i bought a 100K volume control today from radio shack. I'm hoping to use it as a dimer switch for antique fan. I don't want to burn up the volume control and waist 4$. The ratings are Rated power .05 watts. Max attenuation 100dB min.100k ohms 20% tolerance. By looking at the .05 watts i would say this is too small for a fan. The fan doesn't say on it what the wattage or amps are. I'm sure it had some sort of sticker or something when it was new but no telling when that was. haha. anyways thanks all!
Thats what i was thinking when i read .05 watts. haha. wouldn't a potentiometer with a higher watt rating work? maybe even one that is rated a bit higher? I have no idea how many watts my fan consumes. Does anyone have a ballpark estimate of the wattage consumption? It is one of those old fans with the brass blades and the metal cage over it. Thanks!