OT: any (home) electrical handimen out there - WEIRD problem

[ard]

no p-car content whatsoever - only reason I am posting here is because I am impressed with the analytical thinking exhibited by P-car owners (oh, and I do have a 993).

Here is my problem:

* I have a ceiling fan w/ a built-in light fixture (in my house, not my 993 )
* the light is wired to a wall switch
* There is a remote control which controls the fan speed and can also turn on / off the light fixture
* the light bulb is a 120V 100W halogen bulb
* there is also a 2nd wall switch which "enables" the light to be controlled with the remote control - analogous to a "switched outlet" if you will

When I turn on the light using the wall switch, the light is as bright as you'd expect for a 100W bulb. HOWEVER, when I turn on the light using the button on the remote the light is very dim.

The truly weird part is that using the on/off switch on the remote USED TO turn on the light to the same brightness as the wall switch, but it has gotten progressively dimmer in the last 2 months or so.

I have already changed out the 9V battery on the remote to a fresh one - no change.
Furthermore, the Lo/Mid/Hi speed buttons on the remote do turn on the fan to the corresponding speeds.

Any thoughts on where I to go with this problem For better or worse it's not in my nature to immediately whip out my checkbook, flip the yellow pages and call an electrician - I can't imagine this one being so difficult to figure out.

Does anyone have first-hand knowledge of home-DIY-forums where this might get traction?

Many thanks in advance

/alex - in the dark (sometimes)

[911s55]

Try in the "Off Topic" forum please!

[oldE]

Alex,

Replace the rotary dimmer switch.

Les

[dhoward]

Try holding the light button on the remote down for a few seconds. Many of these fans have have a built-in dimmer function. It remembers the last dimmer setting...

[DByers]

ard, as dhoward mentioned most of these remotes have a "last level function" or favorite function to where they will go to the last known setting other then off or a preset level that the user has determined.
You should search for your install and instruction manuals (paper) on line as I am sure you are like the rest of use and don't have it stuffed away somewhere and see if you can figure out how the remote and fan functions. Also with most of these fans, there is a collar in the fan housing or at the ceiling box that actually controls the fans functions. That may be bad. They will and do go bad frequently unless you have a Casablanca or a fan of that level. If it came from a DIY place it is a 3 year fan at best.
If you were to call an electrician he would most likely deem the fan "bad" and have you buy a new one.

[Porsche_monkey]

It sounds to me like the device is not supposed to be switched off, except via the remote. Is that possible? I.e. you should never use the wall switch, as that removes all power from the fan and it pukes the memory?

[nineoneone]

I have same fan, hold down the light button and it will fade to off. Touch it quickly and the light comes on, if you continue to hold it down it will go from bright to dim..... I love having it remote.

[911boost]

dhoward and nineoneone are correct. mine does the same thing. Hold down the light button until the light goes off, press it quickly, it will be bright again.

Bill

[TerryH]

old rheostat or dimmers don't like motor draw

[Joeaksa]

Originally Posted by BSiple

dhoward and nineoneone are correct. mine does the same thing. Hold down the light button until the light goes off, press it quickly, it will be bright again.

Bill

Same here. Turn the master (wall) switch on and leave it on, control it from there on with the remote.

[ard]

Boy do I feel dumb - the "problem" I reported was as simple as having forgotten that the remote control has a dimmer function. I guess over the last couple of months by pressing the on/off switch on the remote I had held it just long enough to get it to dim a bit each time.

Holding the button down cycled through the dimmer settings to full brightness.

Thanks to all who replied.

/alex

[dhoward]

Cool!