ceiling fan lighting wattage limiters

masraum · 08-05-2013, 05:29 PM

Just learned something new in the few days.

The government decided that as well as the regulation of light bulbs and the types of bulbs that can go in ceiling fans, they also required manufacturers to put wattage limiters into ceiling fan light kits. I guess this isn't a terrible thing. Manufacturer makes a ceiling fan and says "don't put anything higher than a 40W bulb in this fan, owner decides he wants more light and puts four 100W bulbs into the fan instead. I guess the govt is protecting stupid people from themselves, so they require the manufacturers to put a gizmo in the fan that kills the light if you exceed a certain wattage (I think an example would be 190W for a fan meant to take four 40W bulbs).

The problem is that after a few years, your lights stop coming on, and if you're lucky, they just blink on and off instead.

Well, the good news is that if you are willing to take personal responsibility, when the limiter goes bad, you can just take the darn thing out. I put in regulation bulbs anyway. I'd put CFL or LED bulbs that use fewer Watts in place if there were any good ones of adequate output that would fit in the spot.

I think that Hunter makes quality ceiling fans, and the fan motors have a lifetime warranty. They told me that the lighting limiter would be $35 + $8 shipping. No warranty on the limiter.

The one in my fan was the exact same part as in the video.

Don Ro · 08-06-2013, 02:28 AM

The house I just bought has 9 ceiling fans...a few are ugly and I just bought replacements.
Thanks for this...I'll look to remove the unit.

.
F'g Gov't, anyway.

Drdogface · Drdogface's Garage

How many years have they been putting these things into fans?

What's the best source for dim able LEDs ?

wdfifteen · wdfifteen's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by masraum

The government decided that as well as the regulation of light bulbs and the types of bulbs that can go in ceiling fans, they also required manufacturers to put wattage limiters into ceiling fan light kits. I guess this isn't a terrible thing. Manufacturer makes a ceiling fan and says "don't put anything higher than a 40W bulb in this fan, owner decides he wants more light and puts four 100W bulbs into the fan instead.

Receptacle melts down, house catches fire all because some guy's wife/kid doesn't get the concept that watts = heat = fire. Lots of receptacles I've seen lately are so cheaply made they are barely capable of withstanding their rated load, so I'm not surprised that their power limiter is so cheaply made it won't last. You're right, it's not a bad thing, but it's often poorly executed.

masraum · 08-06-2013, 07:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drdogface

How many years have they been putting these things into fans?

What's the best source for dim able LEDs ?

I believe the regulation may have been 2005, so it's been around for a while.

masraum · 08-06-2013, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

Receptacle melts down, house catches fire all because some guy's wife/kid doesn't get the concept that watts = heat = fire. Lots of receptacles I've seen lately are so cheaply made they are barely capable of withstanding their rated load, so I'm not surprised that their power limiter is so cheaply made it won't last. You're right, it's not a bad thing, but it's often poorly executed.

Absolutely, I get the point and don't have too much of a problem with it.

biosurfer1 · 08-06-2013, 10:22 AM

I have had great luck with LED's lately. The last two bulbs I replaced (one incandescent, one CFL) you can't notice a difference, but I certainly will on the electric bills. I will gladly accept a slightly less light output for a bulb that costs $.72/year assuming 6 hours a day usage!

masraum · 08-06-2013, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biosurfer1

I have had great luck with LED's lately. The last two bulbs I replaced (one incandescent, one CFL) you can't notice a difference, but I certainly will on the electric bills. I will gladly accept a slightly less light output for a bulb that costs $.72/year assuming 6 hours a day usage!

We replaced the bulbs in our recessed fixtures in the kitchen with LEDs. Not only will the usage be great, but the quality and quantity of light is as good or better than any other bulb that we tried in them. Not only that, but they are more attractive.

The problem is that the only bulbs that will fit in this ceiling fan are candelabra type bulbs. There are two bulbs, and two 60W bulbs provide all of the light for the room. If I had to go from 120W incandescent output to the output of a couple of 15-20 Watt bulbs, I may as well just take the bulbs out. Unfortunately, I'm stuck with incandescents in this fixture for now.

Pretty much every other bulb in the house (and outside) is either LED or CFL.

Rusty Heap · Rusty Heap's Garage

ummmmmmmm, it's called a thermal circuit breaker..............it's not a secret squirrel device.

Long live the 100 watt bulb, I bought over 300 of them just to last the next 5-10 years.

PS..............CFL and affordable LED's suck.

Rick V · 08-06-2013, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rusty Heap

PS..............CFL and affordable LED's suck.

Amen Brother. My house was built in the 40's and still has the vast majority of the original ceiling fixtures in it, they are enclosed and the bulbs lay sideways.(they have all been rewired with new sockets) Yeah can you say good bye CFL or any LED that costs less than ten bucks a pop?

biosurfer1 · 08-06-2013, 01:56 PM

do you have enough room for one of these?:

E12 to E27 Light Bulb Lamp Socket Enlarger Adapter Candelabra to Standard Base on eBay!

Quote:

Originally Posted by masraum

We replaced the bulbs in our recessed fixtures in the kitchen with LEDs. Not only will the usage be great, but the quality and quantity of light is as good or better than any other bulb that we tried in them. Not only that, but they are more attractive.

The problem is that the only bulbs that will fit in this ceiling fan are candelabra type bulbs. There are two bulbs, and two 60W bulbs provide all of the light for the room. If I had to go from 120W incandescent output to the output of a couple of 15-20 Watt bulbs, I may as well just take the bulbs out. Unfortunately, I'm stuck with incandescents in this fixture for now.

Pretty much every other bulb in the house (and outside) is either LED or CFL.

Rusty Heap · Rusty Heap's Garage

don't even get me started on GFI's.

dad911 · 08-06-2013, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rusty Heap

don't even get me started on GFI's.

?? If wired right they shouldn't be a problem.

Rusty Heap · Rusty Heap's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by dad911

?? If wired right they shouldn't be a problem.

Yeah right.......................

................. stable and consistent, always full power on and tickle resistant, bullet proof and dependable, just like a woman in bed....

cough.

I guess maybe "they suck" was an over statement.

GFI's, are wayyyyyyyyyyy too hair trigger.

they trip at only 5-6 milli-amps!

http://www.fluke.com/fluke/usen/community/fluke-news-plus/articlecategories/grounding/chasing-ghost-trips.htm

dad911 · 08-07-2013, 10:12 AM

Hijacking the thread... but as a homebuilder I very rarely get callbacks on GFIs. Only ones I recall were when someone was trying to use a device that should get a dedicated circuit, like a freezer or a treadmill. Or the kids pushed the buttons and the parents wonder why the outlets are dead...

Figother · 01-27-2015, 10:58 PM

Emerson CF765BS Loft Indoor Ceiling Fan is lastest brand of ceiling fan having 60-Inch blade span, brushed steel finish and brushed steel blades.. It has four-speed wall control; remote control adaptable. It is quite and moves alot of air