Ceiling Fan Dipswitches

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If you’re having a problem with your ceiling fan remote, and you’ve read into what dipswitches are all about, then you’ve likely landed on this page. It is possible that your ceiling fan dipswitch is malfunctioning, or needs to be replaced. The first thing you need to understand about dipswitches with ceiling fans, is they are the programming between the remote and the receiver. Before even thinking about replacing dipswitch modules, you should ensure that they are set the same way on the remote as they are on the fan’s receiver module. The dip switch modules on either the receiver of the remote should be replaced as a very last resort.

Ceiling Fan Dip Switch
Here’s what a dip switch looks like. They’re quite inexpensive – you can find replacement dipswitches on amazon for as little as 5 or 6 dollars.

Dipswitch modules may require replacement when you notice that they are no longer connected properly. Dipswitch modules have leads, where they are generally soldered into the receiver and the remote. Unless they are loose, they should not need to be replaced. It’s going to be a rare situation when you need to replace the dipswitches. With all of that being said, to replace dipswitches you will need to know how to solder. Dipswitches are generally soldered into the circuit board, much the same way as transistors or capacitors. The dipswitch module in itself is very inexpensive, and it’s not that difficult to solder another one in, as long as you know how to solder, desolder and check connections when you’re done.

What if I don’t know how to solder – how do I replace the dip switch?

If you’re not sure how to solder, or never done it before, you may want to consider replacing other components instead. E.g the remote can simply be replaced, and then make sure the ceiling fan dipswitch in the new remote is setup the same way as the dipswitches inside of the fan/receiver. Remotes are generally not too expensive. The cost of the remote of course is going to outweigh the few dollars you’d pay for a dipswitch. Dipswitches may be $5 or so, while remotes can be anywhere from $10-$50. It’s up to you to decide what remote you want, but also to ensure that the remote you purchase is compatible with  your fan.