How to upgrade ceiling fan with added remote?

[arun11australia]

Currently I have a fan with wall control as per the photo. The other switches on the left are for the lights which are separate from the fan so the only way fan is currently controlled is through that round circular 123 switch.

• so if I upgrade my fan to the DC motor ceiling fan with the remote, what will happen to my circular switch? Can that be changed to a normal switch for the fan that I am upgrading or can that stay as is and my fan I control from the remote?

[EricL]

Hello @arun11australia 

I believe that a fan with a remote control can't have a wall switch attached to it. It has to have one lead controller and that is either the remote or the wall switch but not both. One way to have an extra controller on your fan is to get a smart enabled fan such as the Arlec 130cm White Blades Grid Connect Smart Boston II Ceiling Fan. You have the Grid app that allows you to control your fan through your phone and the remote that comes with your unit.

Just a friendly reminder that any electrical work must be done a licensed electrician.

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric

[arun11australia]

Hi Eric

thank you so much for your message. I do not need or wish to keep wall control circular control. I am happy just to keep remote or like you mentioned fan with remote and smart app. 

however, just curious to know what will happen to my wall circular control which is posted in picture above ? Will that be of no use or can that be removed ?

thanks

[EricL]

Hi @arun11australia 

Your electrician will probably cover the switch with a blanking plate. If it is connected to a light switch that is independent of the fan, they will replace it with a single light switch. But if you wish to have it covered in plaster, you'll need the services of plasterer. 

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

[R4addZ]

Hi @arun11australia 

Simple fact is that in order for the current switch to control the old fan there must be a feed wire and a return wire. This means that an electrician can reconfigure this to enable the fitting of a switch that can be used as an on/off switch if required. Whether the fan is happy with having such an isolation switch is a different question. You would need to consult the manufacturers to be sure of that. Oh and expect to need a new 3 gang plate as in my experience, if you don't cut the switches out of the old plate just right, releasing them means the mechs become very loose in the new/old plate and end up having to be replaced!