wall switch to control ceiling fan light

[reinhardt]

not in the garage, but figured you all in your infinite wisdom could help me out on this one. have i shoveled it on thick enough yet?

i have a wall switch controlling an outlet in my master bedroom. i would like to take the outlet off of the switch so it's powered at all times, then use the switch to control the light and fan on the ceiling fan.

currently the switch junction box has a white and black wire in it wired to the switch. the ceiling fan is already installed, powered, and operated by the pull chains for light and fan.

here's what i'm thinking:
1) dewire switch and wirenut white and black together to power outlet at all times.
2) run a length of 3 conductor romex from ceiling fan junction box to wall switch junction box.
3) disconnect fan hot lead and wire to 3 conductor to switch, then send back to fan with one conductor controlling fan, other controlling light.

my questions:
1) is it ok to do step one above?
2) assuming step two above is correct, what color wire do i connect to which one?

thanks for the help everybody.

ben

 

[tfi racing]

Around these parts that would be acceptable,your local rules may vary.On the new three wire from the fan,the white would be the common power,the black and red would be the switch legs.My advice would to leave all of that alone and just get a wireless remote control for the fan from one of the big box stores,quick installation,better control and no fishing cable from the attic to the wall switch.

 

[nehog]

not in the garage, but figured you all in your infinite wisdom could help me out on this one. have i shoveled it on thick enough yet?

i have a wall switch controlling an outlet in my master bedroom. i would like to take the outlet off of the switch so it's powered at all times, then use the switch to control the light and fan on the ceiling fan.

currently the switch junction box has a white and black wire in it wired to the switch. the ceiling fan is already installed, powered, and operated by the pull chains for light and fan.

here's what i'm thinking:
1) dewire switch and wirenut white and black together to power outlet at all times.

Wirenutting white to black will create a spectacular short circuit, hopefully tripping the breaker before the house catches on fire.

2) run a length of 3 conductor romex from ceiling fan junction box to wall switch junction box.
3) disconnect fan hot lead and wire to 3 conductor to switch, then send back to fan with one conductor controlling fan, other controlling light.

my questions:
1) is it ok to do step one above?

(See my comment above...)

2) assuming step two above is correct, what color wire do i connect to which one?

thanks for the help everybody.

ben

Draw out the circuit you have now. Post this drawing and someone will mark it up for you.

Hint: you'll need to replace the outlet as the shorting jumper has been removed from the one you have.

 

[kmacht]

Wirenutting white to black will create a spectacular short circuit, hopefully tripping the breaker before the house catches on fire. (See my comment above...)

Gee, I would be willing to bet that ever time he flips that switch which connects the white and black wire together to complete the circuit it doesn't end in a short circuit and a house fire.

Based on what is posted it sounds like you have a hot wire (black) going into the box where the plug is located. That wire is tied to a white wire running to the switch box. It gets tied to one side of the switch and the other side is tied to the black wire which runs back to your outlet. If that is the case, then don't bother wiring the black and white wires together. Instead, remove them. Just open up the outlet box, disconnect the white wire from the black hot wire and tie that hot wire to the outlet where the other black wire from your switch was returning. As for powering the fan, you can do the same thing by running wire from the switch to the fan but as posted above, it will be far easier to install one of those wireless remotes instead.

Keith

 

[csp]

Gee, I would be willing to bet that ever time he flips that switch which connects the white and black wire together to complete the circuit it doesn't end in a short circuit and a house fire.

Switches don't complete circuits between white and black. They complete a circuit in an interrupted black, so it's a black to black connection.

 

[hidollartoys]

Switches don't complete circuits between white and black. They complete a circuit in an interrupted black, so it's a black to black connection.

You better pay attention to what Kmacht posted, he is right.

 

[oleguy]

Switches don't complete circuits between white and black. They complete a circuit in an interrupted black, so it's a black to black connection.

the white and black form a switch loop.white is connected to power goes to one side of sw,black is the power going back to outlet for a half hot ckt.white must be taped or colered red or black at sw and recp.

 

[reinhardt]

i knew the white and black at the switch are an interrupted black. i hadnt thought to open the outlet and disconnect the white wire from the black hot wire and tie that hot wire to the outlet where the other black wire from your switch was returning.

i know it would be easy to wire in a remote for the fan. i want to be able to walk in the room and flip the light on with a wall switch. i have enough trouble finding the tv remote, hate the idea of trying to find the light remote.

so, based on kmacht's and tfi racing's posts, i'm good to go w/ my plans. thanks guys. any other input anyone? other than setting my house on fire w/ an outlet the builders installed 25 yrs ago...

 

[nehog]

Gee, I would be willing to bet that ever time he flips that switch which connects the white and black wire together to complete the circuit it doesn't end in a short circuit and a house fire.
...

He didn't say "white with a black tape" he said "white". Since there are likely a number of whites in the box, I'm going to assume the wrong one would be used.

 

[csp]

He didn't say "white with a black tape" he said "white". Since there are likely a number of whites in the box, I'm going to assume the wrong one would be used.

Exactly my interpretation.