Long time lurker here, first post! Unfortunately, I'm coming to the pros because I am beyond frustrated. I am almost certain I am doing this right...it's so simple...but I can't get it to work for the life of me. I previously had a bathroom fan with a built in light; each operated on an independent switch. It was hideously ugly, so when I remodeled, I wanted to install just a fan with no light, and then I decided to add a light over the shower about 4 feet away from the fan. Attached is a diagram of how I wired it, but no power to anything. Am I missing something? Just a bad connection somewhere? Thanks in advance.
Simple Wiring Help
- Thread starter takirc02
- Start date
JordonMusser
Well-known member
You diagram is.. um.. fancy. :-D
kidding aside, yes that should work. you need to get a meter and start checking to see what is going on.
kidding aside, yes that should work. you need to get a meter and start checking to see what is going on.
I added the ground wiring to the attached...more fancy diagramming. Dedicated ground wire on the light and just grounded to the housing at the fan.
Attachments
diagram works, just use a meter to check if you have 110v on the incoming power at the switch box.
with fuse off light bulbs in socket and fan motor hooked, then continuity check between the white wire and the black and the white wire and the red.
if not recheck all your wire nuts connections.
with fuse off light bulbs in socket and fan motor hooked, then continuity check between the white wire and the black and the white wire and the red.
if not recheck all your wire nuts connections.
Mustang51js
Well-known member
Did you check to see if breaker is tripped or a gfi that needs to be reset. Need to start from the power coming into the box and if that's good work out from there.
Success! I have misplaced my meter, and couldn't find a 9v battery for my spare, so I just triple checked everything: undid all wire nuts, trimmed back wire and exposed new, ensured solid connections, re-installed wire nuts. All now works as it should. I suspect I just had some old, corroded wire somewhere that wasn't conducting well. Thanks for the help!
Most importantly, the fixture you choose to install over your shower must be approved for that use.
Also, depending on the type of fixture and your local authority having jurisdiction, the circuit supplying power to the light may need to be protected by GFCI.
