Change a wall switch from receptacle to ceiling fan
#1
11-20-13, 01:55 PM
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Change a wall switch from receptacle to ceiling fan
Separated from installing ceiling fan
I can get to the wires that run from the top part of the outlet to the switch, in the attic. Those wires are r,w,b + ground. The wires on the back of the switch are the r+b. Bigger problem is that the house is a partial pre-fab(spray foam wall insulation)so I can't just drop a line down through the wall. Any and all help is greatly appreciated. I have already installed the fan. Thank You.
I can get to the wires that run from the top part of the outlet to the switch, in the attic. Those wires are r,w,b + ground. The wires on the back of the switch are the r+b. Bigger problem is that the house is a partial pre-fab(spray foam wall insulation)so I can't just drop a line down through the wall. Any and all help is greatly appreciated. I have already installed the fan. Thank You.
Last edited by Nashkat1; 11-20-13 at 02:41 PM.
#3
11-20-13, 02:44 PM
Welcome to the forums!
Since the wiring goes through the attic between the receptacle and the switch, you may be able to make a connection there. Pull the receptacle and tell us how that's wired now.
Otherwise you may need rto use a remote controller.
How did you get power to it?
Since the wiring goes through the attic between the receptacle and the switch, you may be able to make a connection there. Pull the receptacle and tell us how that's wired now.
Otherwise you may need rto use a remote controller.
I have already installed the fan.
#4
11-21-13, 06:48 AM
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Well the fan is installed with no power going to it, it has 2 wire + ground. The receptacle has a 2 wire romex going to it as well as a 3 wire romex which runs to the switch. It's not conduit but ROMEX. And not existing, installed from scratch(well except for the power so far).
#6
11-21-13, 09:58 AM
The receptacle has a 2 wire romex going to it as well as a 3 wire romex which runs to the switch. It's not conduit but ROMEX. And not existing, installed from scratch(well except for the power so far).
Originally Posted by Nashkat1
Pull the receptacle and tell us how that's wired now.
Also, what do you want to wind up with? Three switches, for the fan motor, light and receptacle, or two, or what? Does the fan have a lifght on it?
Are you saying that the 3-conductor NM runs through the attic to get from the receptacle to the switch and that the cable feeding your fan is just lying loose in the attic?
#8
11-21-13, 09:55 PM
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Nashkat, yes the cable for the fan is not hooked up that's why I'm here. I would like to use the existing flip wall switch without adding any more switches. I will get some pics of the receptacle configuration or show an accurate wiring schematic. Yes, there is 3+ ground in the attic from the receptacle to the switch and the switch is only using 2(r,b)of the wires. The bottom part of the receptacle is fed through the wall coming from another receptacle in the same room. The switch is not feeding the receptacle, the receptacle is feeding the
switch, if that makes sense.
switch, if that makes sense.
#9
11-21-13, 10:13 PM
I would like to use the existing flip wall switch without adding any more switches.
I will get some pics of the receptacle configuration or show an accurate wiring schematic.
there is 3+ ground in the attic from the receptacle to the switch and the switch is only using 2(r,b)of the wires.
The bottom part of the receptacle is fed through the wall coming from another receptacle in the same room. The switch is not feeding the receptacle, the receptacle is feeding the switch, if that makes sense.
You should be able to change that to do what you want.
#10
11-21-13, 11:38 PM
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Yes it has a light and I still want to use the single existing switch for both.
I will get the specifics on the receptacle but it sounds like you already know the config.
When I pull out the wall switch the r,b are attached to the switch and the neutral(white) is wire nutted to another neutral behind the switch. The neutral is not attached to the switch.
Yes what you say about the 2 conductor is accurate but it runs though the wall and not the attic so I cannot get to it.
I will get the specifics on the receptacle but it sounds like you already know the config.
When I pull out the wall switch the r,b are attached to the switch and the neutral(white) is wire nutted to another neutral behind the switch. The neutral is not attached to the switch.
Yes what you say about the 2 conductor is accurate but it runs though the wall and not the attic so I cannot get to it.
#11
11-22-13, 08:33 PM
When I pull out the wall switch the r,b are attached to the switch and the neutral(white) is wire nutted to another neutral behind the switch.
The neutral is not attached to the switch.
Yes it has a light and I still want to use the single existing switch for both.
Do you have a multimeter (preferably analog but it doesn't have to be)?
Last edited by Nashkat1; 11-22-13 at 10:25 PM.
