# Can this 5-position switch be replaced with a rheostat? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 23, 2018, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-this-5-position-switch-be-replaced-with-a-rheostat/818436 "2018-07-23T15:04:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![somepumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@somepumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/somepumpkin)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2018, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-this-5-position-switch-be-replaced-with-a-rheostat/818436/1 "2018-07-23T15:04:20Z")
A couple of our ceiling fans are controlled with these [funky, 5-position, slider switches](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71vgB1BcEiL._SX425_.jpg). Can they be replaced with a rheostat-type fan switch? ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2018, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-this-5-position-switch-be-replaced-with-a-rheostat/818436/2 "2018-07-23T15:16:22Z")
How many wires come out of this switch? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2018, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-this-5-position-switch-be-replaced-with-a-rheostat/818436/3 "2018-07-23T15:24:14Z")
I would say yes, as both switches are limiting power to the fan by the same mechanism. ---
**Author:** ![somepumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@somepumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/somepumpkin)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2018, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-this-5-position-switch-be-replaced-with-a-rheostat/818436/4 "2018-07-23T15:59:33Z")
There are 2x, black wires coming from it. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2018, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-this-5-position-switch-be-replaced-with-a-rheostat/818436/5 "2018-07-23T16:16:11Z")
Seems likely. Those switches can usually be interchanged with rheostat dimmers. ---
**Author:** ![somepumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@somepumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/somepumpkin)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2018, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-this-5-position-switch-be-replaced-with-a-rheostat/818436/6 "2018-07-23T16:32:25Z")
Thanks, everyone. Also, does this 5-position switch function like a rheostat, just that the resistance/adjustment is step-wise instead of _infinite_? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2018, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-this-5-position-switch-be-replaced-with-a-rheostat/818436/7 "2018-07-23T16:39:31Z")
One caution with fan switches: When you turn it on, you want to turn it on to the max, and then turn it down if desired after it gets up to speed. Getting up to speed is when a fan works hardest, and it puts extra wear on the motor to do so at low power. That’s why fans have the switches they do, with “Max” right next to “Off”. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2018, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-this-5-position-switch-be-replaced-with-a-rheostat/818436/8 "2018-07-23T17:23:29Z")
> [@somepumpkin](#): > > Thanks, everyone. > > Also, does this 5-position switch function like a rheostat, just that the resistance/adjustment is step-wise instead of _infinite_? Yep, pretty much in a nutshell. ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2018, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-this-5-position-switch-be-replaced-with-a-rheostat/818436/9 "2018-07-23T17:37:56Z")
I know I’m “that guy” when it comes to giving warnings when they are not necessary, but I’ll do it anyway. A rheostat unit would probably work fine, since it introduces simple resistance, but modern LIGHT dimmers don’t work that way. They usually shut the current off and on again to make the light dimmer. Otherwise, they would produce a lot of waste heat and use more energy than necessary. A unit that operates in this manner may or may not work well with your fan motor. ---
**Author:** ![somepumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@somepumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/somepumpkin)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2018, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-this-5-position-switch-be-replaced-with-a-rheostat/818436/10 "2018-07-23T18:44:45Z")
Thanks, **ZonexandScout** ; that’s good to know. Not unnecessary, I would think. I assume this concern would be mitigated by ensuring that I get a switch that is specifically designed for fans. ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2018, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-this-5-position-switch-be-replaced-with-a-rheostat/818436/11 "2018-07-23T19:29:48Z")
> [@somepumpkin](#): > > Thanks, **ZonexandScout** ; that’s good to know. Not unnecessary, I would think. > > I assume this concern would be mitigated by ensuring that I get a switch that is specifically designed for fans. Yes. And I have screwed this up at least once when I put a fan on a new dimmer. It ran fine at “full” but did not like any other setting.