light now makes a very low humming noise. Hope all this helps. Thank you in advance for all your help, this is all new to me being a 2 week home owner!
As for the hard question, here is the wiring (as best I can describe it):
Three white wires run from each of the three light sockets and are all joined in a bundle. Then a fourth 'connector' white wire runs from the bundle up to a white wire in the ceiling. I did not have to touch these connections to change the switch.
Similarly, three black wires run from each of the three light sockets and are joined to a fourth black wire that comes from the chain-pull switch mechanism -- these four wires form a second bundle that does not directly connect to wires in the ceiling. (I had to disconnect this 4th wire from the bundle during the switch replacement and connect the equivalent wire from the new switch.)
Lastly, a 5th black wire comes from the chain-pull switch mechanism, and connects to a blue wire in the ceiling. I also had to disconnect this wire from the original switch and connect the equivalent wire from the new switch.
One other piece of information that may help is that the light now makes a very low humming noise. Hope all this helps. Thank you in advance for all your help, this is all new to me being a 2 week home owner!
AFineFix
08-27-05, 12:56 PM
Pretty straightforward repair normally.
Check to make sure your grounds are all connected and correct. Some of these units have a plastic ball socket that isolates the fan/light from the ceiling receptacle (to allow some movement of the rotating assembly), requiring that the ground be completed down to the fan/light unit with a separate (usually green) wire.
Also, this is a wild long shot, but if the switch is part of a reversing mechanism for the fan, check to make sure that the switch is not a directional switch with some sort of electronic component added.
Good luck!
Check to make sure your grounds are all connected and correct. Some of these units have a plastic ball socket that isolates the fan/light from the ceiling receptacle (to allow some movement of the rotating assembly), requiring that the ground be completed down to the fan/light unit with a separate (usually green) wire.
Also, this is a wild long shot, but if the switch is part of a reversing mechanism for the fan, check to make sure that the switch is not a directional switch with some sort of electronic component added.
Good luck!