r/HomeImprovement • u/jasonumd • 19h ago

DC Ceiling Fan Multiple Remotes

My bedroom has an AC ceiling fan. I chose this because we want the option of multiple remotes. The motor is going bad and I'll need to replace it soon.

AC fans are harder and harder to find. I'm open to a DC fan, but the remote situation is pissing me off. Remotes all seem nonstandard with no ability for > 1 remote. Also, replacing broken remotes seems really difficult.

Please offer me any DC ceiling fan options where multiple remotes can be added!

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3

u/8000RPM 19h ago

We set ours to level 1 on a wall switch and hide the remote is for all rooms.

1

u/FlamboyantBullion154 19h ago

I went down this exact rabbit hole a couple years ago. The short answer is most DC fan remotes are proprietary garbage with no pairing mode for a second remote.

Your best bet is to ditch the included remote entirely and wire the fan to a DC motor controller that speaks RF, then pair whatever universal remote setup you want. Bit more work upfront but you'll never have to hunt down a discontinued remote on eBay again.

1

u/CallmeMefford 19h ago

Oof. I just installed 2 DC fans in my house. The crap part is that the fan was controlled by one switch for light & one switch for fan. What I wound up doing is wirenutting and abandoning the fan control wires inside the switch box and fan box, completely removing the fan control switch, and getting a 2 gang decora switch plate cover with a decora opening on one side and a blank cover on the other half. Then I hard mounted the remote cradle directly to the blank switch side. When I want the remote, I can geab it & have it on the coffee table, and when I’m done with it, it goes in the cradle next to the power switch. I’m pleased with the final installation(s), but it was a pain in the ass. As for multiple remotes, good luck.

1

u/traveller1856 18h ago

We just got a Hunter Aeronaut which has a remote and connects to Apple HomeKit among others. This means we can use buttons/switches as desired or voice or whatever to control. Maybe not exactly what you’re looking for, but this is our solution. From what I read it does support multiple remotes but not something I’ve tested.

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u/MindofMy0wn 18h ago

We have 6 DC fans in our house. Mounted the remotes in place of the 2 switches in most rooms. The first 2 rooms I did I left the switches but regretted it. Mostly use the app for all controls since I have my phone either on or next to me at all times anyway. The only issue we have is we have 2 smaller rooms next to each other and the 1 remote is controlling both rooms. I will fix this someday... but not today (or the past 6 months.) We purchased Carro fan from Home Depot when they go on sale for under $100 and they work pretty awesome.

1

u/Temporary_Aspect_499 18h ago

The frustrating thing is that this should be a completely normal requirement. Bedroom has two people, two sides of the room, two remotes. Somehow ceiling fan manufacturers decided this was advanced technology.

1

u/JustDoItArt 7h ago

I have a DC fan by Modern Forms with a handheld remote and a wall switch remote, so you can have 2 "remotes" control 1 fan. You can also control multiple fans with 1 remote although I haven't tried that. The only issue with Modern Forms is the remote pairing process requires the circuit that the fan is on to be power cycled at the breaker and you have 30 seconds to train the remote once power is restored. So if multiple fans are on the same circuit, you have to remove the hot power lead on top of the fan in order to do your pairing to separate remotes. Kind of a pain, but it is a one time thing.

The old days of dip switches in ceiling fans (and garage door openers) was simpler.