Ceiling Fan
#1
10-07-03, 06:27 PM
Ceiling Fan
Okay, I hope this makes sense, so pls bear with me...
I would like to install a ceiling fan in my bedroom; however, there is no existing overhead light fixture in the room. There is only a light switch that controls a receptacle, to which we have plugged a lamp.
The switch has 3 wires attached to it: red, black and ground. The black wire is pigtailed to another black wire, and the ground is pigtailed to another ground. Additionally, the white wire is connected to a second white wire inside the box. So, kinda of a summary, the first line has the red running to the switch, the black pigtailed with the other black of the 2nd line and running to the switch, the ground pigtailed to another ground and running to the switch, and the white running straight to the white of the second line.
The receptacle in the master bedroom (which is controlled by the switch) has 4 wires plugged into it: red, white (2), and ground. Again, the box has 2 (major) lines in it: the white wires of both run to the receptacle, the black wires run to each other, the grounds are pigtailed and run to the receptacle, and the lone red wire runs to the receptacle.
As you might have noticed, there is a bit of a loop in this system. There are a total of 4 switches in this loop (1 in the master bedroom, 1 in another bedroom, 1 in the hallway and 1 in the bathroom) which control 3 receptacles and 1 overhead light in the hallway (the only overhead light in the house, less the kitchen, come to think of it!). Every switch has a black, red and ground.
How should I tap into this mess and install my ceiling fan? The red wire has confused me more than I already was. Oh, the ceiling fan also has a light. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated! Should I just add a new breaker and go from there?
Oh, is there any way I could make the receptacle hot all the time (less only when turned on by the switch), or is that just too much trouble?
Quinn
I would like to install a ceiling fan in my bedroom; however, there is no existing overhead light fixture in the room. There is only a light switch that controls a receptacle, to which we have plugged a lamp.
The switch has 3 wires attached to it: red, black and ground. The black wire is pigtailed to another black wire, and the ground is pigtailed to another ground. Additionally, the white wire is connected to a second white wire inside the box. So, kinda of a summary, the first line has the red running to the switch, the black pigtailed with the other black of the 2nd line and running to the switch, the ground pigtailed to another ground and running to the switch, and the white running straight to the white of the second line.
The receptacle in the master bedroom (which is controlled by the switch) has 4 wires plugged into it: red, white (2), and ground. Again, the box has 2 (major) lines in it: the white wires of both run to the receptacle, the black wires run to each other, the grounds are pigtailed and run to the receptacle, and the lone red wire runs to the receptacle.
As you might have noticed, there is a bit of a loop in this system. There are a total of 4 switches in this loop (1 in the master bedroom, 1 in another bedroom, 1 in the hallway and 1 in the bathroom) which control 3 receptacles and 1 overhead light in the hallway (the only overhead light in the house, less the kitchen, come to think of it!). Every switch has a black, red and ground.
How should I tap into this mess and install my ceiling fan? The red wire has confused me more than I already was. Oh, the ceiling fan also has a light. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated! Should I just add a new breaker and go from there?
Oh, is there any way I could make the receptacle hot all the time (less only when turned on by the switch), or is that just too much trouble?
Quinn
#2
10-07-03, 08:19 PM
Member
Thank you for the very clear description. It was a quite good description and you have done your homework.
You need to run a new cable from the ceiling. If you are going to run a 12/3 (or 14/3 if on a circuit protected by a 15-amp breaker) so that you can install a duplex switch (for independent control of a fan and its light), then run it to the switch box. If you only plan to run 12/2 (or 14/2) and have the same switch control both the fan and light, then it is equally effective to run it to either the switch box or the receptacle box.
It will be trivial to make the receptacle unswitched if you would like that.
So post back and answer these questions and we'll provide the final details:[list=1][*]Is the circuit protected by a 20-amp breaker or a 15-amp breaker?[*]Will the fan have a light kit?[*]Do you want two switches, one for the fan and one for its light, or do you just want one switch to control them both. If you plan two switches, were you thinking of a duplex switch (two switches in a single-gang box, one over the other, with horizontally moving levers)?[*]Will it be easier for you to run the new cable from the ceiling to the switch box, or from the ceiling to the receptacle box?[/list=1]
You need to run a new cable from the ceiling. If you are going to run a 12/3 (or 14/3 if on a circuit protected by a 15-amp breaker) so that you can install a duplex switch (for independent control of a fan and its light), then run it to the switch box. If you only plan to run 12/2 (or 14/2) and have the same switch control both the fan and light, then it is equally effective to run it to either the switch box or the receptacle box.
It will be trivial to make the receptacle unswitched if you would like that.
So post back and answer these questions and we'll provide the final details:[list=1][*]Is the circuit protected by a 20-amp breaker or a 15-amp breaker?[*]Will the fan have a light kit?[*]Do you want two switches, one for the fan and one for its light, or do you just want one switch to control them both. If you plan two switches, were you thinking of a duplex switch (two switches in a single-gang box, one over the other, with horizontally moving levers)?[*]Will it be easier for you to run the new cable from the ceiling to the switch box, or from the ceiling to the receptacle box?[/list=1]
#3
10-08-03, 11:23 AM
Ceiling Fan
John,
Tks for the quick reply. In regards to further info:
1. Is the circuit protected by a 20-amp breaker or a 15-amp breaker? 15-amp
2. Will the fan have a light kit? Yes
3. Do you want two switches, one for the fan and one for its light, or do you just want one switch to control them both. If you plan two switches, were you thinking of a duplex switch (two switches in a single-gang box, one over the other, with horizontally moving levers)? To tell you the truth, I just as soon have it (light and fan) controlled by a single switch.
4. Will it be easier for you to run the new cable from the ceiling to the switch box, or from the ceiling to the receptacle box? Equally difficult, as there doesnt appear to be a whole lot of room in either box. But it'll prob b easier to reach the switch box.
As I mentioned, I would also like to keep the receptacle hot all the time.
Tks for ur help, and I look forward to your reply!
Quinn
Tks for the quick reply. In regards to further info:
1. Is the circuit protected by a 20-amp breaker or a 15-amp breaker? 15-amp
2. Will the fan have a light kit? Yes
3. Do you want two switches, one for the fan and one for its light, or do you just want one switch to control them both. If you plan two switches, were you thinking of a duplex switch (two switches in a single-gang box, one over the other, with horizontally moving levers)? To tell you the truth, I just as soon have it (light and fan) controlled by a single switch.
4. Will it be easier for you to run the new cable from the ceiling to the switch box, or from the ceiling to the receptacle box? Equally difficult, as there doesnt appear to be a whole lot of room in either box. But it'll prob b easier to reach the switch box.
As I mentioned, I would also like to keep the receptacle hot all the time.
Tks for ur help, and I look forward to your reply!
Quinn
#4
10-08-03, 11:40 AM
Ceiling Fan
Oh yeah...while I desire to have both the light and fan running on one switch in the bedroom (as this is my test case), I also intend to install a fan in the living room, and have it use a duplex switch. Can I get directions for both? Tks!!
#5
10-08-03, 03:00 PM
Member
Okay, first things first. We'll do the bedroom first. This is going to be simpler than you think.
Run a new 14/2 cable from the ceiling box to the switch box. At the ceiling box, you will connect it according to manufacturer's instructions (i.e., both the blue and black from the fan will go to the black from the ceiling, white to white, green to bare).
At the switch box, start by removing the red wire from the switch, and connect it to the two existing black wires, which will remain pigtailed to one screw on the switch. Then connect the black from your new cable to the screw where the red wire was formerly connected.
Connect the new white wire to the two existing white wires. Connect the new bare wire to the two existing bare wires.
No changes will be necessary at the receptacle. It is magically now continuously hot.
That wasn't bad, was it?
Run a new 14/2 cable from the ceiling box to the switch box. At the ceiling box, you will connect it according to manufacturer's instructions (i.e., both the blue and black from the fan will go to the black from the ceiling, white to white, green to bare).
At the switch box, start by removing the red wire from the switch, and connect it to the two existing black wires, which will remain pigtailed to one screw on the switch. Then connect the black from your new cable to the screw where the red wire was formerly connected.
Connect the new white wire to the two existing white wires. Connect the new bare wire to the two existing bare wires.
No changes will be necessary at the receptacle. It is magically now continuously hot.
That wasn't bad, was it?
#6
10-12-03, 03:56 PM
Ceiling Fan
John,
Tks so much for your help. I followed your instructions and it works like a charm! I had no idea it would be so easy. The fan (& light) work, and the receptacle is hot all the time. Outstanding!
As I mentioned before, I am now going to install a ceiling fan in my living room, and I would like the light and fan to be controlled by separate switches. The wiring is set up the same, just not sure how to wire the 14/3.
Again, tks so much for your help. I think the wife still cant believe I did it! HA!
Quinn
Tks so much for your help. I followed your instructions and it works like a charm! I had no idea it would be so easy. The fan (& light) work, and the receptacle is hot all the time. Outstanding!
As I mentioned before, I am now going to install a ceiling fan in my living room, and I would like the light and fan to be controlled by separate switches. The wiring is set up the same, just not sure how to wire the 14/3.
Again, tks so much for your help. I think the wife still cant believe I did it! HA!
Quinn
#7
10-12-03, 06:49 PM
Member
The wiring setup is exactly the same?
Buy a duplex switch (as described earlier). Before you do anything, look at it carefully. You'll notice that there are two screws on each side, but on one side the two screws are connected to each other by a brass tab. When you connect that red wire to the two blacks and the pigtail, the other end of the pigtail will attach to either screw on the tab side.
At the ceiling, attach the black to the fan's black wire, and the red to the fan's blue wire. All else is the same.
When that 14/3 cable gets to the switch, connect the red and black to the two screws on the non-tab side of the duplex switch. Connect the white wire the same as before.
Buy a duplex switch (as described earlier). Before you do anything, look at it carefully. You'll notice that there are two screws on each side, but on one side the two screws are connected to each other by a brass tab. When you connect that red wire to the two blacks and the pigtail, the other end of the pigtail will attach to either screw on the tab side.
At the ceiling, attach the black to the fan's black wire, and the red to the fan's blue wire. All else is the same.
When that 14/3 cable gets to the switch, connect the red and black to the two screws on the non-tab side of the duplex switch. Connect the white wire the same as before.
