fans and dimmers

[sparkybird]

It's been a long old day, so be kind to me...

Is it possible to use a normal timer fan with a dimmer switch? ie fan comes on with lights and runs on from permanent live for set time.

I feel I should easily know the answer, but my brain is a bit fried!

I think the answer is NO as if the lights are switched on but not at full brightness, the fan could be damaged over a period of use. If this is the case, is there a way round it other than having a separate swtich for the fan??

The fan (6W) is being switched with 4 x 9W LED lights (4 x 10W dimmable drivers)

Thanks!
SB

 

[flameport]

The answer is no - fans won't work properly on a dimmed output.

However, dimmers with a second switched live are available: http://www.phaseliner.co.uk/

But - if the total load is just the fan and the LED lighting, the next problem is that the majority of dimmers have a minimum load of 60W or more.

 

[sparkybird]

Flameport - thanks for confirming that. Will see if I can hunt down a low load dimmer of that type

SB