fan controls

[CopperTone]

I have a customer that wants to use 1 speed control switch that will control 2 paddle fans - I think it would work fine but never have done it that way. Has anyone done it that way?

 

[1793]

I have a customer ... Has anyone done it that way?

Not me, but I'm interested in hearing from others.

 

[hurk27]

I have done it, but you have to watch that the load does not exceed the rating of the control.

Most controls are about 300 va, but I have seen some of the cheaper ones that have a 150 va rating, fan motors can range from 36 to 80 va.

so bottom line is you have to check. also you can get FC's with a much higher wattage if needed, I have used some rated at 1200 watts

 

[mcclary's electrical]

I've done it and stayed well within the parameters of the load specified by controller and it still seemd to damage the controller, about once a year it would need to be replaced. But that was ten years ago and I have not done it since. There's bound to be a controller that can do this now without burning up.

 

[active1]

Lutron has them. I never liked them much. I remember it had a low speed adjustment under the cover. Too low and 1 fan doesn't start. Set too high and you don't have much low speed. It was more of the knob potentiometer style, not the 3 presets.

 

[nakulak]

never done it for resi, I just installed a few speed controls for some commercial fans, they run 6 or 8 fans ea. try checking with the manuf to see what they offer.

 

[eds]

Lutron has a couple Maestro series in one that we use some, control up to 4 fans as long as each fan is 1 amp or less.

 

[Sierrasparky]

Don it and it works fine. Just do not overload the speed control and make sure the internal Fan speed control is at it's faaaaastest

 

[hurk27]

Don it and it works fine. Just do not overload the speed control and make sure the internal Fan speed control is at it's faaaaastest

Good point anytime using a external fan control.

 

[LarryFine]

Grainger carries multi-fan controllers, too.

 

[Chamuit]

My 2?

My 2?

I have installed the Lutron Maestro fan controls and like them.

Don't like the Lutron Skylark line personally.

Residential that is.

 

[Power Tech]

I have a customer that wants to use 1 speed control switch that will control 2 paddle fans - I think it would work fine but never have done it that way. Has anyone done it that way?

Is there a reason you do not want to use the factory controllers with all the neat buttons? No load problems, set the same code in the fan relay, done.