D I Y: Replacing Ceiling-fan's Wall Switch

The ceiling fan's control switch was malfunctioned, meaning that the ceiling fan is not working despite turning the switch control. It happened a fortnight ago, and i took this opportunity to blog on how to do-it-yourself (DIY). Beside self-satisfaction when you got it fixed, you also save a charge of $80 for less than 30 minutes of labour. Although DIY is popular in NZ or Australia, it is not so trendy here.



The one on the right is malfunctioned. Normally this type of control switch can last a long time and seldom needs service.

Basic tools required:
Screw driver
New control switch
Electric Drill (if required)
plus some common sense to electrical circuits and the like

Before we start, let's break off the electric circuit to the ceiling fan, and just in case, as the malfunction switch is located on the upstairs, i turned off the "fuse" that supplies all the power to the upstairs area. Don't make assumption. Test all the lights and other electrical gadgets upstairs to make sure there is no power supply. Having made this first step, let's continue the next task.

Open up the front cover. There is normally a couple of screws that holds this cover to the housing base. Unscrew them. And this is what you would see



Notice the two burnt cables (out of four). Probably this is the culprit that caused the malfunction. Note also the other 2 black cables (wiring) beside the white circular disk. Need to free the 2 wires from the nut holding them before we remove the whole switch housing. This should be about the same for other brands of switches. There should be another couple of screws that hold this housing to the wall. Locate and unscrew them.



If the exposed copper is not long enough, use a pliers (stripper) to expose more copper to be fastened to he new switch which is available from any hypermarket or from any electrical shops. If you live in KL, there are many of these shops in Pasar Road.

Make a note of the 2 or three holes of the housing switch in order to fix them to the wall. If the old holes does not match the positions of the new one, then make new ones with the drill in order to fasten the housing switch to the wall.



It's a simple task. Just have to be mindful of the live electric current. When the task is complete, it's "satisfaction that money cannot buy."