Ceiling Fan newbie - wiring for dummies
#1
03-01-18, 12:34 PM
Ceiling Fan newbie - wiring for dummies
I am replacing an existing ceiling fan with light and of course I didn't write down or mark how the existing one was connected. I've tried reading all the threads I found in a search, but I can't seem to get it right.
Here is what I know:
Fan/Light Fixture - one blue, one black (power for the fan and light), one white and one green (ground).
In the ceiling junction box:
2 sets of 3 wires each. Each set has a red, a white and a black.
I have it working (sort of) in that the fan and light both work, but the wall switch doesn't. The wiring has:
a) fan black and blue going to ceiling 2 blacks, so 4 wires all together.
b) fan white going to both white ceiling wires, so 3 wires all together.
c) fan ground to metal junction box.
It doesn't seem to matter what I do with the reds. I've put them both with the whites and also tried just capping the reds so they aren't connected to anything. The light/fan work, switch doesn't.
I haven't tried connecting either of the reds to the blacks. Sounds like the logical thing to try, but I finally admitted my ignorance, so am asking the experts. The break is off and all wires are capped separately until I hear back.
Thanks.
Here is what I know:
Fan/Light Fixture - one blue, one black (power for the fan and light), one white and one green (ground).
In the ceiling junction box:
2 sets of 3 wires each. Each set has a red, a white and a black.
I have it working (sort of) in that the fan and light both work, but the wall switch doesn't. The wiring has:
a) fan black and blue going to ceiling 2 blacks, so 4 wires all together.
b) fan white going to both white ceiling wires, so 3 wires all together.
c) fan ground to metal junction box.
It doesn't seem to matter what I do with the reds. I've put them both with the whites and also tried just capping the reds so they aren't connected to anything. The light/fan work, switch doesn't.
I haven't tried connecting either of the reds to the blacks. Sounds like the logical thing to try, but I finally admitted my ignorance, so am asking the experts. The break is off and all wires are capped separately until I hear back.
Thanks.
#3
03-01-18, 01:09 PM
I think at one point there were two switches, but one of the switches has never worked in the 18 years we've been in the house. Never bothered to look at it since we only use/need the one switch.
Picture of junction box attached.
Picture of junction box attached.
Last edited by PJmax; 03-01-18 at 09:46 PM. Reason: enlarged/enhanced picture
#4
03-01-18, 01:10 PM
Forum Topic Moderator
Sounds like you connected to a constant hot instead of a switched hot. Try moving the black to a ceiling red.
#5
03-01-18, 01:13 PM
Group Moderator
Most typical installation I see is house black to fan blue and house red to fan black. That said, knowing what's going on at the switch(es) is paramount.
#6
03-01-18, 02:22 PM
Member
That box looks like 2 - 3way switches , is there another location where there are switches for that fan and light? Are the white wires in that switch box connected to the switches?
Geo
Geo
