This article describes a fan light switched separately with a power source at switch, and the light is controlled by twp 3-way switches and fan at 1 location.
At the ceiling box - the ungrounded conductor {aka hot} from the fan connects
to the black wire from the switch.. The ungrounded conductor {aka hot} for
the light connects to the red wire coming from the switch. The white wire from
the circuit power supply cable is the grounded leg conductor {aka neutral}
for both the fan and light. The white wire from the switch connects to the
black wire from the circuit power supply cable. This will provide an constant
switched ungrounded conductor {aka hot} for the fan and a switched ungrounded
conductor {aka hot} for the light.
Wrap a piece of black electrical tape around both ends of the white wire
going between the switch and the fixture to indicate that the wire is being
used as a ungrounded conductor {aka hot}. Also do the same to the white wire
going between switch box 1 and 2 , as this wire is also being used as a ungrounded
conductor {aka hot}.
Bare wires are together and grounded to box (if metallic) and if the fixture
has a green wire or a grounding screw , it gets grounded also. Bares and green
wires are equipment grounding conductors.
Be sure to read all documentation that comes with your fan / light combo
fixture.
If you need onward power from the fixture
If only switched power required onward then at existing fixture
- onward cable - black/white/bare
- connect black from onward cable to the black OR Red wire coming from
switch {depending onwhich switch(s) you want the onward switched power
to be controlled from}
- connect white from onward cable to white wire of the circuit power supply
cable.
- connect bare from onward cable to bare coming from circuit power supply
cable
and to electrical box if metallic.
- At the onward cables destination, the black is the switched ungrounded
conductor {aka hot}, the white is the grounded leg {aka neutral} , and the
bare is the equipment grounding conductor.
If only unswitch power required onward then at existing fixture
- onward cable - black/white/bare
- connect black from onward cable to black wire coming from
circuit power source cable
- connect white from onward cable to white coming from circuit power supply
cable
- connect bare from onward cable to bare coming from circuit
power source cable and to electrical box if metallic.
- At the onward cables destination , the black is the ungrounded conductor
{aka hot},
the white is the grounded leg {aka neutral}, and the bare is
the equipment grounding conductor.
If switched and unswitched power required onward then at existing
fixture
- onward cable - black/red//white/bare
- connect black from onward cable to black wire coming from
circuit power supply cable
- connect red from onward cable to the black wire OR Red wire coming from
switch {depending on which switch(s) you want the onward
switched power controlled from}
- connect white from onward cable to white coming from circuit power supply
cable
- connect bare from onward cable to bare coming from circuit
power supply cable and to electrical box if metallic.
- At the onward cables destination , the black is the unswitched
ungrounded conductor {aka hot}, red is the switched ungrounded
conductor {aka hot}, the white is the grounded leg {aka neutral},
and the bare is the equipment grounding conductor.
(If 2 separately switched power is required onward then at existing
fixture
- onward cable - black/red/white/bare
- connect black from onward cable to black wire coming from switch.
- connect red from onward cable to the red wire coming from switch.
- connect white from onward cable to white coming from circuit power supply
cable
- connect bare from onward cable to bare coming from circuit
power supply cable and to electrical box if metallic.
- At the onward cables destination , the black and red wires are separately
switched
ungrounded conductors {aka hots}, the white is the grounded leg {aka neutral},
and the bare is the equipment grounding conductor.
If you need onward power from the switch
This is not possible with this configuration as no grounded leg {aka neutral}
exists at the switch locations.
Fan / Light switched separately, power source at light and light controlled
by
2, 3-way switches and fan at one location only
If wiring multiple fixtures be sure to check the following guidelines
concerning how to do it and what not to do: Wiring
Multiple Fixtures.
If you are new at understanding the "politically correct" electrical terminology
and need clarification of the terms used, we strongly urge you to read the Clarification
of Definitions and Terminology guide. This will explain the terminology
used in this article.