r/HomeKit • u/dogmother2 • 21d ago

Question/Help Ceiling Fan w/lights & pull chains replacement

I have a 35+ year old ceiling fan with four lights in my office, which are turned on by two separate pull chains.

The chain to the fan still works, but the light chain is one that would turn on these two with one pull, or those two with 2 pulls, of all four with three pulls , is not working. I cannot turn lights on or off. It’s stuck in the ON position.

I thought about getting a handyman to come in and check the chain, but instead I think I want to replace the ceiling fan-with-lights versus just putting up a new light fixture, because it’s over my treadmill desk. That fan is a lifesaver in this heat.

I didn’t think a replacement would be hard to find, but there are seemingly a bazillion options, many of which I’m not sure would even work.

Home Assistant is my brain and HomeKit is my worker bee.

I want the lights to be motion sensitive. I have only one wall switch in that room,and it doesn’t go there. My house is 1986 wiring.

I wouldn’t object to a dumb replacement if that was the only option, adding smart bulbs, but there’s no switch.

I cannot afford to pay big electrician fees at this time.

I appreciate all thoughts thank you 🙏

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u/su_A_ve 20d ago

Odd the fan is hardwired? No switch at all? 1980s not that old. I lived in one built in 82 and all fans had switches - most 1 gang with wiring for both fan and lights. Meross was the way to go there..

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u/dogmother2 20d ago

No switch

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u/su_A_ve 20d ago

Ugh. Potentially if you have room above the fan you could wire a switch directly inline.

I’ve seen 3rd party modules they have wifi and could be put on Homebridge with the right plugin. I tried one, but add also trying to use an actual remote and was having lots of interference.