Depending on your ceiling height, the pull chains on ceiling fans can be cumbersome to deal with. Have you ever had one snap when you pulled it? There is a simple apparatus you can install to put your ceiling fan on a remote control!
There are a bunch of “universal” ceiling fan remote control kits to choose from for overhead fans that are controlled by pull chains and/or a wall switch. All of the remote control kits should have on/off and a speed control. Some ceiling fan remote control kits might feature light-dimming and thermostatic controls. However, whether or not you can use a ceiling fan remote kit depends on the amount of space inside the fan canopy where you have to install the receiver.
If you want to install the ceiling fan remote control yourself, remember to keep the receipt in case anything doesn’t fit right. There are “ceiling hugger”–style fans that should have enough free space for the receiver. But, “down-rod” styles usually don’t.
First, shut off the circuit breaker to the fan and lower the canopy. To ensure the power is really off, try using a voltage sniffer. Once you’ve lowered the canopy, check the fit of the receiver before you commit to wiring it in permanently.
When the power is officially off, tale the hot and neutral wires and connect them to the “AC-In” wires on the receiver. Then, connect the three remaining wires to the fan and the light, which should be labeled by the manufacturer.
If you have close neighbors, consider changing the frequency on the ceiling fan remote transmitter and receiver to prevent you or your neighbors from controlling one another’s fans.
