Re: Wiring a ceiling fan with light

On Thu, 15 Jun 2006 07:24:01 -0500, "John A. Weeks III"
<john@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

In article <1150337054.852170.35440@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
uscanuck@xxxxxxxxx wrote:

Here's what i am dealing with. I am trying to install a ceiling fan
with a light. My box has 3 wires(ground excluded). Black, red and
white. Now here is the confusing part. I have two switches. One
controls a ceiling light in a closet and the other one controls the box
where the ceiling fan is going to be installed.

I want to be able to swith the fan and it's light on with only one
switch. I want the other switch to turn on the light in the closet,
like it does now. I've tried almost everthing and I cannot seem to get
this to work. BTW, the fan does have a Blue wire for the light if you
were wondering.

You are making this too hard.

First, forget about the closet. The closet has a switch, a
wire, a fixture, and a light. It works, so don't mess with
it. Put it out of your mind.

Next, the former light where you are putting the fan has a
switch and a wire. That wire has a white, black, and bare
wire.

The fan has 3 wires. Likely a white, a black, and something
of color (red or blue). If you tie the white on the wire to
the white on the fan, then the black on the wire to both the
blue and black on the fan, you should be set. Double check
this wiring with what is in your fan wiring instructions since
these things always vary a little. BTW, connect the bare
ground wire as the instructions indicate.

When you tie the two wires on the fan together, what happens
is that when you flip the single switch on, both the light and
fan will turn on. Note that if you have pull chains on the
fan, you will have to pull then a few times to get them turned
on, and get the fan set for the speed you want. Then never
mess with the pull chains again--use the wall switch.

If you want to operate the fan and light independently, you
cannot do that with only one switch (not unless you leave the
one switch on all the time, and use the pull chains to turn
things on and off). Controlling each independently means two
switches, and running a new wire up to the fan that has 3 wires
plus a ground.

-john-

It's been awhile since I've purchased a ceiling fan, but don't they
now sell electronic models that allow for independent control of the
fan and light over one set of wires?
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Installing a ceiling fan
    ... then You are probably only dealing with a Hot and 2 Switch ... Many times electricians will wire up the Power Feed to the Light/Fan and Run ... Neutral in the Junction box even though there is a White. ... I connected the other ends to the fan wires ...
    (alt.home.repair)
  • Re: Wiring a ceiling fan with light
    ... There is also a red wire coming out of the box. ... light in the closet is always turning the fan and it's respective light ... This is not the switch that I want controlling the fan. ...
    (misc.consumers.house)
  • Re: Wiring a ceiling fan with light
    ... I want to be able to swith the fan and it's light on with only one ... I want the other switch to turn on the light in the closet, ... the fan does have a Blue wire for the light if you ... mess with the pull chains again--use the wall switch. ...
    (misc.consumers.house)
  • Re: Wiring a ceiling fan with light
    ... There is also a red wire coming out of the box. ... This is not the switch that I want controlling the fan. ...
    (misc.consumers.house)
  • Re: Light switching question
    ... pull chains ... I considered the x10 stuff, but I don't really see a wire in module that ... You could consider using the existing switch as a main switch and cut ...
    (alt.home.repair)