wiring for 2 ceiling fans

I've just completed the framing for a new room and now need to do the wiring. In this room, there will be two ceiling fans with light fixtures attached. I'd like to have the lights on the fans controlled by 3way switches, with power coming in to one of the switches. I know I need 12-3 wire going from switch to switch. My question is, do I need 12-3 or 12-2 going from fixture to fixture? If I want to control the fans and lights by different switches (both fans by one switch and both lights by another) it seems like I need 12-3 from switch to fixture to fixture but I'm not sure. Please help!

Eric

 

Are the switches for the fans also 3way?

 

There will be only one switch to control the fans. The only 3way is to control both lights.

 

OK, here's one way to do it, assuming that the fan switch and one of the 3ways for the light are in the same switchbox:

12-2 brings power into a double switch box for the fan switch and one of the 3ways for the light.

12-3 runs from the double switch box to the single switch box for the other 3way.

12-3 runs from the double switch box to the first fan.

12-3 runs from the first fan to the second fan.

At the first fan connect all whites together, all blacks together, and the two reds to the wire from the fan's light kit (usually blue or black with a white stripe, depending on the brand of fan).

At the second fan connect white to white, black to black, and red to the wire from the light kit.

At the single switch box, connect the black and red to the traveller screws (usually brass colored) on the 3way switch. Connect the white to the common screw (usually black). Use a black marker or a piece of black electrical tape to change the color of the white insulation near the end to black; this indicates that this white wire is hot and not a neutral.

In the double switch box, connect white from incoming power to the white of the 12-3 going to the fans. Connect the black from incoming power to both the white of the 12-3 going to the second switch box (again using marker or tape to change the insulation color of the white) and to a short piece of #12 black wire which then connects to one screw of the single-pole switch.

Connect red and black of the 12-3 to the other switch box to the traveller screws on the 3way switch. Finally, connect the black from the 12-3 going to the fans to the unused screw of the single-pole switch, and the red from that same cable to the common of the 3way switch.

I assume that you will make all the appropriate ground (bare wire) connections.

There are probably several ways to hook this up. This is the first way I can think of.

 

Thanks for the help!