Check out some similar questions!

bencov3 · Sep 10, 2010, 08:02 AM

I just bought a new house and when wiring up the ceiling fans noticed that the switches in ine bedroom were not right. In the other three bedrooms the fan and fan light switches are right next to each other and work independently of each other. There is also another switch for an outlet. I also noticed that there were 3 sets of wires coming into the box. In this fourth bedroom the first and third switches control the fan and fan light but the fan switch must be on in order for the fan light switch to turn on the light. The middle switch controls the outlet. Additionally, there are only two sets of wires coming into the box.

Can anyone help me sort this out and show me a diagram for the correct wiring?

Thanks for your time.

hkstroud · Sep 11, 2010, 03:56 AM

there are only two sets of wires coming into the box.

Are these 2-wire or 3-wire cables?

stanfortyman · Sep 11, 2010, 04:37 AM

Originally Posted by bencov3

Can anyone help me sort this out and show me a diagram for the correct wiring?

Well, there is no diagram. The only one would be something someone drew up for you.
Without knowing exactly what wires are in the switch box, the fan box and the receptacle box where these wires go, it is impossible to even guess.

If this is a new house have the builder come back in and fix it.

bencov3 · Sep 11, 2010, 12:47 PM

There are four wires in each set coming into the box. White, Black, Red, and Ground.

Stratmando · Sep 11, 2010, 02:50 PM

Sounds like the switched side of the fan is supplying power to the line side of the light switch.
The light swith needs power to one side of switch and other goes to the light. Leave the whites alone.
Red may be fan and black for light or vice versa.

hkstroud · Sep 11, 2010, 06:55 PM

What you probably have right now is this.

White wires connect together with a wire nut.
The fan and outlet switches connected to a wire (black or red) in one cable with two pig tails. A pig tail is a short piece of wire
.
You probably have the light switch connected to another wire (black or red) in the other cable with a pig tail. That wire would also be connected to the fan switch with a pig tail.

If that is correct, remove the pigtail of the light switch from the wire it is connected to and connect it to the two pig tails going to the fan and outlet switches. If the wire that you removed the light switch pig tail from is long enough, you may discard the pigtail going to the fan switch and connect the wire directly to the fan switch.

In other words the light switch should be connected just like the fan and outlet switches.

When you have them working properly you can put them back in the box in any order you would like.