Electrical question

awheelterd

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 18, 2007
Location
Kenly, NC
How does the power wire for a ceiling fan light get to the actual light? The light fan combo in my son's room buzzes and the lights dim when turned on. I thought it was a bad led bulb, one was blown so I changed it. Same thing. Thought he might have messed up the pull cord switch jumping on the bed and snatching it. Bypassed it and same thing. Took bulbs out, turned the light switch on and hear the buzz. Changed the light switch, still f'ing buzzes..
 
You run 3 conductor to the fan. The romex will be white red black the fan will be bk for fan blue for light. It's possible that fan is set up for a remote or you have a dimmer switch or smart switch causing an issue. Or maybe a neutral issue. Try disconnecting the black or blue wire and turning it on.
 
braxton357 said:
You run 3 conductor to the fan. The romex will be white red black the fan will be bk for fan blue for light. It's possible that fan is set up for a remote or you have a dimmer switch or smart switch causing an issue. Or maybe a neutral issue. Try disconnecting the black or blue wire and turning it on.
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No dimmer, no remote, no smart anything. Just a regular spst switch to to the light and a separate one for the fan. Shared neutral at the fixture I presume? I haven't pulled it off the ceiling yet to check the wire nuts but the fan works fine.
 
Check the connections at the wall switch too. Since you said you replaced the bulb, I'm guessing they're standard Edison base with no driver in the fixture. If so, install the bulbs one at a time, see if the driver in one is the problem. It sounds like a bad connection, though.
 
shawn said:
Check the connections at the wall switch too. Since you said you replaced the bulb, I'm guessing they're standard Edison base with no driver in the fixture. If so, install the bulbs one at a time, see if the driver in one is the problem. It sounds like a bad connection, though.
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Yes, these are just regular Edison bases. I replaced the wall switch and it still buzzes and the lights dim when power is applied.
 
awheelterd said:
Yes, these are just regular Edison bases. I replaced the wall switch and it still buzzes and the lights dim when power is applied.
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I think somebody already said it, but don't forget about the neutrals.
 
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Checked the wire nuts and the wire for the light fixture was not well wrapped around the solid wire coming from the wall switch. Twisted them up better and put the wire nut back on. So far so good. Still not convinced thats the whole issue. Neutral wires were tied together fine.
 
awheelterd said:
First Coffee GIF by Pizza Ninjas
My son who's room this is in would be all about it. Only 6 but he loves the women. My wife teaches high school and he macks on those teenage girls like a champ 🤣
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Still buzzing, dim lights. Throwing in the towel and ordering a new fan.
 
If you wanted to dive in there are likely two connections thouh this can vary by fan.

There will be the primary connection in the canopy where you hook everything up.
There will typically be a secondary connection in the light kit. Most residential style fans are offered with and without a light. This may be a plug in connector or factory wired under insulated crimps.

The fact that it buzzes with no bulb in - is concerning. It would indicate some current flow. Id want to take the thing apart even if you replace it for morbid curiosity. Could be a chaffed wire inside partially (but very slightly) shorting to ground. COuld be a bad light socket as well, I guess.

Also if you turn the fan on does the buzzing change?
 
Ron said:
If you wanted to dive in there are likely two connections thouh this can vary by fan.

There will be the primary connection in the canopy where you hook everything up.
There will typically be a secondary connection in the light kit. Most residential style fans are offered with and without a light. This may be a plug in connector or factory wired under insulated crimps.

The fact that it buzzes with no bulb in - is concerning. It would indicate some current flow. Id want to take the thing apart even if you replace it for morbid curiosity. Could be a chaffed wire inside partially (but very slightly) shorting to ground. COuld be a bad light socket as well, I guess.

Also if you turn the fan on does the buzzing change?
Click to expand...
Agreed, the buzzing with no bulbs is what concerned me as well. It definitely sounds like something pulling down the voltage, like a short to ground, but not enough to trip. Very weird. Im more used to high voltage and when things ground even a little they pop spectacularly. Its getting replaced and ill dig in to figure out the root problem. Not knowing stuff like this drives me mad.

The light kit is seemingly very simple. It is just black and white wires coming through the middle of the fan to a pull cord switch and from their to the bulb sockets. I bypassed the pull cord switch already and it does the same thing.
 
benXJ said:
Don't fans with a light have some 'control box' built in for -something-

a little black resistor/relay/whatevers

maybe that is on the fritz?
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Figured there was something else but haven't been able to find a drawing showing what or where.
 
benXJ said:
Don't fans with a light have some 'control box' built in for -something-

a little black resistor/relay/whatevers

maybe that is on the fritz?
Click to expand...
Yeah what you said.....speed control issue. Is it just a different tap into the motor windings like a transformer?
Inquiring minds wanna know!
 
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