I'm on the hunt for a ceiling fan that utilizes dual wall switches—one for the light and another for the fan itself. I'd really appreciate it if the fan speed control was a slider, too! It seems like all the fans in stores these days come with remotes, which doesn't work for me. We prefer having Wi-Fi switches installed around the house to control things through our phones or via voice commands with Alexa, and that requires proper wall switches. I also find it tough to integrate remotes with Wi-Fi switches. I remember when ceiling fans from 20 years ago had these dual switch setups, but it looks like those days are behind us. Does anyone have any recommendations? Thanks a bunch!
2 Answers
You might want to look for what's called a "pull chain ceiling fan." They're not as prevalent now, but you can still find them. Just double-check the installation instructions to confirm that the fan motor and light can be connected separately. Also, be cautious with dimmers; they can make the fans buzz. Many new fans come with DC motors and need a control unit that can only accept one power wire. You can wire them to a switch, but you'll still need that remote for lighting and speed adjustments. Luckily, my DC fans remember their last setting when powered off, so I mostly just use the wall switch!
You know, those remotes you see in stores can usually be wired to wall switches. All seven of my ceiling fans have remotes and are also wired to dual wall switches. We just keep the remotes on end tables for convenience, so we don’t have to get up to adjust them. Just make sure to hire an electrician who knows their stuff!
I get what you're saying! I've got some experience with electrical work. The issue is that modern remote-controlled fans generally only come with one set of control wires for power to the control unit, unlike the older pull-string fans that had separate wires for the fan and light.
That sounds about right! I’ve noticed that the newer fans have the DC motors just like you mentioned. I guess I’ll have to start searching for pull string options. Thanks for the info!