Home  >   Advice & Support >  Technical Support

Remote System Troubleshooting

Trouble Shooting for Fantasia Fans fitted with Remote Control systems

Caution – Electrical Wiring advice – This guide contains advice on electrical wiring. This is a guide only and Fantasia Distribution Ltd accept no liability from any loss or damage resulting from use of this guide. If at all unsure then consult a qualified electrician. Ensure power is isolated at least 2hrs before working on the electrical wiring of a ceiling fan

1. Noise
2. Ceiling Fan won’t switch off
3. Fan speed issues
4. Intermittent Response

It is important to remember that once a pull cord operated ceiling fan has a remote control installed it is should ONLY be controlled by the remote control handset. The pull cords should not be touched.

*Before starting any trouble shooting please ensure you have fitted a fresh battery in the handset*

1. NOISE

Fan makes a humming/buzzing sound on one or all speeds. The noise may occur on one of or all three speeds. The noise may reduce with increased RPM. It is important to note that even noises that sound like they are purely mechanical can be produced by a faulty remote-control receiver module. If you are experiencing humming or buzzing noise from the fan on one or all speeds then the receiver may be at fault

Solution

The best test in this circumstance is to remove the remote control receiver unit (the module in the top canopy of the fan) and wire the ceiling fan directly to the household supply. This means that the live for the fan and light (brown & orange) are connected directly to the live supply, neutral from the fan (blue) is connected to household neutral. Earth remains connected. When power is restored the fan should operate on its pull cords correctly i.e. all 3 speeds operation and light on/off. If the fan is usually exclusively operated by remote control then removing the receiver will result in the light coming on full brightness and the fan spinning in high speed only. If this happens without the previously experienced motor noise then it is the receiver that is at fault and needs replacing. Note that remote control receivers carry a 2yr limited warranty against defects.

The above information is also explained in a very useful video that can be found here

M2 Remote Control Troubleshooting Video

Replacement Remote Control Systems can be purchased online

If you are still experiencing noise from the ceiling fan with the receiver module removed then try putting the reverse switch into the opposite direction. If the switch feels flimsy or you are only getting the noise in one direction then you may also need to replace the reverse switch. These are available online here

Reverse Switch

2. FAN WON'T SWITCH OFF FROM THE REMOTE CONTROL HANDSET

The remote control appears to work correctly other than the fact that is won’t switch the fan function off.

Solution

Unfortunately, this is a hallmark of a failing receiver. Follow the solution from section 1 on noise problems. If the fan is solely remote controlled then the receiver unit will need replacing. If you also have pull cords on the fan then you can either replace the receiver module OR remove the receiver and use the ceiling fan on pull cords only.

3. FAN SPEED ISSUES

The ceiling fan does not come on OR does not run on all speeds OR speeds are slower than expected

Solution

If there is a remote control fitted AND there are pull cords on the fan the try a reset in order to synchronise the remote receiver with the pull cords:

a) Switch the power to the fan unit off and then back on
b) Press high speed on the remote handset
c) Pull the fan speed pull cord one, two or three times until you get a genuine high speed
d) Check you are getting three different speeds on the fan from the remote control handset operation
e) Leave the pull cord alone and only use the ceiling fan handset for operation

This procedure should then allow the ceiling fan to run at the correct speeds. If this does not resolve the problem then follow the steps in the solution in point 1 above to remove the remote control receiver and wire the ceiling fan direct.  Note that remote control receivers carry a 2yr limited warranty against defects.

4. INTERMITTENT RESPONSE

The ceiling fan sometimes responds to remote control and sometimes doesn’t. A ceiling fan that does not always respond to commands from the handset may be experiencing interference problems. Radio frequency interference can originate from a lot of devices but some of the more common ones are wireless doorbells or garage door openers in your own or a neighbouring house.

Solution

In order to combat interference problems the remote system we need to change the channel that the remote system is using to communicate between the handset and the receiver. How this is done will depend on which version of our remote system you have - M2 or M3. 

We have two separate videos that show how to reset each version of the remote system TECHNICAL HELP VIDEOS

The M2 remote system uses dip switches located in the battery compartment of the handset and also on the side of the remote receiver which is located in the top canopy of the ceiling fan where is fixes to the ceiling. These dip switches may be set all up or all down or a combination of up and down. It doesn’t matter which setting they are in so long as handset and receiver switch setting match up to each other. To eliminate interference, try a different dip switch setting. Change the dip switches in the handset and then make sure you change to the same setting in the receiver. Ensure power is isolated before accessing the receiver of the ceiling fan. This new setting should eliminate interference but if it doesn’t then try another. There are 16 to choose from. If this does not solve the issue then a replacement handset may be required.

The M3 remote system is what we call a 'learning' remote. To change the channel on an M3 remote system you need to first perform a factory re-set. Turn the power to the fan unit off and back on. Press and hold the off button on the handset for 20 seconds or until the light on the fan has completed 4 flashes (if there is a light fitted to the fan). Then you can re-code the remote system.  Turn the power to the fan unit off and back on again. Press and hold the off button on the handset for 5 seconds or until the light on the fan has completed 2 flashes (if there is a light fitted to the fan). The channel will now be changed to a new unique channel.