Lighting, Light Fixtures, Ceiling and Exhaust Fans - Brown out causes ceiling fan hum
Doityourself.com community forum was created to provide answers to all questions related to home improvement and home repair. Doityourself community can help you find information about how-to topics on small fixes to large remodeling projects. With comprehensive how-to content and expertly moderated community forums DoItYourself.com makes it easy to tackle even the most complex home improvement projects.View Full Version : Brown out causes ceiling fan hum
jeeden
02-11-09, 09:24 PM
So we just had a wicked cold front come through the area with 60mph winds that caused extensive brown outs (lights dimmed for 20 seconds multiple times) then a final power outtage for about 5 minutes.
About a month ago I installed a 60 inch Hunter Grand Lodge ceiling fan in our great room. It's on a 5ft extension pole and came with a hunter remote. It has been running fine and nearly non-stop since installation on low speed. After the brown out and power outtage, I turned it back on and noticed that the fan was putting out a "hum" noise. I don't remember this noise at all before. I did a quick search on the internet and read somewhere about manuals (not mine, I checked) saying to turn the fan off for an extended period of time like 8 hours and then turning it back on to try to solve the issue. I let it stay off for an hour and then turned it back on and noticed it is really a loud hum on any setting. I assume it seems louder because I was more sensitive to it with it being off awhile.
Does anyone have any ideas? Do you think the remote receiver in the ceiling took a hit? Worse, do you think the fan motor took a hit? I know what low voltages can do to motors...
I'm dreading having to work on this, it's an 18ft ceiling and I had to rent a special ladder etc to install. I'm hoping someone has some great idea or I'm going to wind up getting the ladder again to go up and try it without the remote.
One last note: I did notice a slight wobble in it when I turned it back on. I hadn't noticed it before, but I haven't really looked at the fan that closely in operation since I installed it.
About a month ago I installed a 60 inch Hunter Grand Lodge ceiling fan in our great room. It's on a 5ft extension pole and came with a hunter remote. It has been running fine and nearly non-stop since installation on low speed. After the brown out and power outtage, I turned it back on and noticed that the fan was putting out a "hum" noise. I don't remember this noise at all before. I did a quick search on the internet and read somewhere about manuals (not mine, I checked) saying to turn the fan off for an extended period of time like 8 hours and then turning it back on to try to solve the issue. I let it stay off for an hour and then turned it back on and noticed it is really a loud hum on any setting. I assume it seems louder because I was more sensitive to it with it being off awhile.
Does anyone have any ideas? Do you think the remote receiver in the ceiling took a hit? Worse, do you think the fan motor took a hit? I know what low voltages can do to motors...
I'm dreading having to work on this, it's an 18ft ceiling and I had to rent a special ladder etc to install. I'm hoping someone has some great idea or I'm going to wind up getting the ladder again to go up and try it without the remote.
One last note: I did notice a slight wobble in it when I turned it back on. I hadn't noticed it before, but I haven't really looked at the fan that closely in operation since I installed it.
pcboss
02-12-09, 04:52 AM
Try to start the fan at high speed and then reduce the speed after it is spinning awhile. Followup.
jeeden
02-12-09, 08:19 AM
Well, this morning it didn't seem as bad. I did try it on multiple speeds as well. I wonder if my mind was just playing some tricks on me because the house was so quiet with all the different appliances being pretty quiet with the power problems. It still seems noisy to me, but it is a really big fan and of course I'm not looking at it very critically. It's definitely got more noise than the other hunter fans in the house that also have the remotes on them.