What is wrong with the ceiling fan?

I'm assuming the ceiling fan did not trip the circuit breaker.

When you say you hear the "electricity running through it" I'm assuming you refer to the hum. That indicates that electrical current is passing through your ceiling fan motor. It also indicates that your ceiling fan motor is stalled (not running).

If this is true, then there are two likely problems.

The first could be a bad wall switch. Burned or dirty switch contacts, or a poor connection can reduce the amount of power to the fan motor, causing it to hum, but not enough to make it rotate.

If you have not worked with electricity before, DON'T DO THIS. Get a friend who has electrical experience to help you.

Otherwise, trip the breaker for the fan at your electrical service panel. Pull the fan control switch and make sure the connections are clean and tight. Slowly turn the switch on and off. Does it move positively and smoothly? If it feels gritty or binding, you have a burned switch and should replace it. Replace the switch into the work box and put the cover plate on. Turn on the ceiling fan breaker at your electrical service panel.

If your ceiling fan has lights, turn them on with the fan on. Are the lights dim? (Make sure the light dimmer, if you have one on your fan control, is all the way up.) If they are, you have a bad switch. Replace it.

Spin the ceiling fan blades by hand. They should spin freely then gradually stop. If they stop quickly, your fan motor is binding. Your fan motor is bad and you need to either replace your ceiling fan motor or the ceiling fan.

If you've checked the switch and the fan still isn't running, then chances are you've got a bad ceiling fan motor. Replace the motor or the whole ceiling fan.

Ceiling Fan Motor Replacement

This Site Might Help You.

RE:

What is wrong with the ceiling fan?

For some reason, it decided to just up and quit trying to spin.

If you flip the switch on, you can hear the electricity running through it, but it only moves for a split second before stopping again.

Anyone have any ideas of what's wrong, and/or how to fix it?

Without proper testing with a electrical meter it is impossible to tell if it is the wiring, switch(s), or the fan motor.

If you have some mechanical and electrical ability and a electrical meter try ehow.com. It is a good site with easy to understand instructions and pictures.

sounds like the bushing or brushes are gone out it would be best to replace old ceiling fan, getting reid of fire hazard

better pull it down and check it out - could be three things and any one of the three could cause a meltdown or fire

It sounds like something has gone awry with it