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View Full Version : How to split a ceiling fan and a separate light on a 3 way switch


mlucas77
Jul 8, 2012, 07:22 AM
OK I have a three way switch and it runs a celling fan in the living room and another light in the dining room. I want to run celling fan hot all the time and have the light on the on/off switch. I kind of have it my head but I want to double check...

mlucas77
Jul 8, 2012, 08:13 AM
OK let me add by saying I traced everything out. The power comes from the master switch then jumps over to the other switch. Then they ran 12/2 to the first light and a jumper 12/2 to the celling fan. Can I run the fan hot on the black for the fan and run the white hot for the light with a switch and then just grounded. Or there needs to be a neutral... or do I need a 3 way pulled to both locations to make the hole thing work.. damn I think I just answerd my own?? Or can I cheat with the 12/2...

hkstroud
Jul 8, 2012, 11:29 AM
I don't think I follow your post. I think you are saying that you have power coming from the breaker to a 2 gang switch location and have a two wire cable to the fan location and a two wire cable to the light location, which I presume is in the dinning room.

Yes, you must have a neutral at each location and no you can't cheat.

If you want to have the fan hot all the time and control the light (of the fan) with a switch you must have a 3-wire cable between the switch and the light.

Where does a 3-way switch come into play here?

mlucas77
Jul 8, 2012, 11:40 AM
Well a typical 3 way. Two wall switches controlling one light. But in this case they ran a jumper from the light to also power the fan in the living room. They ran red,black,white,ground to the switches but only a black,white to the light and fan. But already figured its not going to work.