A faulty light, loose wire connection, faulty driver or problem with the remote control are all reasons why this could be happening. This post aims to cover 4 reasons why this is happening from the point of view of an electrician.
Ceiling Fan Fault Finding
Let’s look at how ceiling fans are wired. Modern DC ceiling fans don’t consume as much power as their AC predecessors. They are typically wired with 1mm2 cable which goes from the ceiling fan to a wall switch. This cable tracks back to the switchboard where the cable is connected to circuit protection breakers. In this case, a ceiling fan will be on a 10 amp circuit breaker and also an RCD.
The 10 amp circuit breaker works to protect the circuit if the fan gets a short circuit or overload. The RCD works to protect anyone from getting a fatal electric shock from the fan or switch.
Ceiling Fan Light Fault Finding
Modern ceiling fans typically have a light which can be controlled from a remote. This light is typically an LED.
LEDs on fans don’t draw much electrical current but can sometimes be temperamental.
The base of the fan contains an LED driver which the light will be plugged into.
An LED driver’s job is to provide the right voltage and current for the light to operate properly.
The light will fail to work if something goes wrong with the LED driver, the plug connection to the LED driver or the LED light itself.
Inside the base of the fan is a communication device which receives signals from the remote control. If the remote control isn’t working for some reason then the light will also not work.
Let’s look at four different reasons why this might be.
Remote Control Ceiling Fan Light Not Working? – Reason #1
Faulty LED Light
Likelihood: Moderate – often due to installer or manufacturer error.
In our experience, faulty LED lights can occur due to installer or manufacturer error.
They can also simply fail due to the fickle nature of cheap LED lights on fans which aren’t designed to last for a long time.
A loose connection can be checked for by unscrewing the LED light fitting and checking that the plug connection is intact.
Remote Control Ceiling Fan Light Not Working? – Reason #2
Faulty Connection Between LED Driver and LED Light
Likelihood: Moderate – often due to installer or manufacturer error.
A faulty connection between the LED driver and LED light will also cause this problem.
The LED driver helps provide the correct voltage and current to the LED light so it can function correctly.
If this connection is loose or severed then the light won’t work.
By unscrewing the LED light or otherwise removing it, you might be able to see if the connection to the driver is intact. You won’t be able to see the driver, but you will be able to see a tiny plug with two little pins.
If the plug is securely connected then this won’t be the problem. It could be due to the LED driver itself.
Remote Control Ceiling Fan Light Not Working? – Reason #3
Faulty LED Driver
Likelihood: Moderate – LED drivers fail often
The LED driver may be faulty. This driver is usually located at the base of the fan. As the driver is contained inside a single component with the fan motor you won’t be able to replace the driver itself.
Instead you will probably need to replace that whole LED driver plus fan motor component or the fan itself.
If you purchased this fan within the warranty period you may be able to get it replaced for free. Contact whoever installed the fan.
Remote Control Ceiling Fan Light Not Working? – Reason #4
Problem With Remote Including Flat Battery
Likelihood: High
Before concluding that there is a problem with the light make sure that the remote has fresh batteries.
If the batteries are good, and other fan controls work then the problem is with the light button itself. Luckily you should be able to get a new remote for the ceiling fan via your installer or fan supplier.
A remote control can also lose its pairing with the ceiling fan transmitter located in the ceiling fan. Re-pairing the remote control with the fan is different for each model so you will need to check the manufacturer’s instructions for this.
Electricians Perspective
A ceiling fan light can stop working for four main reasons, all of which are quite likely to happen. These are a faulty light, faulty driver, a loose connection between the light and the driver, and a remote control fault. If you have established that the remote control isn’t to blame then it is likely due to the first three things. This is often caused by a manufacturing defect so contact your installer about your warranty for a replacement.
We Fix Faults is an electrician blog interested in finding and fixing common faults around the home. If you have any ideas on topics to cover please send us a message at the link here.