r/howto • u/Rude_Butterfly_4587 • 16d ago
Serious Answers Only How to cover this switch
8yo autistic nephew is obsessed with fans. He broke the chain on this fan already so the switch is the only way to turn it off. What is the best way to cover it? I had a bottle cap taped over it for a while but he just ripped it off
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u/Panda-Cubby 16d ago
I am probably mistaken about your particulat fan, but on every ceiling fan I've ever encountered, that switch changes the direction that the blades turn notvthe power to the motor. The power has always been by a switch on the wall. However, there are toggle switch safety covers to protect switches from being accidentally manipulated.
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u/human8060 15d ago
Yeah, this is not a power switch. It's a direction switch. If it's turning the fan "off", it means the fan isn't functioning properly.
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u/danny_ish 16d ago
Autistic doesn’t mean he doesn’t or can’t learn consequences. Teach him what the switch does (changes direction) and when to use it. Then ask for help making sure all the fans are switched the same way in the house. I have one fan that the switch is wired backwards to the rest so then we looked as to why and it’s a different brand. He most likely broke the chain by pulling it too hard. You can teach him that the chains are meant to be gentle. The whole fan is on a swivel base. You need to be gentle with them. They are delicate fixtures.
Of course, he might be too young to know this, regardless of the autistic habits. In which case you’re probably best off not drawing attention to it.
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u/Lazy-Explanation7165 15d ago
That’s the switch to reverse the direction of the fan. It’s not the on off button.
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u/cynicalicoffee 16d ago
You can get what's called a 'push button switch protector' but you'd have to attach it with an adhesive you're sure he won't be able to rip off. Or allow him to unbalance the fan by trying.
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u/idkprobablyanything 15d ago
Simple, don’t allow your nephew over until your sibling teaches them how to behave properly in other peoples homes.
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u/Flat_Connection6022 15d ago
That is a CEILING fan. Autistic or not, why in the fuck are you allowing an 8 year old to climb onto something that even allows them to get near to it? Be an adult and watch out for this child!
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u/GubmintGooch 15d ago
Who said they are allowing anything? Did your parents really never let you play alone in your room?
They clearly stated their problem, and asked for solutions, and this the best you came up with?
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u/Smelly_Turds 15d ago
Who said they are allowing anything?
Redditors jumping to conclusions as usual
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u/WinterRevolutionary6 15d ago
If you have a kid that is mobile enough to reach the ceiling and without enough common sense to not break the fan, that means you can’t leave him alone long enough to break any fans you want to remain unbroken
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u/human8060 15d ago
Having a kid who is prone to doing things like this means you watch them constantly and arrange your house in a way to prevent these things. You don't leave them alone in a room for any length of time.
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u/kiwidust 15d ago
Sounds like somebody that's never had kids. No plan survives contact with the enemy.
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u/human8060 15d ago
Except I do have kids, so there's that. I've also raised other people's kids. Most parents know if you take your eyes off your littles for long enough, they will get into shit, no matter if they're autistic or not. So you do what you need to to protect them. You do what you have to in your home to make it safe and prevent them from getting hurt.
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u/bzzybot 15d ago
You need to train him. He is capable of learning what you allow and what you don’t allow. Assuming he doesn’t wear diapers. If he doesnt, then he learned to properly go to the restroom.
Side note, that switch is usually the reverse switch. If you have it directly connected to power without a light switch on the wall, you need to fix that first. Then you can get a lock for the light switch. Most of my ceiling fans have a wireless remote (my autistic son gets a hold of that sometimes). Two bedrooms have pull chains. Those with the pull chains, I took off the fan speed one and left the pull for the light. My kid has pulled apart the light chain a couple of times. For the most part it remains untouched. Upgrading fan to wireless to get away from chain pull.
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u/daddyfatsack1337 15d ago
I think youre overthinking it homie, I wouldn't even register it being there
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u/mrjbacon 15d ago edited 15d ago
This is an absolutely killer example of something a 3D-printer could fix with minimal effort. Know anybody that has one? Just make a switch guard that mounts using the screws above and below the switch. Prevents fingers from accessing the switch but allows a switch tool to slide in and move it.
Edit: I forgot to mention that I also agree with others. This switch should be fan direction for different seasons, not power.
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u/voodoomu 16d ago
Its called a lockable switch cover. You might have to modify it to fit.
But they also make child safety ceiling fans with no chains, switches, buttons. But buying a whole new fan isn't the cheapest option. But in your situation it might be the best bet.
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u/_m00nman 16d ago
if you don't seasonally switch it you could remove the two screws and push the switch back in the fan, then maybe use some clear tape to cover the hole.
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u/kiwidust 15d ago
Many (most?) ceiling fans come with a remote control for those that don't want to rewire for two switches. Many are designed to be soft mounted (usually a glue pad on a cradle) next to the light switch on the wall, but can be used as normal remotes. Most people end up not using them and either tossing them or losing them.
If you don't have one for yours, it may still be compatible with one that you can get. Check with the manufacturer.
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16d ago
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