Running electrical service for ceiling fan

[honcho]

Want to install ceiling fans in upstairs bedrooms. The bedrooms do not have ceiling lights but do have a switched outlet. The electrical service for the upstairs rooms comes down from the attic so wiring for the switched outlet is available to tap in the attic for the ceiling fan. There are no remaining breaker spaces in the basement located panel so would like to use existing circuit(s), not to mention avoiding the effort and cost to run additional wiring from basement to attic. I am content to use the current circuit serving the switched outlet. This would leave the wall switch serving the outlet and ceiling fan. I don't know if that is allowed by code. I'm sure I'm overlooking something here so any tips you can offer before I give up and find an electrician will be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance!

 

[larry4406]

My house had switch plugs in several rooms and no overhead light when we moved in 10 years ago.

I don't recall what I did, but the switches now control ceiling lights and the plug is no longer switched.

 

[Codyboy]

Is the switched outlet in the ceiling? I mean I don't know as there's weird stuff out there. Or is it at normal height like for a lamp?

Me, I would fish a wire down to the switch box and tie in to the wire there. But if you only have a switch-leg going to the switch that won't work.
If regular wiring tap it there run new wire to the fan location.

You can add a 2 switch switch into the 1 gang box .

 

[honcho]

Is the switched outlet in the ceiling? I mean I don't know as there's weird stuff out there. Or is it at normal height like for a lamp?

Me, I would fish a wire down to the switch box and tie in to the wire there. But if you only have a switch-leg going to the switch that won't work.
If regular wiring tap it there run new wire to the fan location.

You can add a 2 switch switch into the 1 gang box .

The switched outlet is on a wall, at the usual foot or so off the floor.

 

[onewheat]

I'd grab the hot from the switch and run it up into the ceiling. You could leave the outlet switched and use the pull-chain (or remote) to control the fan/light.

 

[75gmck25]

If you want to wire it like a new install this is what I would recommend. New installations now provide power to the wall switch box, and do not use switch legs. This provides the constant power that may be needed for newer automation devices (timers, remote controls, etc.).

Verify the wall switch box already has constant power and it is not a switch leg. Switch leg will usually have one black and one white wire marked as black on the switch terminals.

Then do the following.
- run a new 12/3 or 14/3 wire from the wall switch to the ceiling light/fan.
- pull/cut out the old wall box and replace with a dual gang so you have more space
- install switches for the ceiling fan and light, connect each device to a separate switch
- if you want the wall receptacle on all the time just connect its wiring to the power that comes into the wall switch; if you want it to switch on with the ceiling light, pigtail it to that switch

If the wall switch is just a switch leg you will first have to run power from the wall receptacle (or other source) to the switch box.

 

[honcho]

If you want to wire it like a new install this is what I would recommend. New installations now provide power to the wall switch box, and do not use switch legs. This provides the constant power that may be needed for newer automation devices (timers, remote controls, etc.).

Verify the wall switch box already has constant power and it is not a switch leg. Switch leg will usually have one black and one white wire marked as black on the switch terminals.

Then do the following.
- run a new 12/3 or 14/3 wire from the wall switch to the ceiling light/fan.
- pull/cut out the old wall box and replace with a dual gang so you have more space
- install switches for the ceiling fan and light, connect each device to a separate switch
- if you want the wall receptacle on all the time just connect its wiring to the power that comes into the wall switch; if you want it to switch on with the ceiling light, pigtail it to that switch

If the wall switch is just a switch leg you will first have to run power from the wall receptacle (or other source) to the switch box.

appreciate the detail, I'll have to investigate what is at the switch. Thank you.

 

[JohnC1957]

Is the outlet only switched or does it have one half always hot?

 

[nadogail]

The FAU in a rental was in the attic and was fed from a separate breaker, i tapped the fan power from the box the FAU was plugged into.

Fans draw very little power, especially if you have LED lighting, been like that for 20 years with no problems.