Knowing so much that electrical fault on electrical equipment is inevitable. We should always consider the maintenance of this equipment when they develop a fault. Our ceiling fans at home sometimes do develop one fault or the other. But of all the ceiling fans faults 70% of the fault are caused by damage or a bad ceiling capacitor.
The ceiling fan capacitor is one of the most important components of a ceiling fan. Without the capacitor, the fan cannot be able to function.
How to connect a capacitor to a ceiling fan.
Each time we face a problem like a humming noise, slow speed, not rotating, fan light kit ON but fan not rotating then know that the fan capacitor is faulty. Ceiling fan capacitor replacement is always the best option to keep the fan running in good condition again.
A ceiling fan is a single-phase motor that needs a starting capacitor to split the phase angle between starting and running winding to produce a magnetic field. A capacitor in the ceiling fan provides the leading phase shift of 90°. The capacitor feeds current to the starting coil of the ceiling fan before the fan starts to run.
The coil winding of ceiling fan are of two types, the main winding(Running) and the auxiliary winding(starting). The fan capacitor is connected in series with the starting winding. The figure below illustrates how the connections are made for easy understanding.
How to detect a faulty ceiling fan capacitor.
There are so many signs that develop when ceiling capacitors are aging or completely dead. These signs are;
Slow in the speed of the ceiling fan: When the ceiling fan speed starts to reduce and runs slow, even when the supply voltage is at normal voltage. This just a common sign that the capacitor of the ceiling fan is aging and not effective again as it is prone to completely die from any moment. At this stage, the fan capacitor is still functioning but can stop functioning completely at no distance time.
Humming noise when working:This is when the ceiling fan starts to make a humming noise during operation. This noise can either be caused by a bad capacitor or the jam-baring of the ceiling fan.
Not rotating at all when turn ON: In this case, the fan fails to rotate when turned ON. But can rotate if the blade is pushed to starts with a hand. In this case, either the ceiling fan coil has brown or the fan capacitor is bad and is due for a change. But most time it is always the faulty capacitor that is causing it.
how to replace a faulty ceiling fan capacitor
Having inspected the following fault on ceiling fans and finds out the problem is from the capacitor. Is now time to remove and replace the capacitor with a good working one.
CAUTION: electricity does not know friends or your qualifications. Adherence to all electrical safety measures will help a long way. So knowing your safety is not enough but practicing them.
Follow the steps below to safely replace the faulty ceiling fan capacitor;
Switch off the supply from the distribution board: This is to make sure that the circuit is dead. Meaning there is no flow of electricity through the circuit why working on it.
NOTE: is always dangerous working on a live circuit Switch OFF or remove the cutout fuse why working on a circuit.
Lose the ceiling fan from the ceiling using the spanner and Screwdriver: While doing this, erect a scaffold or ladder to reach the ceiling fan. This will make you feel comfortable and free why losing the fan. During this process avoid mismatch.
You, first of all, disconnect the wire and loss the ceiling fan down.
Lose the upper and lower cup of the ceiling fan to discount the faulty capacitor: The capacitor of the fan is always located under the lower cup of the fan. To loss, the cup, use a screw driver to lose a nut holding it.
Disconnect the capacitor and inspect and test the capacitor.
NOTE: always discharge a capacitor after u disconnect it. because without discharging it. It can shock when comes in contact with the terminals.
Take note of the value of the capacitor disconnected from the fan. After disconnecting the capacitor, note down the value of the capacitor because that should be the exact value of the capacitor you are to connect back. So take note of the value of the capacitor and buy a new one to replace it.
Replace the faulty capacitor with a new one: On replacing the new one, tighten the new one to the position of the old one. And connect the capacitors wires to the ceiling fan.
Connecting a ceiling fan capacitor.
In connection with the capacitor. It has two terminals black and red or positive and negative.
On the ceiling fan, are three terminals of wires. Black, white, and red. So connect the source/supply wire to the ceiling fan as follows.
Use the following ways to connect the capacitor wires.
- Connect the black wire of the supply to the white terminal of the fan. And the Red terminal of the supply to the black of the terminal of the fan.
- Now it remaining one wire terminal from the ceiling fan and the capacitor terminals.
- The red terminal of the ceiling fan should be connected to the negative side of the capacitor.
- The remaining terminal of the capacitor(RED) should be connected or join with the black and white of the fan.
Now the ceiling fan is ok and ready to work well again. So fix it back to the ceiling and tight very well. And turn on the supply from the distribution box where it was disconnected before. And enjoy your fan working properly again.
