Need Help - Bathroom Fan
#1
11-09-16, 12:17 PM
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Need Help - Bathroom Fan
Hi, I'm looking for some assistance on some home electrical. I'm trying to install a bathroom fan with LED lights and bluetooth. Everything is straight forward and simple with how the company requires it to be wired, but I'm running into an issue with my neutral. Straight to the point, when I connect my switch and fan neutral to the neutral line, the light in my bathroom flickers (like its getting power from the neutral side). I've attached a wire diagram of what the wires are doing. Can anyone recommend a solution? I'm not to familiar with this type of work. Thanks!
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Bathroom Fan.pdf
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[/IMG]Bathroom Fan.pdf
#2
11-09-16, 12:24 PM
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Welcome to the forums.
You have a switch loop to the switch and NO neutral there.
You'd need to install a piece of three wire cable from the light box to the switch box to get neutral.
We don't show grounds in our diagrams but they do need to be connected.
You have a switch loop to the switch and NO neutral there.
You'd need to install a piece of three wire cable from the light box to the switch box to get neutral.
We don't show grounds in our diagrams but they do need to be connected.
#3
11-09-16, 12:42 PM
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Okay I got to see the image. So, on my wire diagram, I do show the neutral wire connecting with the neutral at the light, fan, and switch.
When I attached this neutral wire the fan functions properly since it has a completed circuit, however, the light keeps flickering, like its getting power from the neutral wire.Attachment 72947
Grounds are not shown, but they are connected.
When I attached this neutral wire the fan functions properly since it has a completed circuit, however, the light keeps flickering, like its getting power from the neutral wire.Attachment 72947
Grounds are not shown, but they are connected.
#4
11-09-16, 01:31 PM
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You only have a two wire cable..... black and white. Black is hot and white is switched hot.
Where is the neutral coming from ?
You can not use a bare wire (ground) as a neutral.
Mod Note: A properly wired switch loop has the white as the constant hot. This is a code requirement. 200.7. It should be re-identified as a hot with tape or magic marker.
Where is the neutral coming from ?
You can not use a bare wire (ground) as a neutral.
Mod Note: A properly wired switch loop has the white as the constant hot. This is a code requirement. 200.7. It should be re-identified as a hot with tape or magic marker.
Last edited by pcboss; 11-13-16 at 11:34 AM.
#5
11-09-16, 01:46 PM
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Sorry for not being clear. Yes I only have a two wire cable as you described. I just recently pulled a third wire that connects to the Fan/switch neutrals back to the Neutral group of wires in the light box. When I made that connection and turned on the fan, the light bulb on that neutral line flickers (brightly). The third wire I pulled is a white romex wire, not a bare ground wire.
#6
11-09-16, 01:53 PM
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When you create or modify a circuit... all the conductors need to be in one conduit, sheath or jacket. By code.... you can't just run a single wire for ground.
That's why I mentioned the three wire cable.
Do you have two or three cables at the light switch ?
That's why I mentioned the three wire cable.
Do you have two or three cables at the light switch ?
#7
11-09-16, 02:05 PM
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Oh okay, that's good to know. I'll run another 3 conductor jacket to be per code.
The fan and everything on it works with this wiring, what I dont understand is why the Light bulb is flickering when I attach the Neutral wires. :/
The fan and everything on it works with this wiring, what I dont understand is why the Light bulb is flickering when I attach the Neutral wires. :/
#8
11-10-16, 01:25 PM
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I have 2 wires at the light switch that are ran through the wall, which are the black and white (hot/potential hot) switch wires. For testing purpose I strung a neutral wire across the bathroom to see if the neutral would work properly before I run "permanent" wire. The neutral works besides making the light fixture connected to those neutral wires flicker.
#9
11-10-16, 03:17 PM
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#10
11-11-16, 02:48 PM
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So, I did some more testing. I removed the light out of the situation. Now when I connect the fan/new switch to the group of neutrals in the light box, the fan/switch does NOT work. Would that mean I have an open circuit on my neutral line? It looks like the light was acting as "ground".
#11
11-11-16, 03:19 PM
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#12
11-11-16, 10:54 PM
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Yes it works... I guess I'm just confused what is actually happening then. If the light works on the neutral lines... then why doesn't the fan setup?
