Why do fan switches start on high?

The motors used in fans start best under high impedance. If there is high friction in the bearings, going from off -> low may not be sufficient to start the fan. Putting high first ensures the motors have adequate voltage to start.

What does L 1 2 3 mean on a ceiling fan switch?

The 4 wire switch has markings on one side that shows, L 1 2 3. The L stands for Load which is the Black wire. 1,2,3 are the fan speed control wires. You can test the speeds one at a time by (Power off) hook up one of the other wires then power on and try it.

How does a 3 speed fan switch work?

With 3-speed motor, Hot voltage connects to main winding at 3 different points. Only 1 point at a time receives power. That’s what the fan switch does. When voltage is applied to each point, the main winding is energized as voltage from Black Hot wire completes circuit with White neutral wire.

Is 1 the fastest fan speed?

(i.e. — “1” is the fastest setting and “3” is the slowest.)

Should I start my ceiling fan on high?

If you have high ceilings, operate the ceiling fan at its lowest possible speed to bring the warm air trapped at the ceiling down to occupant level. If you continue to feel a breeze at the lowest setting, you can still benefit by operating the fan only when there are no people in the room to feel the draft.

Are 3 speed fan switches Universal?

Some fans have a switch that only turns the fan on or off, while others have a switch that powers the fan at three different speeds. Switches are not universal, so you will likely have to remove the defective switch before searching for a replacement part.

Do ceiling fans start on high or low?

Is it bad to run ceiling fan on high?

While ceiling fans don’t eat up a significant amount of energy (which is why so many people take advantage them for their homes), they do still contribute to the cost of your electricity. Additionally, running the motor of your ceiling fan can actually add heat to the room.

Is it bad to start a fan on low?

The faster the motors goes, the greater this resistance (also known as back EMF). If a fan starts on a low speed, it takes longer to produce enough back EMF to limit the current.

Why is my fan speed switch off HIGH HIGH LOW?

– Electrical Engineering Stack Exchange Fan speed switch: why OFF :: HIGH :: MED :: LOW? Many AC fans, including inexpensive floor models, have a rotary speed control which rotates from OFF to HIGH to MED to LOW. Since the switch does not rotate 360°, you have to rotate it backwards to shut it off.

Can you control the speed of a fan with a dimmer switch?

This allows you to set the fan speed at any level between off and maximum. Because of this, capacitors appear in fans with a full range of speed settings, from 0 percent power to 100. Numerous sources, including the authors of the book “Electrical Wiring Residential,” warn against using dimmer switches to control the speed of a fan.

Why do fans use the second order of speeds?

The second order of speeds seams more logical (speed progressively increases) yet any speed control device I’ve seen uses the first order of speeds. It’s because the type of motor used in most fans (shaded pole) doesn’t have a lot of starting torque, and it lower on the lower speed settings. The fan starts on high to get it moving.

Why is my Ceiling Fan running fast only on high speed?

If you notice that your fan runs fast only on high speed and doesn’t spin properly on a medium as well as slow speed then you must install adequate speed control switch. Here few people make mistake and install a dimmer switch. This dimmer switch can damage the ceiling fan’s motor and even it could possibly cause a fire.