Grounding Wire For Ceiling Fan
#1
08-08-04, 09:36 PM
Grounding Wire For Ceiling Fan
Hey All - Trying to install a ceiling fan where the previous owners had one. Here are the stats (sorry, i'm a newbie...)
Box - White, Black and Yellow wire
Celing fan - White, Black and Green grounded
I connected white/white, black/black then green/yellow.
Turned the fan on, it seemed to work ok. After 20 mins, we flipped the switch on the wall and the wall sparked as well as the fan.
Don't understand what I did wrong. Took the fan down and all the wires were still connected via the wirenut. Nothing was exposed. Incorrect grounding??
Box - White, Black and Yellow wire
Celing fan - White, Black and Green grounded
I connected white/white, black/black then green/yellow.
Turned the fan on, it seemed to work ok. After 20 mins, we flipped the switch on the wall and the wall sparked as well as the fan.
Don't understand what I did wrong. Took the fan down and all the wires were still connected via the wirenut. Nothing was exposed. Incorrect grounding??
#2
08-09-04, 05:35 AM
A yellow wire is not a ground wire. Ground wires are bare copper wires, or are covered with green insulation. There may not be a ground wire at all.
You need to figure out what the yellow wire is used for. It obviously is controlled by the switch. What do you expect the switch to do? You say the fan worked before you threw the switch. What did you want the switch to do?
You need to figure out what the yellow wire is used for. It obviously is controlled by the switch. What do you expect the switch to do? You say the fan worked before you threw the switch. What did you want the switch to do?
#3
08-09-04, 06:50 AM
I'm going to guess that the yellow wire is the switched hot from the switch for a light. You need to verify this with a meter. When you turned on the switch you made a dead short between hot and ground.
#4
08-09-04, 07:50 AM
yellow wire
to be honest, i don't want to boil the ocean here. I think you're right that the yellow wire controls the light socket. Actually as I look deeper, I can see the copper wire which is the grounding. Should i verify that it is, if so then how?
Also, the fan is wobbling a little. A lock washer is the best bet? What exactly is it? I've been searching the web, but can any info on it.
Looking for the easiest solution...Thanks
Also, the fan is wobbling a little. A lock washer is the best bet? What exactly is it? I've been searching the web, but can any info on it.
Looking for the easiest solution...Thanks
Last edited by majch; 08-09-04 at 08:11 AM.
#5
08-09-04, 08:08 AM
What are you trying to accomplish?
Attach the green ground wire from the fan to the box, if it metal. If the box is plastic and there is no ground wire in the box then leave the green ground wire unconnected.
If you want the switch to control, the fan then verify that yellow wire is switched and then attach it in place of the black wire.
Whichever wire is unused in the box (black or yellow), cap it with a wire nut and tuck it into the box.
Attach the green ground wire from the fan to the box, if it metal. If the box is plastic and there is no ground wire in the box then leave the green ground wire unconnected.
If you want the switch to control, the fan then verify that yellow wire is switched and then attach it in place of the black wire.
Whichever wire is unused in the box (black or yellow), cap it with a wire nut and tuck it into the box.
#6
08-09-04, 08:18 AM
re:
My goal is to get a fan to work properly and not worry about it falling or starting an electrical fire.
Ok, i'm connecting the green wire to the copper grounded, which I should've done first. I will leave the yellow wire unconnected and covered with a wire nut.
There is a little bit of wobbling, so i'm going to get a lock washer.
Everything make sense? Many thanks for your help.
Ok, i'm connecting the green wire to the copper grounded, which I should've done first. I will leave the yellow wire unconnected and covered with a wire nut.
There is a little bit of wobbling, so i'm going to get a lock washer.
Everything make sense? Many thanks for your help.
#7
08-09-04, 08:29 AM
Most fans I've seen are already prewired for a light kit (have a white, black, red and ground wire coming from the fan itself. I assume there are 2 switches present on the wall.
Fan wobbling can be caused by several reasons (the box is not stable or strong enought, the mounting screws are not tight enough, or the fan itself can be out of ballance. I've seen brand new fans out of the box be out of balance.
Fan wobbling can be caused by several reasons (the box is not stable or strong enought, the mounting screws are not tight enough, or the fan itself can be out of ballance. I've seen brand new fans out of the box be out of balance.
