I'm working on a vintage METAL box fan from the 1950's that has a 3 speed variable switch. The switch has three prongs with wires that lead down to a copper coil. This is held together with a bracket that then itself fits into a metal box that hides everything.
Upon taking apart the fan to clean it up I did three things - I disassembled the motor and cleaned it (Which I did correctly), I replaced the power cord, and I accidentally pulled a wire off of the switch's prong which required me to disassemble it and attempt to reattach the wire. I manage to reattach it. I took the fan outside and plugged it up with the switch box lying separately on the ground and the fan seemed to function fine, I even touched the actual fan itself (not the switch. Which means the issue is in switch, not the motor). So, thinking I had successfully fixed it, I brought it in, reassembled it (I.E. reattached the switch assembly to the fan housing), and gut instinct told me to take a voltage detector to the frame before touching it - that voltage detector went off within a foot radius of it. This was with the actual fan turned off.
I took it back apart, and examined everything. No wires had come loose inside of the metal box. The switch assembly bracket was touching the side of the box, though.
My thoughts are that I wired the power cord on in reverse, seeing as the fan housing should act as a ground (and thus I have hot electricity running through it in reverse), but I have no idea. My experience dealing with electricity is a big fat 0%. I could not even tell you the difference between an AC current and a DC current, aside from the fact one comes from a wall and the other a battery. Although I do want to repair this thing myself, because 1: I have no money to hire an electrician. and 2: I wish to learn how to tinker with things like this.
This whole thing seems incredibly dangerous even if it was functioning perfectly. It appears that if somebody were to knock it off of a shelf hard enough and knock a connection loose, it would probably electrocute the crap out of you, even on a good day. So any tips to make it safer (as I intend to use this thing) would be great!
Also, could somebody explain to me how this switch works, and what exactly the coil does?
Upon taking apart the fan to clean it up I did three things - I disassembled the motor and cleaned it (Which I did correctly), I replaced the power cord, and I accidentally pulled a wire off of the switch's prong which required me to disassemble it and attempt to reattach the wire. I manage to reattach it. I took the fan outside and plugged it up with the switch box lying separately on the ground and the fan seemed to function fine, I even touched the actual fan itself (not the switch. Which means the issue is in switch, not the motor). So, thinking I had successfully fixed it, I brought it in, reassembled it (I.E. reattached the switch assembly to the fan housing), and gut instinct told me to take a voltage detector to the frame before touching it - that voltage detector went off within a foot radius of it. This was with the actual fan turned off.
I took it back apart, and examined everything. No wires had come loose inside of the metal box. The switch assembly bracket was touching the side of the box, though.
My thoughts are that I wired the power cord on in reverse, seeing as the fan housing should act as a ground (and thus I have hot electricity running through it in reverse), but I have no idea. My experience dealing with electricity is a big fat 0%. I could not even tell you the difference between an AC current and a DC current, aside from the fact one comes from a wall and the other a battery. Although I do want to repair this thing myself, because 1: I have no money to hire an electrician. and 2: I wish to learn how to tinker with things like this.
This whole thing seems incredibly dangerous even if it was functioning perfectly. It appears that if somebody were to knock it off of a shelf hard enough and knock a connection loose, it would probably electrocute the crap out of you, even on a good day. So any tips to make it safer (as I intend to use this thing) would be great!
Also, could somebody explain to me how this switch works, and what exactly the coil does?