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View Full Version : Changing wiring for a ehaust fan/ heater light


tlicuanan
Dec 23, 2010, 09:19 AM
I have 2 switches in my batroom. My exhaust fan runs on a switch that controls the light fixture over the mirror lamp and then I have a switch that controls a heat lamp (regular lamping used) I would like to control the heat lamp with the exhaust instead of the regular fixture with the fan so that the fixture over the mirror runs independently. Anyway to do this? I would even be willing to make it a 3 gang box and run everything independently. Please help :)

kiera611
Dec 23, 2010, 10:03 AM
Call someone to come and fix-it for u

this8384
Dec 23, 2010, 10:05 AM
call someone to come and fix-it for u

Please stop posting bizarre answers like this. I'm quite positive the OP knows that s/he could call an electrician; they're attempting to do it themselves.

ma0641
Dec 23, 2010, 01:52 PM
It's a little hard to give you a direct answer without knowing how it is wired in the boxes-direct, 3 wire or switch loop. A guess would be that someone pigtailed or backwired the exhaust and mirror light together. You could try the same approach for the other switch. Find out which wire is hot to the exhaust and move it over to the heat lamp, on the output side. Unfortunately, they may have through wired from the light to the fan and only used 1 wire in the box. One way or the other, you will have to trace the wires or if you have ceiling access, add a 3 gang old work box and wire directly to the fan. Make sure all the neutrals are connected together.

tlicuanan
Dec 23, 2010, 01:58 PM
The wiring is the same in the wall box... both are wired to a single pole switch. I know a little bit about the switchs only because I'm in the lighting industry but I don't know the electrical side. Because the wiring is the same in the box... kind of leads me to believe in the ceiling is where the switching would be done??

ma0641
Dec 23, 2010, 02:41 PM
If you only have 2 blacks, the fan if probably wired through the light. In that case, you'll have to find the wire and pull it down to the switch box or add another switch.