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After pulling the chain out of the ceiling fan :-( , I replaced the switch with a new one from Home Depot, being careful to replace the colored wires exactly as they had been. The fan works, but is on all the time, cycles from low to medium to high but no "off" as you pull the chain. Any ideas? I've never before done electrical beyond changing out a wall switch. Thanks!!
Just checked it again this morning, and it actually goes Fast, Medium, Medium, Medium in the sequence of four pulls. No Slow or Off. I hope this makes sense to someone...
I guess you ought to open it up again and check the wiring. The colors aren't really standardized except the black, white, and ground. Maybe it's not the right switch?
Last night, I found a page on HGTV's website that showed the process. The switch looked identical, is listed as a three way fan switch and has L 1 2 3 places to put the wires which are lavender, grey, light brown and black. Looked exactly like the picture they showed. I know the black is hot, but thought that the others made the three speeds. Their instruction was to remove the four wires from the switch to remove it from the fan rather than removing the caps and untwisting the wires it is attached with. I'm wondering if I got a light wire in there somewhere as they are present even though there is no light on the fixture. Any more thoughts?? Thanks!
OK, did some reading...claypa, you were right! These switches are notorious for looking fine on the outside and being wrong on the inside. Went to Lowe's to see what they had, brought one home ($1.97), opened the package and, low and behold, it is the same "Zing Ear" as was in the old fan, same model numbers, etc. Just put it in and Voila! three speeds and off are working. Definitely a lesson...these switches are very specific and a little fickle! It was sold under the brand of Hampton Breeze, if anyone else is looking for one of these switches.
