Ceiling fan remote control DIP switches

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Greg1707

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Alexandria, VA
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Business owner Electrical contractor
I installed remote controlled ceiling fans in three adjacent bedrooms. There were no wall switches connected to the fans. Since there were no DIP switches, pairing these fans was cumbersome. This required disconnecting fans from the power while each fan was paired separately. So, what happened to DIP switches? Remotes without DIP switches are considered an improvement over the previous system?
 
Greg1707 said:
I installed remote controlled ceiling fans in three adjacent bedrooms. There were no wall switches connected to the fans. Since there were no DIP switches, pairing these fans was cumbersome. This required disconnecting fans from the power while each fan was paired separately. So, what happened to DIP switches? Remotes without DIP switches are considered an improvement over the previous system?
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Garage door openers went to this sort of thing long time ago. Though security of those is different than that of a ceiling fan, I think it does help enhance security. You have to match the two in a "pairing mode" where with the dip switch one could keep trying different settings until you find the right one and never have to gain access to the item being controlled in the process.

I knew of guys when I was still college aged (when the DIP switch type GDO was all there was) that would have a remote, typically was used when they went back home to their parent's house, that for entertainment would drive through neighborhoods and see how many doors they could open with them. Once in a while they would find one. Was no further intentions with these people but still exposes a security risk.
 
At my old house, I replaced the HVAC units at some point...there were two...one for upstairs and another for the main level and basement. I had selected this fancy Honeywell thermostat that communicates wirelessly to a companion relay box that hooks up to the inside air handler unit. Well, the HVAC contractor had two teams in the house that day, one concentrating on each system. I'm standing there with the guy on the main level trying and he's trying to pair up the thermostat with the its remote box...it just isn't working. The upstairs guys are complaining too. Then it dawns on me that the pairing process of the downstairs unit is being interrupted by the upstairs unit's pairing and vice versa :) Well, once we figured that out, it worked.
 
Greg1707 said:
I installed remote controlled ceiling fans in three adjacent bedrooms. There were no wall switches connected to the fans. Since there were no DIP switches, pairing these fans was cumbersome. This required disconnecting fans from the power while each fan was paired separately. So, what happened to DIP switches? Remotes without DIP switches are considered an improvement over the previous system?
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All I have ever done is shut off the switch for each fan except the one I am programming
 
Frank DuVal said:
And there is the real problem! A fan goes bad and trips the breaker. Now, all the fans are dead until the one is fixed. I know, not really going to happen to more than 1% of installations...
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Is a design issue, and not a requirement until they are over 300 VA or 1/8 HP.
 
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