Help with slowing down and reducing the noise on a shaded pole 230VAC fan motor

[BobK]

Yes, I understand that. My warning is for when he puts that one back in the fan he borrowed it from and buys a capacitor for this fan.

bob

 

[DIYGuy]

I was distracted with some urgent matters.

Thanks Minder and BobK for further clarifying how this thing should be set up.

After testing with a 2µF capacitor from an old PCM, I bought and installed a 1µF. It was sufficient enough to slow down the fan and make it quiet.

However, instead of the usual Off-Hi-Med-Lo setting, it's now functioning as Off-Lo-Med-Hi. How is this happening?

 

[duke37]

I suggested a 1μF capacitor in #11. Nice to know my guess was reasonable.
I also suggested that the switch could operate in the reverse direction. This is due to the supply to the motor being changed from constant voltage to constant current, defined by the capacitor.
With the voltage supply, the higher the impedance of the motor, the less the power.
With the current supply, the higher the impedance of the motor, the more the power.
The impedance looks to be changed by changing the number of turns in the coil.

 

[DIYGuy]

Thanks duke37 and to everyone else who helped walk me through this project. After more than eight hours of continuous operation, the fan assembly is still working without any adverse effects.