Installing bathroom fan
#1
Installing bathroom fan
Help! We have installed a bathroom fan (first time) and now the problem
is to hook up to the (light) switch. What we did was replace the exsiting
single switch with a 2 switch. But - the fan will not work. We did put the
fan wires on the light switch, but when the light was on, no fan. When the
light was off - fan was on (working) The only two wires are a black and white (the light switch) What are we doing wrong? That switch contains
only the one bathroom light. The new switch has (on one side) connecting
posts (joined) the other side has separate posts. Can you help??
Leona
is to hook up to the (light) switch. What we did was replace the exsiting
single switch with a 2 switch. But - the fan will not work. We did put the
fan wires on the light switch, but when the light was on, no fan. When the
light was off - fan was on (working) The only two wires are a black and white (the light switch) What are we doing wrong? That switch contains
only the one bathroom light. The new switch has (on one side) connecting
posts (joined) the other side has separate posts. Can you help??
Leona
#2
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Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: NE Ohio
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If you only had two wires in the original switch box, that is a switch loop for the light. There is no neutral wire present to properly connect the new fan.
Post back and tell what are all the wires in the switch box. If it is how you described, you will need to bring power from another source.
Post back and tell what are all the wires in the switch box. If it is how you described, you will need to bring power from another source.
#3
This can be done if you can replace the existing black/white/bare cable from the light to the switch box with a black/red/white/bare cable. This isn't too hard if there is an accessible attic above the room.
Another option is to add a new black/white/bare cable from the light to the fan.
A third option is to run a new black/white/bare cable from another power source to either the fan or to the switch box.
Which is easiest for you?
Another option is to add a new black/white/bare cable from the light to the fan.
A third option is to run a new black/white/bare cable from another power source to either the fan or to the switch box.
Which is easiest for you?
#4
the easiest would be: "How to hook up power (from another source)
to the fan?" We have the "ppwer from another source" so how do you
do it? How do you hook the "hot" to the fan? - then the "hot" to the switch
(the turns the fan on/off)? How do conplet the circut?
to the fan?" We have the "ppwer from another source" so how do you
do it? How do you hook the "hot" to the fan? - then the "hot" to the switch
(the turns the fan on/off)? How do conplet the circut?
#6
Run a black/white cable from some other unswitched power source to the fan. At the fan:
- Connect the power cable black wire to the switch cable white wire.
- Connect the power cable white wire to the fan's neutral.
- Connect the switch cable black wire to the fan's hot.
- Break out the tab connecting the two brass screws (bend it back and forth until it breaks off).
- Connect the black and white from one cable to the two screws on the top.
- Connect the black and white from the other cable to the two screws on the bottom.