I have several rooms in my house that have outlets controlled by the only switch in the room. The ceiling fans are controlled only by the pull of the cord at the fan. I want to make the switch control the fan and light, and make the outlet live all the time. I am not sure how to setup the switch box, rewire the outlet and rewire the fan. Please help. :confused:

I have several rooms in my house that have outlets controlled by the only switch in the room. The ceiling fans are controlled only by the pull of the cord at the fan. I want to make the switch control the fan and light, and make the outlet live all the time. I am not sure how to setup the switch box, rewire the outlet and rewire the fan. Please help. :confused:
The quick answer is that you need to do some more work and figure out where your wires run now. If you want the switch to control the fan, then you have to have a wire running from the switch to the fan. Is there one already there/ will you be able to install one?

Do you know if the same fuse/ breaker supplies both the fan and the plugs?

I have a much better way! Of course, do all of what I suggest with the breaker off for safety.

First, remove the switch from the wall. Take the wires off the switch and twist them together using a wire nut. This will make the wall outlet always on.

Second, install a ceiling fan remote control and mount it in the wall where the switch used to be. Follow the instructions provided with the remote control.

This is how I've wired my home. The benefit is that the remote control devices will allow speed control, and light dimming. You would not get this by rerunning the wires as you originally asked. Plus you can buy ones that mount in the wall, or on brackets so you can remove the remote and use it from your bedside table.

I don't remember his name, but there's a guy on this board that is a expert at ceiling fan installation.. I'm sure he'd offer good info on how to do the install.

The quick answer is that you need to do some more work and figure out where your wires run now. If you want the switch to control the fan, then you have to have a wire running from the switch to the fan. Is there one already there/ will you be able to install one?

Do you know if the same fuse/ breaker supplies both the fan and the plugs?


I know that I don't have a wire going from the switch to the fan right now. I think I would be able to run the wire with a little guidance fairly easily due the fact that I have an attic right above the room I am working on which should give me easy access to wiring. I am not sure about the breaker supplying the power to the fan and plugs, but I think they are on separate lines. Does this help?

I have a much better way! Of course, do all of what I suggest with the breaker off for safety.

First, remove the switch from the wall. Take the wires off of the switch and twist them together using a wire nut. This will make the wall outlet always on.

Second, install a ceiling fan remote control and mount it in the wall where the switch used to be. Follow the instructions provided with the remote control.

This is how I've wired my home. The benefit is that the remote control devices will allow speed control, and light dimming. You would not get this by rerunning the wires as you originally asked. Plus you can buy ones that mount in the wall, or on brackets so you can remove the remote and use it from your bedside table.

I don't remember his name, but there's a guy on this board that is a expert at ceiling fan installation.. I'm sure he'd offer good info on how to do the install.


Thanks for you help, I will keep it in mind for a back up plan just in case running the wiring hits a road block.

Rusty, that guy is Ceilingfanrepair. He does fans and electrical. He'd probably like your anwer. However, twist the wires together so the outlets are on doesn't do anything for the fan. You can just mount the new remote on the box that comes with it for wall mountings.

What you have could be wired up several different ways, and nobody can tell you the best way to rewire it until you say how things are wired up now. Plug a light or something into the outlet and turn it on. Turn on the fan. Go turn off the likely looking breakers until you have both the fan and light off. If the breakers weren't marked, mark them. Pull the cover plate off the both the switch and outlet. Note how many wires are in each box and how they are connected, and if any of the white wires are connected to a black wire or marked with black tape. You may need to pull the switch and outlet out to get a good look at all the wires. Try to determine if any pair of wires runs to the fan. If you have an ohm meter, the black and white pair to the fan should show a resistance with the fan on, and open with it off. Post back with what you find. Depending on how things are wired up, it might only mean changing some of the connections, or at most, running a single pair of wires from the fan to the switch. If the switch is on an interior wall, that should be easy with the unfinished attic above.

Actually you could just wire nut the wires on the switch together as suggested, and then run a wire from the ceiling fan to the switch, connecting it as a switch loop. That would be a waste if you could use the existing wire.

Rusty, that guy is Ceilingfanrepair. He does fans and electrical. He'd probably like your anwer. However, twist the wires together so the outlets are on doesn't do anything for the fan. You can just mount the new remote on the box that comes with it for wall mountings.

The twist also leaves room in the existing box to install recessed-style fan remote. Then both problems are solved.

Of course, the OP may prefer the wall mounted bracket for a handheld remote, which I think is what you were describing.

Those remotes are a godsend. God bless the folks who invented them! ;-)

I diagree with anything suggesting remotes.

I agree with anyone that says, you have to figure out how things are wired now. This could be EXTREMELY EASY i.e. just changing two wire connections, or you might have to run another wire.

Get in your attic, or take fixtures and switchplates off, and determine how wires are running. Namedly, the wires from the switch, what do they go to? The wires from the fan, where do they go to?

How do I change the switch for a light in my ceiling fan?

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