View Full Version : How to install a fan with light using a wall plug
iansteed
Jan 30, 2006, 09:21 PM
I got a fan with light and some one told me to use a swag kit and install it like a lamp because I am renting my home so I did but the lights don't work and the fan does
How do I fix it
RickJ
Jan 31, 2006, 04:35 AM
The problem is certainly in the unit,then. Remove the light kit from the fan. You'll probably find it not connected correctly - or that there's a burnt connection in the light kit itself.
Light kits are cheap if you find it does not work.
A good thing to have around the house for stuff like this: An extension cord with the receptacle end cut off - and 2 alligator clips attached. That way you can clip on to the wires of the light kit then (VERY CAREFULLY, being sure the clips or wires are NOT touching!) plug it into the wall to see if it works.
tkrussell
Jan 31, 2006, 09:08 AM
At the top of the fan, where the wires come out the top and splice to the swag kit, there should be three wires, black, white, and blue, (some fans may use a different color in place of the blue). The black feeds the fan, and the blue feeds the light kit, the white is common for both. Did you see three wires at the top of the fan? You would need to splice the black and blue together with one, (hot) wire from the swag kit.
The two wire cord of the swag kit is probably gold or some other color, and you need to identify both. Hard to do if they are both the same color. Look closely at both wires, one should be smooth on the outside edge, and the other should have fine ribs in the molded plastic, again on the outer edge of the cord. Every two wire cord in your home , you may notice is like this, smooth on one side and ribbed on the other. You should note the ribbed wire ends at the male plug, and if the plug is "polarized" the ribbed should be going to the wider blade on the plug.
Let me bo backwards, look at the plug, and see if you can determine which wire goes to the wider blade. In the wall receptacle you will notice there are two flat blade holes, one wider than the other, if the wiring is done correctly in the receptalce, the wider opening is the white or neutral conductor.
We normally use the ribbed wire for the neutral (white) and the other for the hot. This swag kit should have also come with a bare wire that you lace threw the chain along with the two wire cord.
Sounds as if you missed connecting the blue wire, or which ever wire is at the top of the fan the is intended to feed the light. Most fans have a paper tag or label on this wire labeling the wire as "Light Feed"
If this is OK then the problem is in the fan at the bottom where the light kit connects, again the blue wire, labeled "light" must feed the light pull chain switch.
Any of this make sense to your situation?
iansteed
Jan 31, 2006, 07:54 PM
At the top of the fan, where the wires come out the top and splice to the swag kit, there should be three wires, black, white, and blue, (some fans may use a different color in place of the blue). The black feeds the fan, and the blue feeds the light kit, the white is common for both. Did you see three wires at the top of the fan? You would need to splice the black and blue together with one, (hot) wire from the swag kit.
The two wire cord of the swag kit is probably gold or some other color, and you need to identify both. Hard to do if they are both the same color. Look closely at both wires, one should be smooth on the outside edge, and the other should have fine ribs in the molded plastic, again on the outer edge of the cord. Every two wire cord in your home , you may notice is like this, smooth on one side and ribbed on the other. You should note the ribbed wire ends at the male plug, and if the plug is "polarized" the ribbed should be going to the wider blade on the plug.
Let me bo backwards, look at the plug, and see if you can determine which wire goes to the wider blade. In the wall receptacle you will notice there are two flat blade holes, one wider than the other, if the wiring is done correctly in the receptalce, the wider opening is the white or neutral conductor.
We normally use the ribbed wire for the neutral (white) and the other for the hot. This swag kit should have also come with a bare wire that you lace threw the chain along with the two wire cord.
Sounds as if you missed connecting the blue wire, or which ever wire is at the top of the fan the is intended to feed the light. Most fans have a paper tag or label on this wire labeling the wire as "Light Feed"
If this is OK then the problem is in the fan at the bottom where the light kit connects, again the blue wire, labeled "light" must feed the light pull chain switch.
Any of this make sense to your situation? thanks that worked grewat