why would a ceiling fan rock back and forth when started?
July 2, 2018 · homeowner
<p>I recently replaced & installed a new ceiling fan in our Game Room. Main Wires (Red-L, White-N, Black-?, Ground).</p> <p>The instructions for new fan stated wiring Black-Black + White-White + Green-Ground... However, the Red wire is always the lead/live wire throughout our house. I wired the new fan Red-Black, and capped the Main Black wire off. Should I have wired Black-Black?</p> <p>Now that the fan is completely installed, when I turn on the fan (remote) - the fan briefly rock clockwise, and then couter-clockwise before finally speeding up to chosen setting.</p> <p>What would cause the fan to breifly turn in the opposite direction, before starting to ramp-up to correct direction?</p>
2 answers
<p>I think you have multiple hookups on the main electrical circuit that the fan is on. Red is typically the runner, meaning it is live but runs from the panel across all boxes that are on that circuit. Black is typically used as a branch wire (meaning it is used to connect individual devices, fixtures, boxes to the red runner). Not sure what is causing fan to act this way. Posssibly drawing too much power from the red lead. Be very, very careful when working with live wires. Make sure power if off at the box; not worth getting killed by electrocution. Then retire with black to black, red to red, etc; turn power on at box, and see if fan works properly. If still a problem, suggest you return fan and get another one. That fan may have design issue.</p>
<p>I would need to see wiring schematic on fan. Is there also a light on it? Take a volt meter to your red and white with switch off there should be no power, most homes have red as a switched hot wire calling it a switch leg. Without seeing schematic, I can say more people are killed with 120v than 4160v always wear protective gloves NFPA-70E tells use leather is suitable for 120v. while 4160v requires Arc Flash protection.</p>