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-   -   Hooking up wires/wiring my ceiling fan/light (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=158408)

  • Dec 2, 2007, 12:38 PM
    jhurlbert
    Hooking up wires/wiring my ceiling fan/light
    All right, so I have tried wiring my fan/light in my ceiling, however, it does not work..

    The fan works actually, just not the light. I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions as to what is wrong?

    From the ceiling in the box there is a white, black, red, and bare wire. From the fan there is a green, white, blue, and black wire.

    The following is how I have them hooked up currently:

    Red to Blue
    Black to Black
    White to White
    Green to Green to Bare (there is a green wire coming from the downrod, which I connected to the mounting bracket, connected both to the bare ground wire)

    I assume something isn't hooked up right, so if there is any advice I would greatly appreciate it.. :confused:
  • Dec 3, 2007, 04:53 AM
    Dr1757
    I believe the problem is the red to blue connection. The house wires you describe are normally used for three way switches, and unless there is a switch to activate the red wire, the light wire (blue) isn't being powered.

    Hope this helps, but when in doubt call a cerified electrician.
  • Dec 3, 2007, 05:55 AM
    labman
    Although a 3 conductor with ground is used in 3 way switches, they are also used to give separate control using separate switches for the fan and light. If there is a second switch where you switch on the fan, it needs to be connected to the black wire that feeds the first one, and the red wire. Best done by using a wire nut to connect 2 short lengths of black wire from each switch to the incoming black wire.

    If you have no second switch there, but an unconnected red wire, you need to add a second switch and wire as above. You can buy 2 switches that fit one box.

    If none of the above is true, post back with exactly what wires you have at the switch and in the ceiling. Also any other switches that might be connected to the ceiling and if any of the white wires are marked with black tape.
  • Dec 3, 2007, 06:57 AM
    Cobraguy
    To follow up on labman's excellent advice, some judicious use of a volt/ohm meter will really help you out here. Also, you do have two separate switches, right? Is this a new fan installation replacing a light only fixture? Was there an existing fan/light that worked? What you are after here is to determine which lead is hot with each switch. Then those leads go to the blue and black fan leads. Actually, lots of options available... we just need more info before we can really help you out.
  • Dec 3, 2007, 01:31 PM
    ceilingfanrepair
    Try connecting black and blue to black, and ignoring the red, to see if the light works then. If it does not then the problem is within the fan/light.

    Ceiling fan wiring - Ceiling Fans N More

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