View Full Version : Wiring Fan Light to wall switch
cefoxman
05-27-2015, 10:05 AM
Just purchased 1 year old home. Installed a light to existing fan, but light only works with pull chain. Does not work with wall switch; light works independent of switch. How can I get the light to work via the switch?
RickeyD
05-27-2015, 10:12 AM
Wire the light in series/parallel with the fan (internal to the fan) this is the cheapest way.
pajim
05-27-2015, 10:46 AM
if you don"t know you better get an electrician
tomwed
05-27-2015, 11:08 AM
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i agree with the poster who said to get an electrician
Chatbrat
05-27-2015, 11:30 AM
In the ceiling box that holds the fan, there is a red wire that is not being used, attach that wire ro the blue wire on the fan.
In the wall switch box attach the red wire to a switch and provide power to the switch.
All fan boxes in the Villages are prewired like this.
TheVillageChicken
05-27-2015, 12:11 PM
Wire the light in series with the fan (internal to the fan) this is the cheapest way.
Horrible advice. If wired in series, the light and the fan will each only get a portion of the 110 VAC. If they were of equal wattage, they would each get 55 Volts.
Bob P
05-27-2015, 12:33 PM
I wrestled with the same problem and finally called Pikes electrical. The electrician knew exactly what to do and I have had no problems since.
SouthOfTheBorder
05-27-2015, 02:35 PM
In the ceiling box that holds the fan, there is a red wire that is not being used, attach that wire ro the blue wire on the fan.
In the wall switch box attach the red wire to a switch and provide power to the switch.
All fan boxes in the Villages are prewired like this.
Chatbrat answered your question. It is an easy DIY if you are comfortable with working with wiring/switches. Replace the single wall switch with a duplex (double switch), one connected to black wire, the other to the red wire. You then control the fan or the light independent of each other.
If you are not comfortable with DIY, it is a simple job for an electrician.
:thumbup:
Don
dirtbanker
05-27-2015, 03:13 PM
Just purchased 1 year old home. Installed a light to existing fan, but light only works with pull chain. Does not work with wall switch; light works independent of switch. How can I get the light to work via the switch?
If there is only 1 switch on the wall, there is only 1 controlled supply of power to the ceiling fixture and thus the pull chain switches would be the control for either function (fan or light). If you wish to have the ability to turn the light on independent of the fan at wall switch, you will need to get 2 switches in that wall box. You can achieve that with a "combo switch" providing there is a 3 wire romex from wall switch box to ceiling box. If they only installed 2 wire romex from wall switch box to ceiling you would have to pull new wire to achieve that desire.
villagetinker
05-27-2015, 03:28 PM
Please, Please, Please, if you are not sure what you are doing, and have the equipment (a voltmeter) to check your work, call an electrician.
Entering the text wiring diagram for a ceiling fan with two switches into Google will get you the wiring diagrams.
Hope this helps.
handyman
05-27-2015, 04:31 PM
I ran into an instance where both hot ,red and black were run straight through the switch box and and the white neutral went through the switch this would need correcting,the white neutral should remain neutral and connected through to fixture, the red and black HOT wires should go through the dual throw switch,red to red ,black to black,put your trust in a good voltage tester or an electrician that really knows what he is doing,this was in a home built in 2011,I advised my friend to call home warranty and ask for another electrical inspection.
villagetinker
05-27-2015, 05:34 PM
I did the minor wiring change to all 4 fans in my house, but I am not a licensed electrician and cannot do this for others. As I pointed out previously the diagrams are on Google. All of mine had the red wire run between the fan and the switch box, and 2 of the fans actually had the red wire already connected to the fan blue (aka light) wire. The other 2 needed to have that connection made. The local hardware stores all carry the dual switch (note it will go side to side and not up and down like the existing).
BE VERY CAREFUL AT LEAST 1 OR 2 OF THE SWITCHES I PURCHASED HAD A LINK INSTALLED THAT COULD INTERFERE WITH THE CORRECT OPERATION OF YOUR FAN AND LIGHT.
As I stated before, if you are not sure exactly what you are doing, hire a licensed electrician.
handyman
05-27-2015, 05:54 PM
Villagetinker is right, if you have any doubt,call a pro!
Paper1
05-27-2015, 06:54 PM
Just purchased 1 year old home. Installed a light to existing fan, but light only works with pull chain. Does not work with wall switch; light works independent of switch. How can I get the light to work via the switch?
I believe the wiring is done this way intentionally as these are a cash cow for electrical contractors. Why would you install wiring and not install a double switch?
tomwed
05-27-2015, 07:33 PM
How to Wire a Ceiling Fan With a Light With Different Switches : Ceiling Fan Projects
url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwWhBDKkjZQ[/url]
villagetinker
05-28-2015, 08:49 AM
By the way, I may have totally missed your initial question....
If you just want the fan and light to BOTH work off the same EXISTING wall switch, all you need to do is connect the BLUE (light wire) and the BLACK (fan wire) together at the fan on the BLACK (switched HOT wire). If you want the have wall switch for each (the fan and the light), then you need to add the second switch, and use the red wire as indicated in the above posts.
As I stated before, unless you are really sure you know what you are doing, hire a licensed electrician.
Philip Winkler
05-28-2015, 09:08 AM
Call Alan Byer 205-7504; he is a handyman and installed switches on all of our fans.
Chatbrat
05-28-2015, 09:35 AM
A handyman should not be touching any wiring-if he does he is violating the law and is subject to prosecution.
I'm a retired electrical contractor and a young man who wired for me had a Fl Journeyman's license-he was caught in a sting for hanging a ceiling fan & fined large $$$
KeepingItReal
05-28-2015, 10:41 PM
Just purchased 1 year old home. Installed a light to existing fan, but light only works with pull chain. Does not work with wall switch; light works independent of switch. How can I get the light to work via the switch?
Since you had to ask about it on here would indicate a limited electrical knowledge and it would be a lot safer for you to just hire an electrician. It's an easy task but does require a small amount of experience with this type of wiring. Switch really needs to be changed also to allow the fan and light to be controlled independently with speed control and dimming of the light at the switch if you like. Pikes could do it all for you.
cquick
05-28-2015, 10:51 PM
we got an electrician to put sliding switches for the fans and lights in the bedrooms and living room
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