Comments on: Control The Ceiling Fan From Your Easy Chair http://toolmonger.com/2009/03/30/control-the-ceiling-fan-from-your-easy-chair/ All tools. All the time. Your source for news, information, and reviews of hand tools, power tools, and tools of all kinds. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:44:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Toolmonger » Blog Archive » The Week in Tools: Toolmonger Top 5 http://toolmonger.com/2009/03/30/control-the-ceiling-fan-from-your-easy-chair/#comment-874048 Toolmonger » Blog Archive » The Week in Tools: Toolmonger Top 5 Fri, 03 Apr 2009 16:48:08 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/?p=22094#comment-874048 [...] Control The Ceiling Fan From Your Easy Chair You want to install a ceiling fan in a room that’s not wired for controlling both a fan and a light.  Sure, you can operate the fan with the pull chains, assuming you can even reach them, but then you have to get up off your duff.  This RF remote control from Hunter has solved this problem for me and will hopefully help you, too. [...] [...] Control The Ceiling Fan From Your Easy Chair You want to install a ceiling fan in a room that’s not wired for controlling both a fan and a light.  Sure, you can operate the fan with the pull chains, assuming you can even reach them, but then you have to get up off your duff.  This RF remote control from Hunter has solved this problem for me and will hopefully help you, too. [...]

]]> By: Zathrus http://toolmonger.com/2009/03/30/control-the-ceiling-fan-from-your-easy-chair/#comment-869796 Zathrus Tue, 31 Mar 2009 16:37:57 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/?p=22094#comment-869796 The reason I absolutely hated the auto-on of the Hampton remote is because it was installed in our kid's room. So a middle of the night power flicker and suddenly you have a 1 1/2 year old waking up and screaming about the exceptionally bright room. If it could've been disabled by a dip switch then I would agree that it was a feature. Oh, and she's 3 now, turns the light/fan on and off herself, and hasn't lost the remote yet. The reason I absolutely hated the auto-on of the Hampton remote is because it was installed in our kid’s room. So a middle of the night power flicker and suddenly you have a 1 1/2 year old waking up and screaming about the exceptionally bright room.

If it could’ve been disabled by a dip switch then I would agree that it was a feature.

Oh, and she’s 3 now, turns the light/fan on and off herself, and hasn’t lost the remote yet.

]]> By: Jason http://toolmonger.com/2009/03/30/control-the-ceiling-fan-from-your-easy-chair/#comment-869756 Jason Tue, 31 Mar 2009 15:44:53 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/?p=22094#comment-869756 Another solution to the remote being lost (or across the room) is to install a wall switch that works just like the hand held unit. Minka Aire offers a wall switch (WC210) that gives you full function from the wall and only needs one hot lead. I know the WC210 works with Hampton Bay(Home Depot's house brand), Harbor Breeze(Lowe's house brand), Emerson, Minka Aire and many others. These brands all use a variation of receiver Model # UC7067RC I don't think it will work with the Hunter system based on the comments about the light coming on after the power is turned on. Ceiling fans with the UC7067RC receiver will come back on to whatever the last setting from the remote was. Another solution to the remote being lost (or across the room) is to install a wall switch that works just like the hand held unit. Minka Aire offers a wall switch (WC210) that gives you full function from the wall and only needs one hot lead.

I know the WC210 works with Hampton Bay(Home Depot’s house brand), Harbor Breeze(Lowe’s house brand), Emerson, Minka Aire and many others. These brands all use a variation of receiver Model # UC7067RC

I don’t think it will work with the Hunter system based on the comments about the light coming on after the power is turned on. Ceiling fans with the UC7067RC receiver will come back on to whatever the last setting from the remote was.

]]> By: Toolaremia http://toolmonger.com/2009/03/30/control-the-ceiling-fan-from-your-easy-chair/#comment-869673 Toolaremia Tue, 31 Mar 2009 12:32:50 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/?p=22094#comment-869673 Hey folks, I have one of these on the ceiling fan in my office, and NON-DIMMABLE CFLs WORK JUST FINE! Of course, you can't dim them, but they work fine at full-brightness. I went this route because the fan is "pretty" and can only use three 25 Watt candelabra bulbs in the lamp. Not bright enough. So I finally found candelabra-base CFLs that puts out 60 Watt equivalent. Two of those and I have 120 Watt-equivalent for 25 Watts of power with very little heat and still controlled by the wireless remote. As for the automatic light on feature, it's so you can turn the lights on at the main switch without the remote when you lose the fool thing. Better than searching for it in the dark! Hey folks, I have one of these on the ceiling fan in my office, and NON-DIMMABLE CFLs WORK JUST FINE! Of course, you can’t dim them, but they work fine at full-brightness.

I went this route because the fan is “pretty” and can only use three 25 Watt candelabra bulbs in the lamp. Not bright enough. So I finally found candelabra-base CFLs that puts out 60 Watt equivalent. Two of those and I have 120 Watt-equivalent for 25 Watts of power with very little heat and still controlled by the wireless remote.

As for the automatic light on feature, it’s so you can turn the lights on at the main switch without the remote when you lose the fool thing. Better than searching for it in the dark!

]]> By: Michael http://toolmonger.com/2009/03/30/control-the-ceiling-fan-from-your-easy-chair/#comment-869430 Michael Tue, 31 Mar 2009 03:04:51 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/?p=22094#comment-869430 Walmart has a dimmable CFL--2 or 3 times the price of their regular CFLs but, hey...it dims. Look closely because they are almost hidden, but they are there. As for me, I did manage to squeeze 2 CFL bulbs into our ceiling fan light--they touch(ok rub up against) the globe but have worked just fine for the last year. The power consumption is low enough that I don't care that they don't dim. Walmart has a dimmable CFL–2 or 3 times the price of their regular CFLs but, hey…it dims. Look closely because they are almost hidden, but they are there.

As for me, I did manage to squeeze 2 CFL bulbs into our ceiling fan light–they touch(ok rub up against) the globe but have worked just fine for the last year. The power consumption is low enough that I don’t care that they don’t dim.

]]> By: Chris http://toolmonger.com/2009/03/30/control-the-ceiling-fan-from-your-easy-chair/#comment-869401 Chris Tue, 31 Mar 2009 02:15:11 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/?p=22094#comment-869401 Benjamen: Lowe's and Home Depot both stock them, at least in Michigan. I think Menard's does, too, though their selection isn't great. Most of the dimmable CFLs I've seen were floodlights. I don't think I've seen any "normal" dimmable CFL bulbs yet. cl Benjamen: Lowe’s and Home Depot both stock them, at least in Michigan. I think Menard’s does, too, though their selection isn’t great.

Most of the dimmable CFLs I’ve seen were floodlights. I don’t think I’ve seen any “normal” dimmable CFL bulbs yet.

cl

]]> By: Benjamen Johnson http://toolmonger.com/2009/03/30/control-the-ceiling-fan-from-your-easy-chair/#comment-869357 Benjamen Johnson Tue, 31 Mar 2009 01:26:21 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/?p=22094#comment-869357 @Mike Yancey and Zathrus: You know, I guess I never noticed the light coming on after a power outage (and never read the manual either), but it makes sense, because if you turn off the light at the switch and then turn it back on after about 10 seconds, the light will come on. I actually use this feature quite often. Sometimes the last person to use the remote didn't put it back on the wall and I don't want to grope around in the dark to find it so I use the light switch. I guess some people's bugs are other peoples features. ------ On dimmable CFL: I keep reading from all these different sources that you can buy dimmable CFL's at the store. I've seen expensive ones online, but I've yet to find a local store that carry any. @Mike Yancey and Zathrus:

You know, I guess I never noticed the light coming on after a power outage (and never read the manual either), but it makes sense, because if you turn off the light at the switch and then turn it back on after about 10 seconds, the light will come on. I actually use this feature quite often. Sometimes the last person to use the remote didn’t put it back on the wall and I don’t want to grope around in the dark to find it so I use the light switch.

I guess some people’s bugs are other peoples features.

——

On dimmable CFL:

I keep reading from all these different sources that you can buy dimmable CFL’s at the store. I’ve seen expensive ones online, but I’ve yet to find a local store that carry any.

]]> By: Zathrus http://toolmonger.com/2009/03/30/control-the-ceiling-fan-from-your-easy-chair/#comment-869327 Zathrus Tue, 31 Mar 2009 01:01:21 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/?p=22094#comment-869327 Do yourself a favor and return any Hunter remotes you get to the store. Then go to Home Depot and pick up the Hampton Breeze version. Same cost, same features, but the Hampton Breeze version doesn't automatically turn the light onto full brightness when there's a tenth of a second power outage. I put ceiling fans and remotes into our kids rooms when we moved in. The one Hunter remote got ripped out quickly after discovering this "feature" (and it is documented in their manual, but not on the package). I can't imagine what they were thinking. The Hampton Bay version keeps the same fan and light settings when you power it back on. Do yourself a favor and return any Hunter remotes you get to the store. Then go to Home Depot and pick up the Hampton Breeze version. Same cost, same features, but the Hampton Breeze version doesn’t automatically turn the light onto full brightness when there’s a tenth of a second power outage.

I put ceiling fans and remotes into our kids rooms when we moved in. The one Hunter remote got ripped out quickly after discovering this “feature” (and it is documented in their manual, but not on the package).

I can’t imagine what they were thinking. The Hampton Bay version keeps the same fan and light settings when you power it back on.

]]> By: Jason http://toolmonger.com/2009/03/30/control-the-ceiling-fan-from-your-easy-chair/#comment-869259 Jason Tue, 31 Mar 2009 00:03:33 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/?p=22094#comment-869259 There are wall control versions of this type of remote system that can be added to just about any ceiling fan. The wall switch works under the same principles as the hand held, it even uses the same receiver. This allows you to install a wall switch without additional wiring (some are battery powered). The new light bulbs and other issues you are seeing with ceiling fans is a result of the "Environmental Protection Act of 2005" EPACT2005 has really done a number on ceiling fans, forcing lighting restrictions on the industry. The next phase is a "Limiter" that is now required on any ceiling fans entering the country after 1/1/9. This makes your ceiling fan light turn itself off when the light consumption is 190 watts or more. There are wall control versions of this type of remote system that can be added to just about any ceiling fan. The wall switch works under the same principles as the hand held, it even uses the same receiver. This allows you to install a wall switch without additional wiring (some are battery powered).

The new light bulbs and other issues you are seeing with ceiling fans is a result of the “Environmental Protection Act of 2005″

EPACT2005 has really done a number on ceiling fans, forcing lighting restrictions on the industry. The next phase is a “Limiter” that is now required on any ceiling fans entering the country after 1/1/9. This makes your ceiling fan light turn itself off when the light consumption is 190 watts or more.

]]> By: Mike Yancey http://toolmonger.com/2009/03/30/control-the-ceiling-fan-from-your-easy-chair/#comment-869173 Mike Yancey Mon, 30 Mar 2009 21:48:10 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/?p=22094#comment-869173 Yup, no CFLs. One other factor - I have several of these in the house. When power is restored after an outage, the fan-lights come on. We have occasional power failures. It's not unusual to wake up in the middle of then night and all the fan lights are on. That said, it's great to pop into a room and use the control instead of reaching your hand up under the spinning blades. Mike Y Dallas, Texas Yup, no CFLs.

One other factor - I have several of these in the house. When power is restored after an outage, the fan-lights come on.

We have occasional power failures. It’s not unusual to wake up in the middle of then night and all the fan lights are on.

That said, it’s great to pop into a room and use the control instead of reaching your hand up under the spinning blades.

Mike Y
Dallas, Texas

]]> By: Josh http://toolmonger.com/2009/03/30/control-the-ceiling-fan-from-your-easy-chair/#comment-869093 Josh Mon, 30 Mar 2009 19:42:07 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/?p=22094#comment-869093 Most of the fans have these built in and there are several brands out there of these remote. They are nice to have, but unfortunatly you can kiss using CFL's good bye since there are not any dimmable CFL's for electronically controlled dimmers also with fans today using weird size bulbs it's even more frustrating. Most of the fans have these built in and there are several brands out there of these remote. They are nice to have, but unfortunatly you can kiss using CFL’s good bye since there are not any dimmable CFL’s for electronically controlled dimmers also with fans today using weird size bulbs it’s even more frustrating.

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