Re: Casablanca Ceiling Fan

I've seen no replies to this message from 9/5 so am re-posting it in hopes
someone in the newsgroup can venture a guess on how this fan/light control
circuit works given only two wires to both the fan and 3-button
controller...

I've given it a little more thought and come to the conclusion that the
return signal path may be through the steel screws connecting the fan and
switch controller to the mounting boxes via earth ground. I still have no
idea of what is inside the controller unit since it is "sealed", but the
"receiver" inside the fan has two circuit boards with several transistors,
diodes, caps, triacs, etc.

Bob


"Bob Shuman" <no_spam_thx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:KcgLg.21218$kO3.9010@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I just repaired a 20-year old electronic Casablanca ceiling fan (cold
solder on the control board in the fan causing intermittent to the light)
and wondered if someone could provide some insight into how it worked.

The fan runs on standard 120VAC (US), but only used two wires: a white
neutral and a colored switch leg. The switched leg ran to a three button
Casablanca wall mounted controller. The controller only had two wires: a
black hot and the other "switched leg" to the fan. The three controller
buttons are: 1) two position master power on/ff, 2) momentary contact fan
(depressing each time steps the fan through increasing speed settings),
and 3) momentary contact light (which similarly steps the brightness up to
the light fixture at the base of the fan. Pressing the two momentary
switches simultaneously reverses the fan direction.

It appears that the wall controller must send the control signals over the
switched leg wire. Can someone provide insight into what is inside the
controller that is used and how they distinguish between the fan and
light? I am assuming it is a fairly simple device, but wonder how it is
done since there is no neutral wire provided to the wall controller to
support an "active" transmitter circuit.

Thanks in advance for insight. The device is working fine, but I'm
curious and would like to better understand the technology being employed.

Bob




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