Abstract: A control circuit for an electrical appliance having an inductive load includes a signal conditioning element, a control element, a power conditioning element, a power adjustment element, and a switching element. The control circuit is sensitive to input received from a sensor which in turn is sensitive to a touch on an outside of a conductive casing of the appliance or a sharp sound. A separate touch pad is used if the appliance has a non-conductive casing. The load is typically a motor for driving a fan unit. The fan unit may be used either independently or as part of an appliance such as a humidifier, dehumidifier, heater, or air purifier.