Ceiling Fan Switch Types

Speed Controls

• Fan speed controls are available in one of three types, although it's also possible to utilize a combination of all three. Single-throw switches offer a simple "on" or "off" position, while sliding controls have either a stop at each of several positions or continuously sliding controls, like in dimmer switches. Finally, some switches may use separate buttons that control power and speed.

Light Controls

• Some ceiling fans include lights. The switches that control these lights appear alongside the speed control for the fan itself. These light switches can have either a single-throw or sliding dimmer type. They can also take the form of separate buttons to control power and light levels.

Hard-Wired vs. Battery-Powered

• The switches that control a ceiling fan must communicate with it electrically. They can do so by physically completing or disrupting a circuit, in which case they must be hard-wired into that circuit in the wall. However, they can also do so by sending a radio frequency signal via a remote control. In this case the switch may be mounted anywhere and moved around at will, but its battery power source may eventually require replacement.