Ceiling fan failure

[Arctic Fox]

The ceiling fan in our lanai has stopped working - the motor still makes its usual noises as I sequence through the speed settings, but the blades remain motionless. It is 20 years old so I suspect a new fan is in order.

The fan has a 3' pipe joining it to the high ceiling. My ladder isn't tall enough to reach the top but I can get to the top of the fan unit where it joins the pipe. Is this likely to be something that unscrews so I can leave the pipe in place and just mount a new fan unit on the bottom?

Is there a particular "fan man" that you recommend if I decide to have it replaced professionally (which Mrs Fox assures me is the way to go!)?

Thank you

[oldtimes]

The ceiling fan in our lanai has stopped working - the motor still makes its usual noises as I sequence through the speed settings, but the blades remain motionless. It is 20 years old so I suspect a new fan is in order.

The fan has a 3' pipe joining it to the high ceiling. My ladder isn't tall enough to reach the top but I can get to the top of the fan unit where it joins the pipe. Is this likely to be something that unscrews so I can leave the pipe in place and just mount a new fan unit on the bottom?

Is there a particular "fan man" that you recommend if I decide to have it replaced professionally?

Thank you

You will need an electrician. The wires that connect the fan are in the box in the ceiling. The whole thing needs to come down to replace.

[retiredguy123]

I would suggest buying a fan from Dan's Fans. If you spend enough, ($200 or so), the installation will be free. My fan was installed by a licensed electrician, and it took about 5 minutes. He did need to detach it from the ceiling. I think the remote control receiver is located in the ceiling enclosure. But also, the fans are designed to be connected at the ceiling, and usually come with their own rod.

[TommyT]

Based on your comment about the drop down tube...... PLEASE call Dan's Fans or an electrician !!!!

[villagetinker]

The ceiling fan in our lanai has stopped working - the motor still makes its usual noises as I sequence through the speed settings, but the blades remain motionless. It is 20 years old so I suspect a new fan is in order.

The fan has a 3' pipe joining it to the high ceiling. My ladder isn't tall enough to reach the top but I can get to the top of the fan unit where it joins the pipe. Is this likely to be something that unscrews so I can leave the pipe in place and just mount a new fan unit on the bottom?

Is there a particular "fan man" that you recommend if I decide to have it replaced professionally (which Mrs Fox assures me is the way to go!)?

Thank you

To answer your question about using the existing pipe it is a definite MAYBE. There are slightly different ways to connect the motor unit to the pipe extension. The newer fans seem to have standardized these and you can buy separate extension pipes as necessary. However, your fan is old enough that it may have and odd ball connection. As for the wiring, after turning off the circuit breaker, you should be able to cut the wires at the motor and using wire nuts connect your new wires. Once again, this fan is old enough that it may not use the "standard" Black, White, Blue wires, so you would probably have to get to the ceiling connection to verify wiring.
IMHO, I would borrow a neighbor's ladder to get to the ceiling and do a complete new install.
There are several handymen that can handle this type of project, I do not have first hand experience, as I tend to do my own work.

[Arctic Fox]

Thank you all for your useful and informative replies.

It certainly sounds as if, with my limited DIY skills, getting a professional in is the way to go.

My preferred route is to buy a fan from Lowe's and have a local electrician do the install, so grateful for any recommendations on who best to use.

Thank you

[dewilson58]

Thank you all for your useful and informative replies.

It certainly sounds as if, with my limited DIY skills, getting a professional in is the way to go.

My preferred route is to buy a fan from Lowe's and have a local electrician do the install, so grateful for any recommendations on who best to use.

Thank you

Lowes will have installers.

Lenhart is good.

[Toymeister]

Your fan capacitor is bad. It is in the part where you attach the light. You can get these on Amazon for 10.00.

It's a simple remove and replace.

[Arctic Fox]

Your fan capacitor is bad. It is in the part where you attach the light. You can get these on Amazon for 10.00.

It's a simple remove and replace.

Interesting. I have been meaning to replace that as one of my fan speeds stopped working.

Will give it a go and report back.

[Arctic Fox]

Your fan capacitor is bad. It is in the part where you attach the light. You can get these on Amazon for 10.00. It's a simple remove and replace.

I'm back!

I have removed the old capacitor (big bulges on both sides) and have the replacement ready to go in.

Trouble is, the color of the wires is slightly different so I want to be sure that I am connecting like to like.

The old one has red, purple, brown (right to left) whereas the new one has green, brown, red (right to left).

I would be tempted to connect red-red, brown-brown and green-purple but any thoughts would be welcomed.

At the other end of both capacitors are two gray wires. Does it matter which is which?

I have attached photos of both capacitors

[metoo21]

Pick a gray from the fan and connect the capacitor gray. Doesn't matter which ones.

I'm not an expert, but regarding the colored ones I'd probably try the order listed on the capacitor. So old capacitor Red goes to Green, Purple goes to Brown & Brown to Red. Seems as they may need to be wired in the order listed on the capacitor. As in 1st, 2nd, & 3rd.

If not correct, your speeds when pulling the chain will be out of order. Should be from off, Hi, med then Lo.

[villagetinker]

Pick a gray from the fan and connect the capacitor gray. Doesn't matter which ones.

I'm not an expert, but regarding the colored ones I'd probably try the order listed on the capacitor. So old capacitor Red goes to Green, Purple goes to Brown & Brown to Red. Seems as they may need to be wired in the order listed on the capacitor. As in 1st, 2nd, & 3rd.

If not correct, your speeds when pulling the chain will be out of order. Should be from off, Hi, med then Lo.

I agree with this comment.

[Arctic Fox]

Pick a gray from the fan and connect the capacitor gray. Doesn't matter which ones...regarding the colored ones...Seems as they may need to be wired in the order listed on the capacitor. As in 1st, 2nd, & 3rd. If not correct, your speeds when pulling the chain will be out of order. Should be from off, Hi, med then Lo.

Thank you

It did occur to me later that maybe the colors were irrelevant, and those three just represented the three speeds, so great that you deduce the same. And, since VillageTinker agrees, I think we have a decision :-)

[Toymeister]

You have the wrong capacitor, the values are not the same. Go to Amazon to get an exact match.

You need a 4/5/6 but you bought a 5/5/5.

[metoo21]

You have the wrong capacitor, the values are not the same. Go to Amazon to get an exact match.

You need a 4/5/6 but you bought a 5/5/5.

Doesn't the capacitor just change the phase in order to cause the fan to start turning? And this one has 3 possibilities in order to wire it to a 3 speed fan. What difference does 1 uF make between the speeds? Looking to learn.

[Arctic Fox]

You have the wrong capacitor, the values are not the same. Go to Amazon to get an exact match. You need a 4/5/6 but you bought a 5/5/5.

This one was shown as being a replacement for the fan I have, so I'm hoping it will work.

Would trying it out cause any problems? I don't want to start a fire!

[villagetinker]

Your fan speeds will probably be slightly different with the capacitor you picked, in an ideal world, yes I would have matched the original unit exactly, but since your fan is 20 years old this may not be possible. The one you have is very close and should work just fine.

[Toymeister]

This one was shown as being a replacement for the fan I have, so I'm hoping it will work.

Would trying it out cause any problems? I don't want to start a fire!

Hmm, there are dozens of 4.5/5/6 capacitors on Amazon. This is much closer than what you bought

[Arctic Fox]

Hmm, there are dozens of 4.5/5/6 capacitors on Amazon. This is much closer than what you bought

A shame, but at the time I bought it, several months ago, I had not taken out the old one (as it was still running two of the three speeds) so I didn't know what type it was. I just went with the fact that it was listed as a replacement for my fan. Will post here how well it works, or doesn't.

[Ellwoodrick]

You have the wrong capacitor, the values are not the same. Go to Amazon to get an exact match.

You need a 4/5/6 but you bought a 5/5/5.

Good catch!

:bigbow:

[dsgreen3]

I'm back!

I have removed the old capacitor (big bulges on both sides) and have the replacement ready to go in.

Trouble is, the color of the wires is slightly different so I want to be sure that I am connecting like to like.

The old one has red, purple, brown (right to left) whereas the new one has green, brown, red (right to left).

I would be tempted to connect red-red, brown-brown and green-purple but any thoughts would be welcomed.

At the other end of both capacitors are two gray wires. Does it matter which is which?

I have attached photos of both capacitors

Youtube, has some very helpful videos on changing ceiling fan capacitors https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpc5MQvHGo8

[sjeffries]

It’s your fan and your call, but after having a ceiling fan awaken me and burst into flames over my bed one night, I’d say, “REPLACE IT!”

[Burnie]

It seems to me that if you want to do this for the fun of doing it, go for it. However if it was me, I'd just get a new fan.

[Arctic Fox]

Your fan capacitor is bad. It is in the part where you attach the light. You can get these on Amazon for 10.00. It's a simple remove and replace.

Many thanks for correctly diagnosing the problem, Toymeister.

All now working well :a040:

Nice to have all three speeds back (and they seem to be similar to before, but can't tell exactly).

[Elixir34]

[QUOTE=Arctic Fox;2235249]The ceiling fan in our lanai has stopped working - the motor still makes its usual noises as I sequence through the speed settings, but the blades remain motionless. It is 20 years old so I suspect a new fan is in order.

The fan has a 3' pipe joining it to the high ceiling. My ladder isn't tall enough to reach the top but I can get to the top of the fan unit where it joins the pipe. Is this likely to be something that unscrews so I can leave the pipe in place and just mount a new fan unit on the bottom?

Is there a particular "fan man" that you recommend if I decide to have it replaced professionally (which Mrs Fox assures me is the way to go!)?

Thank you[/QUOTE

My lanai fan failed. I opened the housing under the motor and inspected the components. The “multi” capacitor that enables the 3-speed feature had a bulge on one side. Purchased an exact replacement (by part number, under$10) from Amazon and wired it in. Did not have to take the fan down to make the repair. Fan still working normally after two years.

BTW … Repaired a failed 12-year-old microwave oven by replacing its shorted electrolytic capacitor and a blown internal fuse. An on-line troubleshooting guide explained how to test the oven’s diode, capacitor and magnetron. Both exact replacement parts (fuse and capacitor) purchased from Amazon for about $12.

[RICH1]

DANS FANS…. Cheaper in the Long RUN…. Big mistake, Lowes
Quality

[Carl Q]

I can install a new one, or just remove the old one. HandymanQ quennie@wcvt.com

802 503 7088

The ceiling fan in our lanai has stopped working - the motor still makes its usual noises as I sequence through the speed settings, but the blades remain motionless. It is 20 years old so I suspect a new fan is in order.

The fan has a 3' pipe joining it to the high ceiling. My ladder isn't tall enough to reach the top but I can get to the top of the fan unit where it joins the pipe. Is this likely to be something that unscrews so I can leave the pipe in place and just mount a new fan unit on the bottom?

Is there a particular "fan man" that you recommend if I decide to have it replaced professionally (which Mrs Fox assures me is the way to go!)?

Thank you

[Arctic Fox]

I can install a new one, or just remove the old one. HandymanQ quennie@wcvt.com 802 503 7088

Thank you, Carl.

I'll keep your contact details for any future needs, but fan now working after capacitor replacement.