Ceiling fan questions

[BobL]

Our ceiling fans are all 25 years old or older. They have the standard 3 or 4 speed wall plate ON/OFF speed control. One is stuck on a medium speed and one is going V E R Y S L O W L Y so I figure it's time for an upgrade.

We'd like fans with a remote but I see they nearly all used DC motors. Does this mean the DC has to be provided using an adapter Or do they still connect to Mains AC and convert it to DC internally. I realize the old controller will need to be replaced by something like a simple switch. I ask this because one fan is going to be very difficult to get new wiring to if it needs a dedicated DC power.

[rwbuild]

Use existing wiring

[62woollybugger]

We were in the same boat last summer. Bought some expensive DC ones with three high pitch blades that move a lot of air at low velocity, not like the cheap ones with low pitch that need to spin at high speed. They can also be reversed from the remote, so no need to climb up & change them. The electrician had to replace the old controllers with an isolation switch & then we just mounted the remotes on the wall, as they also have the light control on them. The DC ones turn back & forth for a bit when you first turn them on, till they decide which way to go.

[Sir Stinkalot]

Hi Bob .... The new DC are the way to go and streets ahead of the old AC fans - much quieter and efficient. They run off AC but convert to DC internally so nothing additional needed. The electrician will remove your old wall plate and replace it with a standard light switch which will be the isolation switch. With ours we have the switch wired so that it is on in the off position. This allows the fan to operate when the switch appears to be off which is handy if it is in a gang of switches with lights etc as guests tend to turn off the fan not knowing what it is for. The remote normally has a wall mount bracket and with all the ones we have allow you to swap the direction of the fan from the remote, so you can go from summer to winter mode without having to climb the ladder and flick a switch. All that being said the purchase of a quality unit is money well spent. Inside we have 5x Aeratron fans and a Hunter Pacific externally - no issues with any.

[Beardy]

Second the comments on the DC fans, much better units

[BobL]

Thanks Everyone - very helpful.

[China]

I 3rd what is said above I had to move into the modern age when my trusty fans retired it was a move well made.

[rrich]

Based on the 3 Casablanca brand ones that we have my advice is to go with another brand.

Look for a remote with a tactile feel in the buttons.
Be sure to take the batteries out of the remote if you are expecting a long period of nonuse. The remote does present a constant drain on the batteries regardless of any A/C power to the fan.
Except for the bedroom, the control mounted in the PowerPoint box is by far the best alternative.