I am trying to install a Hampton Bay Wall Remote Control that transmits a signal to a receiver that I will install behind the Ceiling Fan assembly.

Problem: Remote instructions state to connect the 2 Black wires from the wall switch to the new Remote switch. The wall switch has a Red and a Black wire connected to it, along with a bare Ground wire. There is a bundle of 4 White wires inside this junction box all connected to each other and capped. This junction box is home to the Ceiling Fan wall switch and another wall switch that turns an outlet off/on. Coming out of the ceiling to the Fan is a Black, Red, and White wire. Right now, with the old switch hooked up, the Fan motor is always powered, and the Fan's light kit is powered on/off with the wall switch.

Wall Switch:
=====Black=======

=====Red=======

-----Green--------


Ceiling Plate to Fan:
=====Black=======

=====Red=======

=====White=======

labman

Identify the wires that go to the outlet and its switch, and leave them alone. If the wall remote has 2 black wires, connect one to the incoming black feed wire, and the other to the white wires. Connect the incoming black feed wire to the black wire that goes to the fan. At the fan remote, if it has 2 black wires too, again one to black, and one to white. If either has a white wire instead of 2 blacks, be sure to connect it to the white. Connect all bare and green wires together, and to any green screws.

Cap off the red wire at both ends. The wall remote and the fan remote will now always be hot. Switching is now being done at the fan remote, and you do not need the second wire from the wall switch to the fan.

brett

You say to connect one of the remote's Black wire to the White wires. These White wires aren't hooked up to any switch in the wall...they are 4 wires (2 switches in the wall plate) which are all bundled together and capped at the end. Do I connect the remote's Black wire to one or all 4 of these White wires?

Thanks!

labman

Yes. Common electrical circuits have a hot wire and a grounded neutral. The current flows through one wire, through the load, and back the other. The neutral is always white. Switches are always installed in the hot wire, and the neutral connects directly to the neutral. Some fixtures just use 2 black wires where it doesn't make much difference.

brett

Thank you so much for the help. I am going to try what you said. Both Black wires from the new wall remote to one Black in the wall, and to the 4 Whites in the wall.

Quick, probably stupid question...

As long as I turn off the breaker before touching any wires, is there any possible wiring combination that I can make wrongly that would arc or start a fire or cause any damage to the home's electrical system if I connect it and turn the breaker back on? I just want to make sure I can't cause any permanent damage if I wire it wrongly.

Thanks!

labman

Strange things can happen. Electrical systems are set up so that usually at least 2 things have to go wrong before anybody is hurt or anything damaged. Connect the wrong black and white wires, and you have a bad short. A proper functioning breaker instantly cuts the power before anything is damaged. With age and abuse, breakers tend to open under rated load, rather than fail to open when they should. The chances are very low of there being any real problems.

brett

Thanks very much. I'll let you know how it goes!

brett

Hey there!

Just a follow-up. I capped off the Black wire in the ceiling. I connected the fan's remote receiver in the ceiling to the Red Wire and to the White wire. In the wall, I connected the transmitter to the Red Wire and the Black Wire. I didn't mess with the White wires in the wall. The fan works perfectly!

I really appreciate the help.

gregg

I am installing a harbor breeze ceiling fan with a remote control. The remote has one black and one white wire for the incoming AC power. The wires coming from the box/ ceiling are red, white, black, and an uncovered ground. The previous ceiling fan was connected to the red and white wires. When I install the fan I don't know which wire should be connected to the black and white on the remote control. (By the way, the white wire is hot)

Thanks

Greg

labman

Was there at least at one time a wall switch or 2 for the fan? Usually a 3 wire cable means a pair of 3 way switches, or separate switches for the fan and light. To figure this out, you need look at the switches. Two together each with 2 contacts means separate circuits. Two on the far sides of the room with 3 contacts means 3 way switches. Post back, and we will work on it some more.