I recently asked a question about adding a ceiling fan where there wasn't previously a fixture and got my question answered. So, I now know what my plan is for wiring it together.

My next question might be a stupid one, but I just thought of it and without experimenting or asking, I don't know how to get started here.

I'm going to be dropping in a new wire from the attic down the wall to an existing switch, but I don't think I'm going to need to add another switch. So, the switch box that is there will remain there. Is there an easy way to get a new wire in there? Do I have to take the box out first and if so, how would I go about that without damaging the wall?

Any advice will be helpful. Thank you.

Turn that circuit off, and make sure nothing is hot inside the switch box. Hopefully, you will have a knockout remaining in the top of the box, knock it out. If no knockout's are available, you can double up with a single cable but don't put more than two in one knockout. Drill a hole at the top of the wall about where the switch is, a 1" paddle bit should do the trick. Now using a fish tape, fish styx, or something flexible and strong, push through the switch box up into the attic and try to hit the hole. It might be helpful to have a second person to assist you. Then just tie the wire on with some tape and pull down to the box.

Along with the fish tape, drop a nylon string that is weighted down, I use a short piece of jack chain, a heavy nut or washer will work also. Use the fish tape passed up through the knockout in the box to hook onto the string. If you line up the hole up above just right, you may be able to drop the string right into the knockout and not need the fish tape.

I use a steel ball chain (like on a light fixture)(bigger balls are better)(stop that) about 12 " long taped on the end of a fish steel or fiberglas fish stick ( you can make one from old fishing pole,take off the eyes) push this down from the top, a lot of times you can hear it when it rattles on the box, push your magnet on a stick (auto parts, toolstores) through the KO or tiny little snaggy romex opening and the ball chain will pull into the box, pull the wire you attached to the other end of your stick while you were up there into the box. Works good If you drill down from the top, brush away the dirt and rat s$&% on top of the wall and look for pairs of nails which indicate stud positions, keep edge of your bit at least 1" away from these and you 'll miss the stud, unless there's another one right next to it(door framing). I went to the trouible of removing the old boxes when I did my house years ago, I screwed new (not nail on)ones on from inside the box with black sheetrock screws, Worked quite well, didn't have much rock to repair when done carefully. It sounds like a lot of trouble but when I finished the entire house I knew that I had grounds and easy to get CBs, dedicated appliance circuits,dedicated stereo and TV circuits, welder circuit, compressor circuit, lights on all exterior sides of the house,alarm low volt wires, new 200A service panel etc. I also stepped all my wire sizes up one size, there exists no 14 gauge wire or 15A CBs here. It WAS a lot of work but it's possible to do a little at a time with junction boxes. And the peace of mind thing about my house wiring doesn't stink either.

I have used the chain, thread, nut trick many times successfully. Using a good magnet to pull the dangling thread into the knockout makes it even easier.

On occasion, I have been able to place a flashlight in the box and then drop the thread with nail into the knockout from the attic without much effort. The flashlight makes the knockout highly visible.

Another trick: If you are handly with electronics. Use an LED and battery. Connect a LED (any color) to a thin wire and attach a 4.5v battery. Then drop the LED with the thread into the hole from the attic. The lighted LED makes it a lot easier to locate it from the knockout.

-kd