Ceiling fan capacitors question - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / repair

author: BGI-YYZ
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 23, 2023, 06:57:40 pm
content: Hello, I accidentally used non-dimmable LED bulbs in a ceiling fan with a remote control dimmer and the light went very dim and then just stopped working. The fan stopped working as well. I thought it was the universal remote control receiver that was in there that was killed and so replaced it. Now the light works, but the fan does not.Inside, there are 2 separate capacitors. One with 4 wires and the other with 2. Neither appears physically damaged in any way, but suspect this might be the problem.How likely is that trying to dim these LED's ruined these capacitors? How does one go about testing if a capacitor still works?I'm a complete newbie. Thx.

author: DavidAlfa
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 23, 2023, 07:59:46 pm
content: I hope they weren't those $3 AliExpress leds, otherwise it's expected.

author: BGI-YYZ
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 23, 2023, 08:11:41 pm
content: No, the bulbs were purchased at Home Depot. EcoSmart is the brand.Still, is it likely that the capacitors are fried? Could bulbs do that?

author: DavidAlfa
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 23, 2023, 09:00:12 pm
content: Dimming non-dimmable bulbs usually cause weird behaviour like flashing/flickering, doesn't destroy them.

author: BGI-YYZ
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 23, 2023, 10:11:34 pm
content: The bulbs are fine.I don't know about the capacitors though, but I would like to know how to test them. There are 2 of them.One has 4 wires (grey / grey / green / brown) and the other has 2 (white / red)Do the colours of the wire mean anything? I see on Amazon that I can get capacitors like this, but some have 5 wires. It looks like the one with 4 wires is actually 2 capacitors in one. Grey to green and grey to brown while the other capacitor has a higher voltage but the same idea. White to red instead of grey to green/brown.Again, I have to stress, I am a total newbie and just want to fix my fan. Any direction or help is greatly appreciated.Thanks.

author: DavidAlfa
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 23, 2023, 10:18:12 pm
content: Hard to tell. Better show more pictures, specially of any electronics it might have.

author: BGI-YYZ
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 23, 2023, 10:22:27 pm
content: There are no other electronics. Just the wires from power supply from the ceiling.

author: floobydust
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 23, 2023, 10:25:06 pm
content: The non-dimmable LED light would overload the fan control board and possibly roast the triac/fuse/relay that switches on the light.It's not these capacitors, don't go on a goose chase. You can measure their capacitance value anyway.

author: BGI-YYZ
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 23, 2023, 10:33:00 pm
content: Thank you. I don't see anything else in there though, so that's why I thought it might be the capacitors.This fan/light combo is older and did not have a remote. Years ago, I bought an add on remote system that has a receiver that goes between the power source and the lights / fan so that you could turn the lights and fan on and off using a remote. I assumed the receiver got fried by the LED bulbs and got a replacement remote and receiver.Now, the light works again and I can turn it on and off with the new remote and receiver. However, the fan buttons beep, but do not start the fan, so that was what made me think that perhaps the capacitors were gone. I assumed that they were used only for the fan. Looking at the wires, it doesn't seem like any wire coming from a capacitor goes to the light bulb holder.

author: floobydust
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 23, 2023, 11:16:26 pm
content: If you can post a picture of the board, check for any fuses because I can't see a reason the fan and light circuit are related.