Can I put a dimmer switch on a ceiling fan?

Question

I have an outdoor ceiling fan with a light kit. Yes, the fan part has multiple speeds. My issue is with the light kit. When I'm cooking at the grill, I like the bright light, but when we are eating out there, it's nice to have a little mood lighting.

I thought I would install a dimmer switch so I could vary the light (and I can always up the speed on the fan if I needed if faster), but the switches I've seen at Home Depot all say "not for use with motor driven appliances". I tried one anyway, and of course it didn't work.

Is there a way to do what I want?

Thanks!

There are only 2 wires run between the fan and switch, and there is only one switch. I am not interested in running more wires and/or adding a 2nd switch.

Answer 1

they are all WRONG! you need 12/3 wire, that delivers seperate power to the light and fan. the fan will be hot always and controlled by the pull chain and the light on the dimmer.

Answer 2

Ceiling Fan Dimmer Switch

Answer 3

Ceiling Fan Light Switch Wiring

Answer 4

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Can I put a dimmer switch on a ceiling fan?
I have an outdoor ceiling fan with a light kit. Yes, the fan part has multiple speeds. My issue is with the light kit. When I'm cooking at the grill, I like the bright light, but when we are eating out there, it's nice to have a little mood lighting.

I thought I would install a dimmer...

Answer 5

If you're not interested in running more wires then you're not going to get the light controlled separately from the fan. You would need a set of separate wires from the dimmer switch to the light fixture to do what you want. The fan control switches that are available from home improvement or hardware stores will slow the fan down at the same time it dims the lite, if you can live with the slightly slower speed of the fan when the lites are down then it will work. Just make sure you get a switch designed for the fan.

Answer 6

I have dimmer switch on only the light fixture of my celling fan. If you fan and light have two seprate on/off chains it should be easy. And if the main on/off switch is a regular light switch.
1st get a dimmer switch from the hardware store.
2nd get the tools needed
3rd turn off the power to the cercuit or the house if not sure which one to turn off.
4th take off old switch and install new dimmer switch.
5th turn on power and test.
but, of course I am not an electrian so do take my advice as solid.

Answer 7

They make what looks like a regular light switch with two slider knobs on the side of it. One is a dimmer switch and the other is a four position speed switch; off, low, medium, high. It will fit is the same space a regular toggle switch fits in. You'll need 4 wires running from the fan to the switch. One for each of the three fan speeds and one for the light fixture.

Answer 8

YES, THEY DO MAKE A "DIMMER TYPE SWITCH" FOR A FAN. THE ONLY ONES I SAW THOUGH HAVE 3 SET POSITIONS ON THEM, LOW, MED, HIGH. THEY COST A BIT MORE ( A FEW BUCKS ANYWAY) THAN A REGULAR DIMMER SWITCH, WHICH ARE ONLY FOR INCANDESCENT BULBS, NOT FLUORESCENT. DIMMER SWITCHES CANNOT TAKE THE LOAD OF A MOTOR, OR THEY BURN OUT, SO YOU ANSWER IS , YES THEY ARE MADE, LOWE'S OR HOME DEPOT SHOULD HAVE THEM, THEY MIGHT BE IN THE AREA WHERE THE FANS ARE SOLD.

Answer 9

YES ,, for the life of me i cant think of the name of the switch you are wanting but it installs just like a regular light switch but it slides up and down to adjust the fan speed a dimmer switch would work also but the slider switch would be best

Answer 10

Jack the toads right, you have to run an extra wire two have two power lines for two separate appliances (lights & fan motor), you will burn your fan motor out with a regular dimmer.