# Pedestal House Fan

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pedestal-house-fan/499414
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [June 11, 2009, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pedestal-house-fan/499414 "2009-06-11T03:33:29Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![ksmehta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a698b9/32.png) [@ksmehta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ksmehta)
#### Post date: [June 11, 2009, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pedestal-house-fan/499414/1 "2009-06-11T03:33:29Z")

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Hello, This is my first question in this forum.  
I recently purchased a regular pedestal fan which works very well- No problems.  
Unfortunately it did not come with a remote control operation as the company does not make any remote control fans.  
Is it possible to make it work with a sensor and remote control?  
Would it be too complicated or expensive?  
Your prompt response would be greatly appreciated.  
Thanks!

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### Author: ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)
#### Post date: [June 11, 2009, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pedestal-house-fan/499414/2 "2009-06-11T04:18:35Z")

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What do you want to do? If you just want to turn it on and off then you can buy remote controls to do that via the wall socket.

If you want to adjust speeds then you are going to need to replace the entire speed control box, which works on bulky physical switches.

If you want to get it to point in certain direction then you will need to rebuild the entire fan.

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### Author: ![JKilez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@JKilez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKilez)
#### Post date: [June 11, 2009, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pedestal-house-fan/499414/3 "2009-06-11T04:19:46Z")

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Unless I am missing something, you could just use an [X-10 Appliance Module](http://www.x10.com/automation/am466_s.html) (remote sold separately). It works fine for standard house fans.

ETA: What Blake said. On-off is easy. Speed control, not so much.

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### Author: ![The\_Raven\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@The\_Raven\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Raven_1)
#### Post date: [June 11, 2009, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pedestal-house-fan/499414/4 "2009-06-11T12:08:59Z")

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Sounds like a job for The Clapper!