Adding a separate switch for bathroom exhaust fan

I have been sitting here thinking about this and it seems as if the only way this would work is that one cable goes to the breaker and the other goes to thelight/fan. If my thinking is correct then I would need to run a separate wire from the fan to the switch and the light to the other switch. Does that sound right?


Hello All,
I hope I am not being redundant. I tried to search, but not for long and was hoping someone could give me a quick answer to my question.

In my bathroom I have one switch that turns on the lights over the sink and the exhaust fan.
There are to lines running into the box, each with a white, black and bare wire. 2 white wires were twisted together and had a wirenut, the bare wires were twisted together and one black wire was on the top side screw of the switch and the other was on the bottom side screw, same side.
I want to hook up the fan and light to there own switch. I have the new box installed and the wires running through it but I am not sure how to actually hook them up to the switches.
Can someone please assist?
Regards,
Ted

 

You will need more wire in the wall. If you are serious enough about this to be willing to fish another cable from the switch box up the ceiling, post back and we'll give you the rest of the story.

 

I understand. After I get that far then I will post back.
Thanks,
Ted

 

Sorry it has taken so long to reply to this post. Just wanted to let anyone who cares know that I have completed this project.
I ran another wire down to the switch.
Then I disconnected the wire from the existing switch between thefan and the light. I then put in a box where I spliced the new wire to the light wire. After that I determined the power source wire, connected the other 2 to the top of the switches. Twisted the bare wires together, spliced the white wires together then pigtaied 2 leads from the power source and connected them to the bottom of the switches.
I believe this is correct and it is working wonderfully.
Thanks for all responses. Sometimes I just need a push in the right firection to get jump started.

 

Thanks for the report. It's probably okay, but a few notes about what you said.

Twisting is not a sufficient connection by itself. I hope you also put a wire nut on.
Okay as long as the box is permanently accessible.

 

My response was brief so I left out some details, but I do understand the concern.
As far as the bare wires are concerned I did not place a wire nut on them but crimped the end, it did not have one before so I did not think it was necessary. Please correct me if this is wrong.
All other connections do have wire nuts.
The box I used for the splice is octagonal in shape and is nailed to a truss above the wall where the switches are located. It is above the insulation so I believe it is accesable. It had a peice held on by a screw on the inside that after tightened holds the wire in place so it can't be pulled out.
Thanks for the information.

 

Unless you have a proper crimp applied with an official electrical crimping tool (not just pliers), then put a wire nut on the grounding wires.

Sounds like your box is indeed accessible.