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Zing Ear ZE-208s E89885 Wiring Instructions

Notes:

  • Before rewiring any ceiling fan, turn off electrical current at source by switching off circuit breakers.
  • WARNING: Failure to disconnect power supply to ceiling fan may result in serious injury or death.

Steps:

  1. Check wires and make sure to observe and write down what wire color from the fan is connected to what terminal number on fan switch (1, 2, 3, L).
  2. Cut the four wires from the existing fan switch using wire stripper and set it away.
  3. Strip wires around 1/2 inch.
  4. Connect the Black wire (L) from the new fan switch to wire noted in step 1.
  5. Connect the red wire (1) from the new fan switch to wire noted in step 1.
  6. Connect the Blue wire (2) from the new fan switch to wire noted in step 1.
  7. Connect the White wire (3) from the new fan switch to wire noted in step 1.
  8.  Secure connection between the wires using wire connectors by twisting them clockwise (Connection of wires must be tested and verified, otherwise it may result in fire hazard, electrical shock or serious injuries).

Color Codes For Fans (Your Fan Wires Color & Position May Vary)

  • Harbor Breeze ceiling fan: L=Black, 3=Purple, 2=Brown, 1=Grey
  • Hampton Bay ceiling fan: L=Black, 3=Grey 2=Brown, 1=Purple
  • Hampton Bay ceiling fan – Alternate colors: L=Black, 3=Yellow, 2=Purple, 1=Red
  • Hunter ceiling fan: L=Black, 3=Green, 2=Brown, 1=Grey
  • Some basket fans: L=Black (power), 3=Black (not power), 2=Blue, 1=Red
  • Some exhaust fans: L=Black (power), 3=White, 2=Brown, 1=Red

Additional Wiring Guide

  • L: Black
  • 3: Attached to motor wire
  • 2: Attached to motor wire
  • 1: Attached to reverse switch terminal

Capacitor Information

Usually, there is no connection between this switch and the fan capacitor; however, the capacitor should have one microfarad reading and should have 2-3 wires. Two of the wires should be the same color on one end, for example, one end has 2 reds and the other end has 1 White

Useful Links:

  • Click here to contact us.
  • Click here to purchase this Zing Ear ZE-208s E89885 fan switch.

 

50 comments

  1. Customer Support

    Hello,

    What is the model number of the old switch?

    Thank you

    1. Sorry I do not have the old switch

    2. Zing- Ear ZE-208S

    3. shine top ls-102 6a125vac 3a250vac e218558

    4. Hans Oelke

      Don’t have it .

    5. ivan l smith

      E88999

    6. George Carter

      Well Tec#E116997 for Hunter Ceiling Fan.

  2. Customer Support

    Hello,

    Zing Ear ZE-268s6 is available on this link: https://www.ceilingfanswitch.com/product/zing-ear-ze-268s6/

    ZE-268s6 replaces ZE-208s6, not ZE-208s

    Thank you

    1. Zing- Ear ZE-208S the wires on fan are: black, green, gray, and brown. Need schematic.

      1. Customer Support

        Please check the other instructions page via this link: https://www.ceilingfanswitch.com/2017/09/04/ze-208s-wiring-instructions/

      2. George Meneses

        I need wiring instructios for a Zin-Ear ZE-208S fan switch. The wires on the fan are green, black, brown and grey.

        1. Customer Support

          Please check the wiring instructions page via this link: https://www.ceilingfanswitch.com/2017/09/04/ze-208s-wiring-instructions/

    2. Dan Kreuz

      What do 1,2,3 and L Stand for on the new switch ?

  3. Clayt Fuller

    My wires are black, grey, purple, and brown. I wrote down where they went from the old one and only low works now

    1. Customer Support

      Can you please tell us what is the make and model number of the old switch?

      Thank you

  4. Steven Grunberg

    Youyan
    2A-250 VAC
    4A-125 VAC
    E98999

    1. Customer Support

      Hi Steven,

      Please visit our fan switch compatibility guide page: https://www.ceilingfanswitch.com/ceiling-fan-switch-guide/

      1. That didn’t really help me. I had a ZE-208S and it had the black wire in position L. The new switch, ZE-268s2 when I hooked the wires the same as the old switch (L =black wire)it would not turn off, so I put the black wire in posistion 3 and it worked. I just want to know if it is safe that way, or is it a fire hazard? My wire colors are black, yellow, pink and grey. Please let me know if it’s safe or not. Thank you.

        1. Customer Support

          Hi Steven,

          switch model ZE-268S2 is not a compatible replacement if black wire was attached to “L” on the old switch. We already mentioned this information on the switch page (switch compatibility section): https://www.ceilingfanswitch.com/product/zing-ear-ze-268s2/

          If the terminal number sequence on the old switch is 1-2-3-L counterclockwise direction, and black wire was attached to “L”, then switch model ZE-208S would be a compatible replacement: https://www.ceilingfanswitch.com/product/zing-ear-ze-208s/

          we also have it with 4 wires: https://www.ceilingfanswitch.com/product/zing-ear-ze-208s-e89885/

          Thank you

  5. bruce Krell

    Please help! My chain broke on my ceiling fan switch! It broke within the switch so it will have to be replaced. Problem is that my 4 wire colors do not match what is advertised. On one side of the switch they are orange and black. On the other side they are yellow and blue. Any recommendations as to what to do and a replacement switch and schematic for matching wires up? Switch is Zing-Ear ZE-208S.
    Thank you

    1. Customer Support

      Is your old switch also ZE-208s? to what terminal number was the black wire attached?

      1. bruce krell

        My switch is ZE-208S. Color of wires are orange/black/yellow and blue. Don’t know which terminal the black wire was connected to . Fan was in office work area so I was limited for time and had to reassemble.

  6. Yes that is the number on the switch inside my fan. ZE-208s. My colors are orange/black/yellow and blue. I do not know which terminal number the black wire was connected to since I put the fan back together. Only had a small amount of time to work on it since it’s above a secretarys work desk

    1. Customer Support

      – Unscrew the switch nut fastened to the current fan switch.
      – Lower the fan switch and attached wires cautiously from the switch housing.
      – Check wires and make sure to write down which color wire from the fan is connected to which wire on fan switch (1, 2, 3, L).

      Ze-208s usually has the black wire in terminal “L”. Please check this link:
      https://www.ceilingfanswitch.com/ceiling-fan-switch-guide/#ze-208s

      1. I have a Z 80 208S for a harbor breeze the wires are pink gray black and yellow how do I wanna do is switch up

  7. Have “DEFOND” E72989 switch which is broken, requiring replacement. 4 wires. Colours on the broken switch – L=red, 1=black, 2=blue, 3=black

    Switch type to replace broken one, indicating wire colouring.

    1. Customer Support

      Hi Ken,

      Please refer to our fan switch compatibility guide: https://www.ceilingfanswitch.com/ceiling-fan-switch-guide/

  8. What do you do with the white wire from the cord to the fan. This is a floor fan on a pedestal. There is a red wire a black wire and a white wire. Where do they go?

  9. Robert Lien

    Replacing a fan switch ZE 268s6 ( colors and inst #, L=Black, 1= Grey, 2= Brown, 3=green, ) can not match these numbers to new colors, advice ?

    1. Customer Support

      Hello,

      If the old switch is the same exact model as the new switch then connect wires the same way as in the old switch based on the terminal number.

      Thank you

  10. Kyle Hayes

    Have a Zing Ear ZE-208 E-89885
    Has 6 wires
    Double decked
    4 positions
    2 positions have 2 wires
    Bought a ZE-208D ll but dose not work.

    1. Customer Support

      If the old switch model number is ZE-208s E89885 then ZE-208D will not replace it.

  11. William Geppert

    I am installing a ZE_208s II E 89885 switch in my ceilng fan. I can’t seem to be able to push the wires into the new switch. They are stripped to the proper size. Any suggestions

    1. Customer Support

      Hi,

      Please note the following:

      • The wires should be inserted into the holes on the side of the switch not the holes on the surface.
      • We mentioned in the wiring instructions to remove the wires from the old switch not to cut them because multi-strand wires are solid and soldered together so they can be attached to the switch.
  12. Harbor Breeze 2 capacitor fan, speed switch chain pulled out and is stuck at medium speed. Switch is a ZE 208s , E89885. Replaced the switch trying 3 different ZE 208s all fail to start the fan. One setting on all 3 cause the fan to hum but not turn. If I reinstall the original the fan works at medium speed. All numbers on the replacement switches are the same except for a roman numeral II to the right of part number. Is the replacement no longer supporting a 2 capacitor fan?

  13. Sorry, Hampton Bay fan.

    1. SRY.! WTH does that mean? Sry it’s no longer available or sry, I can’t help you? Or sry yr having trouble finding yr. Part? SMDH

  14. Larry Pocengal

    Colors of old switch wires are black brown gray and purple Don’t match up the colors of the wires of the new switch even thoughit’s the same number model switch can you wire it by sight proper ly wire

  15. Thanks for the reply. I tried following the site wire recommendations before my email and nothing works.

    Original Hampton Bay fan switch is all black and wired L purple (from reverse switch), 1 gray, 2 brown, 3 black (from fan) 1 and 2 come from capacitors. Fan runs but stuck at medium speed because chain is broken.

    Tried two red and one white switch and both fail the same way. Humming only at one switch position, dead at other positions . There is a compatibility issue between the old black 208s and the new ones. What is work around?

    1. Customer Support

      Hello,

      It seems that ZE-208s is not a compatible replacement for your existing switch. The switch you may need is ZE-268s2; however, please visit this page to confirm if your existing switch is connected the same way: https://www.ceilingfanswitch.com/2019/06/27/zing-ear-ze-268s2-wiring-instructions/

  16. nick shortridge

    the color of wires on my fan are yellow,purple,black and orange. so how do I hook up switch ze-208s to make my fan work.
    please help lol.

  17. My old 208S still works, but the “neck” is broken, so I purchased a new 208S. The only differences that I can see: the roman numeral ii on the new one, the new one has rectangular indentations on the surface where the old one has small circular holes, and the old one has 24 in the center where the new one has 16. The new one won’t operate the fan. I have wired it exactly the same as the old one. I have also tried every combination of wiring. Is the new one not compatible? The wiring that works on the old is: Black-L, Purple (reverse)-3, Brown (speed)-2, Gray (speed)-1.

    1. Customer Support

      Switch model ZE-208s comes in different part numbers, so if both switches have the same model number (ZE-208s), it does not mean they are compatible. Please check the compatibility guide to find a compatible switch: https://www.ceilingfanswitch.com/ceiling-fan-switch-guide/

  18. Larry LeBouef

    I am unable to insert wires in side of new 280-B108-FB. What is the trick on connecting wires to new switch.

  19. I have limited knowledge with wiring, and when i got the switch, none of the wires matched. But your instructions helped me figure it out right away. Great job!

  20. My Hampton bay fan switch has 2 black and 2 purple wires what goes to L 1 2 3
    Thank you

    1. Customer Support

      Hi Clay

      Please provide us with the following information:
      – The make and model number of the old switch
      – What is the sequence of the terminal number on the back of the old switch (clockwise or counterclockwise direction). The numbers are 1,2,3 with letter “L”
      – To what terminal number is the black wire (AC line) attached on the old switch

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