(NoVA4000) Dewstop Sensor Switch

I'm also trying to install a Dewstop switch and have a similar setup--except I have a black and a yellow wire attached to the current switch. I do have a bundle of white neutrals in the back of the box. I've tried connecting the white on the dewstop to the bundle of white neutrals, and then connecting the black on the new switch to the black wire and the red 'fan' wire on the switch to the yellow wire--this didn't work. Then I reversed it and tried the red switch wire to black and the black switch wire to yellow--this didn't work either. Any idea what I'm doing wrong?

 

Welcome to the forum. Please don't hijack threads. It can get very confusing. I have started a new thread for you.

Was a wiring diagram included with the switch? Does power come in at the light or the switch? I'm assuming switch from what you wrote. Tell us all the wires in the switch box. You didn't try to connect it to the circuit hot did you? Make and model number of switch, please.

 

Thanks Ray. I didn't mean to hijack anything--you can tell I'm new to the forum! So let me start at the beginning...

I'm trying to install a Dewstop switch for my bathroom fan, to turn the fan on automatically when there is condensation. It's a Dewstop FS-100 and only controls the fan (my lights are on a separate switch and not part of the fan).

The switch has four wires: Power (hot), neutral, ground and fan (which is a red wire). There is a picture of the back of it on this website. The instructions say to match these to the wires from the existing fan switch, but I don't have these.

Currently, there is a standard on/off switch, connected to a yellow wire on one pole and a black wire on the other. There are several white wires bundled together behind the switch, but not connected to it. There is also a ground connected to it. The fan switch is mounted in a box with a light switch and an outlet. My house is from 1951.

I'm trying to figure out how I can connect it. From looking at an earlier thread with a similar situation, I tried connecting it as follows:

Dewstop Switch => Wires in box
neutral => bundle of whites in the box
ground => ground
hot (black) => black from the existing switch
fan (red) => yellow from the existing switch.

The power was off at the circuit breaker. When I switched it back on, it immediately triggered a GFI outlet in another room. I then tried (with the power off) switching the hot and fan connections, so the hot from the switch went to the yellow wire and the fan went to the black, but got the same result.

It looks like the power comes in at the switch, but I'm not sure how to tell.

Would appreciate any ideas--thanks!

 

Using a multimeter or test light measure between the black and bundle of neutrals to see if you get a 120v.

Are you sure the yellow wire is really yellow? Is your house wired using conduit. I would expect from your location to see cable not conduit but if cable you wouldn't have a yellow wire. Can you open the fan and tell us the wiring there? A couple of pictures might help also. http://www.doityourself.com/forum/li...your-post.html

 

Here are a couple of pictures, one of the switches and one of the fan. The fan switch is the one on the left.

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Yep--I tested it and it's 120v.

No, I'm not sure--it looks yellow, but it could just be a white one that has discolored. It doesn't look like the other white ones though.

 

I can't tell from the photo of the fan where do the two leads from the fan go? Sure looks like there are two black and two whites coming in.