Ceiling Fan Repair: 3 Speed Unit Stuck On High Speed

[@BEV0323]

My capacitor wasn't fried (or bubbled), so I assumed it was the fan switch itself that had quit working. I bought a new fan switch that had the same 4 wires, hooked them up according to color & numbers, just like in this video, tried it out & it worked great, yaye! I had a little trouble putting all the wires back inside the little housing it came out of but I did it. I'm a single female & felt quite proud of myself for accomplishing this. When there's not a man around, one learns to do things like this on ones own, lol!

[@Bassguitarist1985]

Thank you for your message! Glad you were successful. I'm not the best teacher, but since getting married my wife has helped me to be better at it. No body taught me how to fix stuff, I learned from trial and error and lots of research. Passing the info forward in a short video consolidating all that research into one place.

[@byroncjohnston1]

Congratulations to you lady. I, without even knowing you am proud of you. My wife is learning to do things like this also. My greatest concern about dying is thinking that I'm leaving my wife with out the help I have provide her. So I have been trying to teach her all the things that I have done so when I'm gone she will not be as devastated. Loosing her husband is going to be terrible but not knowing where the bank records are or how to fix a switch or hire a worker to fix something with out having to fear that she will take advantage of because she is clueless about quote "man things" is some thing that I can do now. When a person dies it is astounding how much they take with them. The closer they are to you the more the loss impacts you. So again congratulation.

[@pinkoctober4113]

@@Bassguitarist1985 this is a great video! But I have a concern. My little box thing looks exactly like yours except has a grey cord instead of yellow but also both fan and light chains coming out of the same thing. Yet I can't find anything else with examples of two chains coming from one controller thingy. Do you know how that can be??? I'm desperate for help. Thank you.

[@nm3547]

Did you have to screw it in?

[@Lisa-ff1tt]

Thank you… I didn’t pay attention to which wire went to each number… thank you for helping me to understand what I’m doing… never tried doing any man work before but now I have to… I’m manless❗️😂 Happy to find your video❗️

[@MerkBros]

Dude this was such a great video. Save me so much time. Thank you. my cord actually broke off in the switch. I had to take the switch apart to replace and recoil it. I totally forgot to look at the connections and was struggling to get it working. So grateful.

[@VyeBraider]

Helpful video and info. I did this and installed the wires to new switch same as numbered on old switch. Before it was H, H, H & off. Now it’s H, L, H & off. Would this be wire 2 & 3 reversed? Could it be the replacement switch has reversed numbers?

[@Bassguitarist1985]

@@VyeBraider check out my updated video. I learned there are differently configured switches with the same numbered terminals, but settings connect the leads differently.

[@dw6528]

I suspect there are actually 3 capacitors hermetically sealed within the one capacitor package. In the slow setting we have a 5 uF cap in series with the 4 uF cap which equates to 2.8uF And at 60 Hz that gives us a reactance of 1205 ohms in series with the fan. In the medium setting we have two 5 uF caps in parallel equaling 10 uF - which is then in series with the 4 uF cap - which equates to 2.2uF. And at 60 Hz that gives us a reactance of 950 ohms in series with the fan. In the high setting - we bypass all of the capacitors - resulting in no reactance in series with the fan.

[@rikmiles6531]

That was a very good video explanation of troubleshooting. No B.s. and to the point, good camera work, good lighting and sound. My 10 year old Utilitec 24 inch floor fan has this problem and this should help me solve the stuck in high speed issue

[@Bassguitarist1985]

Much appreciated!

[@DeanLisi]

I am the farthest thing from an electrician.. I’m just basically handy....So I was banging my head against the wall all afternoon .. I couldn’t figure out why I had only one speed, high. Then you said 4 way switch. Duh, off counts as 1 .. you saved the day. I was ready to rip the damn fan out of the ceiling ... thank you!

[@joebikeguy6669]

Yesterday I fixed the fan in my garage. The plastic switch had actually physically broken, so all I did was remove it completely and connected power to the medium speed wire and it is working fine. Was I supposed to connect it to the medium and low speed wires? I just use the wall switch if I need to off.

[@rickmartinez8383]

The question, I have the same setup and I understood your video, which thank you very much for, but where does the grey wire go? Mine has 2 grey wires and one goes to the reverse switch but the other I can't figure out. comes out of the capacitor

[@edhowald8588]

What is releasing magic smoke? My smoke alarm went with no apparent smoke after I installed the ceiling fan

[@rhondaclarke3220]

Thank you thank you thank you!!!! Only bit of information that was useful that I could find on the internet about which colored wires are connected to which speeds! I had to take the entire unit apart and all the wires came out and I had the hardest time figuring out how they fit back in that little unit. But thanks to this video, I got it working again!

[@MichaelMedeiros-nm8wo]

Looks great, and with a brighter bulb installed that’s all the light you need. kzbin.infoUgkxWF88GpljEn-0o34vtLFazEQ5h5Q33SjU As far as ease of installation- this was my first ceiling fan and it took about 3 hours because I had no idea what I was doing and also it’s helpful to have a second set of hands and a magnetic drill bit. Works great.

[@Bassguitarist1985]

Thank you for watching!

[@TheKgr320]

Welp, turns out it wasn't the switch on mine, but thanks for the video. Was loads of help for figuring out what I was looking at.

[@Bassguitarist1985]

Glad I could help

[@CeilingFanVideosOnYT]

There could be a short in the capacitor that makes 1 permanently connected to 2 and 3. Testing chain switch is really only accurate when all wires are removed from it except for ones only connected to meter.

[@Bassguitarist1985]

thank you for this info!

[@brendanhayes2752]

Thanks, I’m in the middle of repairing a ceiling fan with that setup.

[@Bassguitarist1985]

Glad I could help

[@juliofabrega]

Hi, Im pretty sure you can help me. I want to bypass and avoid the need to use the remote control of my fan and its light. I want to control both functions using my wall switch (it is 1 gang with 2 buttons: one for the light and one for the fan). The remote module is still in the box, so is not connected. My fan has 5 wires coming out of it (blue-white coming from the led light; and black-red-white coming from the rotor). From the ceiling I only have 3 wires hanging down (neutral-fan-light) which come all the way from the wall switch. Can you please tell me how to connect them together in order to be able to turn on the led light with one of the buttons, and turn on the fan with the other button? p.s. I dont know if its important, but I dont want to be able to change speeds. I only want it to be just one: the fastest. Thanks in advance!

[@joegoodman9232]

The only thing you didn't cover was how to remove those 4 wires on the fan switch? They are very hard to pull out from the copper spring lock clips. Or do you take the switch apart in 2 halfs to remove wires??

[@Bassguitarist1985]

Normally you can stick a pin in the insertion point where the wire goes to push the tab out of the way to release the wire

[@martinmontelongo8783]

What is the orange wire for

[@timetryp422]

The highest mF rating activates the lowest fan speed - correct?

[@Bassguitarist1985]

Yes that is correct. higher capacitance the slower the fan but more torque…the lower the capacitance the faster the fan but less torque

[@timetryp422]

@@Bassguitarist1985 Thank you - and your video was very helpful!

[@Bassguitarist1985]

Thank you for watching!!

[@mch5150]

I have what looks like (from the housing and light globes) the same exact fan and it is stuck on high as well. Must be a factory defect. Thanks for the solution to the problem.

[@williamcallahan9411]

I have a 3 speed HB/HD ceiling fan. Wont start/move on low. Runs fine on hi or medium. Can start on hi or med and then change to lo and it will keep running. Im taking an educated guess that it is not the switch because of that. That leads me to think capacitor, but i thought a failing/failed capacitor took out the hi speed, not the lo speed. Any advice on that?

[@natalian3439nano]

So I have to get an electrician? 😓 I do none of this stuff. My fan has a remote and is stuck on high speed

[@hgwash1]

I replaced the switch following exactly the same numbering of terminals as the original and now the fan stopped working even at 1 speed. Do I need a new capacitor? Anyway, the caps are over $10 so I might as well get a new fan.

[@bobghy5865]

I bought one from amezon, it won't stop the fan exat part numbet, but color of the switch was deferent

[@fiddlyphuk6414]

AH yes. The old put a capacitor in series with the line and use its impedance to slow down the fan trick. Smaller cap = higher impedance = slower fan speed. Problem is it adds that many more capacitors that are prone to overheating and failing, like yours did. But I guess maybe its cheaper to do it that way.

[@Ray1956Tunes]

what is the website you found

[@sataviataylor8261]

How do you remove the orange cap to replace the chain?

[@Bassguitarist1985]

It screws on

[@sataviataylor8261]

@@Bassguitarist1985 the chain broke inside of the orange cap. Is the orange cap cover able to be removed?

[@Bassguitarist1985]

@@sataviataylor8261 oh inside it? Its not worth the trouble. I thought you meant the brass screw ferrule where the chain goes into the switch itself. Time for a new one

[@Andgee6]

Satavia Taylor did u ever fix it?? I’m having the same problem and no one knows how to remove it>:(

[@sataviataylor8261]

@@Andgee6 not yet. You basically have to repair the part because the orange cap does not open.

[@katsthoughts8171]

My fan wouldnt turn off just one speed. Changed 3 switch but still won't turn off and only have two speed capabilities. What could it be?? Capacitor looks fine. So frustrating....

[@Bassguitarist1985]

You will have to measure the capacitor out of circuit. I didn't realize it at the time of this video but not only was the switch defective but I had a shorted capacitor. Check my channel there is an updated video on this.

[@katsthoughts8171]

@@Bassguitarist1985 ok great. I watched one more video and thought same thing, must be my capacitor. Thank you very much for replying. ❤️

[@samanthalarkins1138]

Someone replaced my 3 speed switch (when the chain broke) and since then it hasn't worked quite right. On high and low it works properly, but medium speed is just like low. What was done incorrectly?

[@Bassguitarist1985]

could be a mis wiring would be my guess

[@claymon1956]

wire loose from the capacitor...check for a loose wire

[@lesleybaeza2072]

How do open the orange piece

[@Bassguitarist1985]

screwdriver or pocket knife

[@yamuson08]

You have no idea how hard to find this information was. I'm now on my third fan switch today. The original, the chain broke inside the switch. Then I ordered one from Amazon, because my local Lowe's did not have a 4 wire switch. I installed the switch from Amazon earlier, and it worked for 3 pulls. Switch stopped clicking altogether. Then I went to Menards, because we just got one in my area, and got a switch, but low and medium are the exact same speed. Now I have a way to at least test to make sure the switch is working properly, so I don't feel like I'm going crazy.

[@Bassguitarist1985]

Thank you for watching! Yeah there are a couple different configurations for these fan switches. And some of them are even proprietary to some of the hunter fans. The only way to really know for sure if it's the right one or not is if you go and do the multimeter tests. Sorry the video wasn't much more help

[@yamuson08]

@@Bassguitarist1985 it was actually great help. The only place I'm still confused is, I was under the understanding that all 4 wire speed switches were interchangeable. I can't find the diagram for harbor breeze fans that shows which connections are made at different speeds, although it should be the same as the one you showed

[@Bassguitarist1985]

@@yamuson08 I wasn't able to find one either I just made sure to replace the switches to the exact locations on the new one and that did it for me

[@Chuncy566]

Could you please send me a good picture of the electrical drawing your using (Hampton bay) couldn't see it that good on the screen, and any others you might have thank you

[@CudjoeStoner420]

Very helpful, but so incredibly complicated. Didn't want a lesson, just a solution

[@Bassguitarist1985]

I have other videos that have a more succinct overview of the repair.

[@semiserioussam]

Bought replacement, same type, still stuck on high speed. Capacitor in good condition. Only other possibility are the wires themselves, they're not 'tinned' as suggested as I don't have a soldering iron so I wonder if that's the issue.

[@bjp0921]

Harbor Breeze ceiling fan, replaced fans switch and capacitor and fan still stuck in high speed. whats next?

[@semiserioussam]

New fan.

[@claymon1956]

@@bjp0921 You have a bad capacitor, get another and try it they sometimes are defective from the go.

[@johntuazon6462]

This vodeo is very helpfull, watching from the Philippines.

[@zlanar]

Question? My black wire is out, or cam out I think when I was tightening up the fan from wobble. Can the black wire be reconnected by opening up the switch?

[@Bassguitarist1985]

You mean the black wire that feeds the mains power? If so then possible but proceed with caution

[@Makoonga]

Releasing the magic smoke?

[@hc243102]

Metaphor for going kaput

[@alvinromo]

I can't find a 4 wire switch. Only 3 wire switch. So, how do I install a 3 wire switch when there are four wires?.. 🤔 I wonder if the capacitor needs to be replaced.

[@johnlogan1179]

3 wires for the 3 speeds and 1 wire (black) for power

[@aabad25aa]

Blade rotation switch can also give issues with speed change. Its rare but happens 😀

[@stevenjordan2547]

I’m getting power but the fan doesn’t turn

[@ihavenoname1992]

How do you open it

[@Bassguitarist1985]

switch cannot be opened to service, it needs to be replaced

[@LarryWoodley]

I can't the wires out of the switch

[@Bassguitarist1985]

Use a push tack or a thumbtack to move the contacts out of the way to release the end of the wire

[@ekoflo7114]

I have the same set up and it doset turn off

[@Bassguitarist1985]

Switch and/or capacitor is the issue. One of the caps may be shorted and/or the switch is shorted

[@reapersegura5492]

Do u have part number there web site down sorry . Please. Thank you

[@Bassguitarist1985]

sorry I do not

[@uvcoach42]

Thank you sir yah solved my problem!!

[@Bassguitarist1985]

Welcome 👍

[@philwhipple4557]

I'm just trying to get mine stuck on high.

[@carmenmartinez-ue7qk]

My fan chain came out went to buy another one cause I for how it goes but they only sale 2 wires

[@luismurrieta1299]

buen video amigo saludos desde mexico city

[@Chilllybob]

Good video thanks

[@Bassguitarist1985]

You're welcome

[@yinyangguitars6456]

Thanx for the video

[@Bassguitarist1985]

My pleasure

[@djpapachris]

Home Depot only has 3 speed switches.......

[@johnlogan1179]

That’s what you need. 3 speed fan right ?

[@yayyay7076]

Dude just bought one from Home Depot commercial electronics. It is stuck on high

[@Bassguitarist1985]

it may be the capacitor too

[@live2fish719]

I have two reds and two black wires

[@bernardchangtyseng4883]

I have the very same problem

[@geoffreybruce4180]

Interwebs?? Lol okay

[@Bassguitarist1985]

It was meant as a joke! 🤪 If you ever watch the channel Taryl Fixes Alll he calls the internet the "interscreen" ha