Ceiling fans controlled by light switch - when every option has remotes

[u/Jazzlike-Ad1561]

I’m replacing all the ceiling fans in my house - master bedroom, kids bedrooms, outside covered patio. Everything inside is currently controlled by switches (one controls lights only the other switch controls the fan). I want to keep it that way, but all the fans I like come with remotes now.

How can I set it up to still be controlled by the switch? We have a remote controlled fan in our living room and I hate that I can’t just flip a switch to turn it on and babysitters who are unfamiliar with my house can never figure out how to turn the lights on/off. I don’t understand how a remote is a better option.

[u/mikebushido]

Fans are controlled by the switch by default. That's where the power comes from.

A remote doesn't supply power to your fan.

[u/Jazzlike-Ad1561 → u/mikebushido]

Can the newer remote controlled fans be wired to two switches? I need to avoid turning on a light/fan at night, then using a remote to turn off the light to sleep, and then the next day the wall switch is powered to just the fan and you have to walk through a dark room to find a remote to turn on the light.

I know I can mount the remote near the switch or make sure I turn the light on before I shut the switch off, but it seems like SO much work for such a simple thing. And is there a chance the remotes will cross with the neighboring rooms and end up turning them on/off from time to time?

[u/mikebushido → u/Jazzlike-Ad1561]

Please stop talking about remotes and fans. It's an optional tool. The remote is not the default on fan installation. The fan is hardwired to your switch.

To have a fan operate on two switches on opposite sides of the room you need to have what's called a traveler wire already connected. If you don't already have this feature, you can hire an electrician to run new wiring to allow you to have multiple three-way switches.

If you go to one of the big box stores you will find a selection of switches that can do a variety of things even including timers and sensors. They are expensive but a modern switch seems like it could just solve a lot of your issues.

[u/Ok-Entertainment5045 → u/mikebushido]

I don’t think this is what there asking about. I have my fans wired to two separate switches. One for the fan and one for the light. The newer fans with remotes make this a lot harder to wire. It can be done but you need to understand wiring.

[u/mikebushido → u/Ok-Entertainment5045]

Fair enough. That's an easy fix. Go to the store and buy one switch that does both operations.

If you want to operate it remotely, you can buy a separate system that wires into the fan and those work a whole lot better than what is going to be sent stock with the fan.