New circuit, new wire

I previously had an electrician pre-run wire from attic to breaker box. No connection on either end, just a 12 gage 3 wire run. I want to hook up a ceiling fan on the ceiling near the attice.....

Do I simply:
-Hook up a single pole, 20 amp breaker at box (what happens to red wire, I want 110 not 220).
- Wire the ceiling fan per normal capping off red wire on fan side...
- Allow for future expansion off the ceiling fan to other things...(how do I accompllish this)....thanks..

Jason

 

is this for a ceiling fan or an attic exhaust fan?

 

If he ran 3-wire, he allowed you to use a multiwire circuit if you want. But you don't have to. So for now, just install a single-pole 20-amp breaker (1" wide) and cap off the red wire at each end.

In the future (or now if you want), you can get twice as much power by installing a double pole 240-volt 20-amp breaker (2" wide) and attaching red and black wires to the two poles. The neutral will be shared. Better yet, install the double-pole breaker now but don't attach the red wire until you need it.

Be careful.

 

Wouldn't your double pole breaker scenario give me 220 amp circuit...I know that I don't want that. Perhaps you can eloborate a bit on the double pole thing. In the meantime, after I install the bedroom ceiling fan off the above circuit, if I want to add something else, is it true that I just connect to the ceiling fan box and extend to the next circuit and so on.

I am told this should be enough power for lots of fixtures in my upstairs area....I just want it for a few other things, like ceiling fans, maybe an a/c. I have another run that is spare as well.


To reiterate, it is safe to cap off in the circuit breaker box.....??? I want this as simple as possible. I will install a single pole 20 amp breaker for now, but i am interested in getting more power like you mentioned. You haven't steered me wrong yet, and I have done lots of electrical project from this site.........thanks John

 

No, the double-pole breaker will not give 220 volts (not unless you want it to). Because you are using the black and white, but not the red, wires, you will get the 110 volts you want. If it makes you uncomfortable, or you don't understand, then just use the single-pole breaker and cap the red wire.

Yes, you can extend the black and white with 12/2 cable from the ceiling box.

An air conditioner does not fit under the phrase "a few other things". An A/C can consume all of a circuit all by itself, depending on its specifications. If you did the multiwire circuit on the double-pole breaker, you would run the A/C off the red and white wires, and thus leave the black and white pair for everything else.

It's always safe to cap off a wire. A wire is only dangerous when you connect it to something.

See if you can find some books on the theory of a "multiwire circuit".