Question

Anyone have trouble with their fan making noise after installing smart switch? I have the Honeywell z wave three speed. Electrician installs with fans switch- no noise, installed with smart switch, loud motor noise

Answer 1

Yes. That will occur with any dimmer on a fan. You are not supposed to use dimmers on motor loads. Big no no. Your fan motor or switch will burn out quickly. You should only use on/off smart switches or ones like Lutron makes for 3 speed fans. Other 3 speed fan switches I have seen all hum and dont work well. The arent really synched with the fan motor current needs for each speed. But yes, make sure the fan motor is set to high. Hum from switch or fan motor means something aint right. Buzz/hum/Noise = waste energy, heat.  

Comments

@cence not true. GE/jasco makes a fan switch. Works perfect  

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@backstroke8943 what's not true? I stated she needed to get a fan switch and not all fan switches work with all fans. Seen plenty hum or make motors hum. Its still trial and error with fans, after 25 yrs of doing this.  

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@cence I’m not using a dimmer. I’m using this smart switch made specifically for a fan.  

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I hear what you’re saying though, and it definitely sounded like the load wasn’t right for the fan speeds. Only on high speed did it seem right.  

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We ended up using the fan switch that came with the fan. It’s an upgrade from the pull chain at least ‍♀️

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@haubergeon yes. That is very typical. It seems to be a combo between the fan motor and the switch. If they aren't synched for the right speed/current settings, one or the other, switch or fan motor, will buzz or hum. We've had several where we didnt find a solution that worked. Even with $250 high-end switches from Lutron and Crestron. Were in Fla, and most people just keep them on high speed. Then we use an on/off switch and it works great. No noise, no issues, you just use the pull chain if you want to change speeds, but no one ever does here.  

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It literally says specifically "fan control" in the first picture. It is specifically designed to work on fans.  

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And it still didnt work!  

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@hartzel I know, right? I tried to call Honeywell while electrician was here to see if they could help trouble shoot. I got passed around, and then Honeywell tells me they no longer support it. Called the company they said now supports it, and they too denied the product/ wouldn’t support/ Tried to send me back to Honeywell. I was over it by then, it’s going back. Super annoying though. Amazon has lots of great reviews for the product.  

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I also called manufacturer of my fan. They said not to use any other switch, and that I voided my warranty installing it with this switch.  

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@haubergeon unless you gave them your name, phone # or something else they have no way of knowing you installed this switch and not the factory one and voided said warranty

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@valuate oh, I know.  

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Right but your point is moot Dan.  

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@hartzel yeah, good luck to you too. :/

Answer 2

Make sure the pull cord on the fan itself is set to high.  

Answer 3

Yes, as @cence said, you need a fan switch. I use one from GE

Comments

It literally says specifically "fan control" in the first picture. It is specifically designed to work on fans. Even better this essentially IS the GE one since both this one and the GE one are actually made by Jasco.  

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@hartzel you're right. I know the sound she's describing. I've done it. I haven't used the Honeywell switch, but agree it should be the same as the GE version.  

Answer 4

We use the Leviton Fan Control z wave switches and work and haven't had an issue with noises. They work great also I've ina GE one as well with no issues.  

Answer 5

Does it (the fan) have any kind of remote control? If it does (and best to check anyway) you need to remove the receiver in the canopy of the fan.  

Comments

Was the fan and fan lights controlled by the same switch before?  

Answer 6

Here is a way to wire up a fan still using the fans capacitor.  

Answer 7

I use insteon devices and have a feeling fan controlled with one of their celling fan controllers without issue

Answer 8

Is the fan a DC motor fan? If so you have to use the fan manufacturer's switch/remote. On the plus side, some of the new DC motor fan remotes come with Bluetooth built in.  

Comments

@will46 it is a DC motor. No Bluetooth though.