How to Wire a Bathroom Fan with Light to a Switch

If you would like to replace an older fixture with a bathroom fan and light fixture, you will need to know how to properly wire up the fixture after you have it installed in the ceiling. You could hire an electrician to do the work for you; however, this is a simple DIY project that you can do in about half an hour or so and save yourself about $100 in the process. Wiring the new fixture into a switch in your bathroom is not difficult at all, and this simple step by step guide will show you how. Let's get started.

Step 1 - Shut Off Power

Before you start, go to the main breaker box in your home and shut off the power to the bathroom where you'll be working. Once you have shut off the breaker, you should ensure that no power is flowing to the switch by checking it with a multimeter or test light.

Step 2 - Remove Old Switch

In order to remove the old switch from the wall, first remove the retaining screw that holds the cover plate in place. Then, remove the mounting screws for the switch and pull out the assembly so that you can access the wiring. Finally, loosen the terminal screws so that you can remove the wiring from the back of the old switch.

Step 3 - Install Wiring from Fan/Light to Switch

If a three-wire electrical cable is not already installed in the wall, you'll need to run the wiring from the new light/fan fixture to the location of the switch. To do this, you may need to access the area above the switch and fixture. Have someone help you fish the wiring cable from the fixture to the light switch position.

Step 4 - Install Ground for Fixture and Switch

Connect the bare copper grounding wire to a grounding screw located on the fixture or in the installation area of the new light/fan fixture. Then, make sure that you secure the grounding wire to the green screw on the new fan/light switch assembly.

Step 5 - Install Neutral Wiring

Connect the white wire to the wire of the same color on the new fixture. Then, screw the white wire onto the silver terminal screw on the light switch. Make sure to strip the ends of the wire before attaching them to the lead.

Step 6 - Install Positive Leads to Switches

Strip the two black wires on both ends of the shielded three-wire cable, and then connect one end with wire nuts to the black wires on the light/fan fixture. Then, screw the other end of the shielded cable into the brass-colored screws on the light switch.

Step 7 - Install Switch and Cover Plate

Gently push the wiring back into the junction box, and then attach the new light switch by screwing it in with the mounting screws. Finally, place the cover plate over the light switch and tighten down the retaining screw.