My ceiling fan keeps running at a very low speed although the power switch is turned off at the wall switch and by the pull cord. Is there any danger, and what is happening?
Ceiling fan malfunction
ceiling-fan
Related Solutions
Ok, I don't have an answer about average multi-position switch longevity, but I went ahead and went on my hunch that this was a switch issue and not a fan issue. I found a replacement switch that was almost identical to my broken one and replaced it, and the problem is now solved. I had to look in envy at the other newer switches that use an analog slider to give finer control over the fan speed. But because they had different switch dimensions and because my current fan switch was already in a wall port with a faceplate featuring three switch slots, I went with the part that matched mine.
So, on a sample size of 1, the duration of a wired four-position ceiling fan switch is 14 years.
Chances are its the starter capacitor. This is the device used to give the motor an initial boost of power to overcome the initial load required to get the fan to start.
If you can open the fan, you may see this component swelled up and melted, if so, you will need to replace with a suitable candidate (read the text of the starting capacitor)
Best Answer
Unless there is airflow causing the fan to turn, the fan is getting power. Disconnect the 2 wires powering (be careful, they could be energized) the fan and do a voltage check between each wire and ground. Both should be dead. If not power is coming from somewhere.