I have a ceiling fan which I believe someone wired improperly and I'm trying to figure it out.
I have a budget thermal camera and when the ceiling fan is switched OFF, the wires get warmer (100F)
Below is a thermal photo of the wall switch (not the dimmer, which is above it). You can see the warm wires.
The wires get progressively cooler the higher I turn up the fan speed. (Less resistance?)
So the dimmer appears to be acting as a resistor. (I guess that what dimmers do?)
Who ever installed the ceiling fan tapped in a Dimmer getting power and ground etc from the switch below it, to control the fan speed that they piggybacked onto the existing On/Off light switch.
But I suspect they wired it incorrectly.
1). Is it normal for the wires in the wall to get warmer when nothing is turned on?
2). Is a light Dimmer even appropriate for controlling ceiling fan speed?
3). Is there any risk of fire with the current setup?
4). What is the proper wiring schematic to add a Ceiling Fan Speed Control where there is already a Wall On/Off switch?
I have a budget thermal camera and when the ceiling fan is switched OFF, the wires get warmer (100F)
Below is a thermal photo of the wall switch (not the dimmer, which is above it). You can see the warm wires.
The wires get progressively cooler the higher I turn up the fan speed. (Less resistance?)
So the dimmer appears to be acting as a resistor. (I guess that what dimmers do?)
Who ever installed the ceiling fan tapped in a Dimmer getting power and ground etc from the switch below it, to control the fan speed that they piggybacked onto the existing On/Off light switch.
But I suspect they wired it incorrectly.
1). Is it normal for the wires in the wall to get warmer when nothing is turned on?
2). Is a light Dimmer even appropriate for controlling ceiling fan speed?
3). Is there any risk of fire with the current setup?
4). What is the proper wiring schematic to add a Ceiling Fan Speed Control where there is already a Wall On/Off switch?
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