We have a new home and had wiring put in for 2 fans on the patio. These fans are controlled by 2 switches. In other words you should be able to control both fans from two places. I'm confused by the fact that there are 4 wires to the fan mounts. 1 red, 1 black, 1 white, and a ground. After testing the switches in different positions and the wiring at the fans, I found there is either voltage between both white to red and white to black wires or no voltage between white to red and white to black. Does this mean there are two hot wires to each fan outlet?

Also, is there a way to control fan speed to both fans from both switches?

No, you cannot have two places at which you control the speed of the fans. You can have two places to turn them on and off (which you have). One of those places can also control the speed if the speed control switch is also a 3-way switch.

You said that you had wiring done in preparation for this. That wiring should have been complete leaving you with a white wire and another color wire for connection to the fan. If the fans are to be fan/light you should have a white wire and two other wires to connect to the fan /light. Because of the way wires are used in this situation I cannot tell you by color, which two wires will have voltage between them at a given switch setting.

The first question is, where is the power coming in at. It can be coming in at either switch or either light. If you tell me where the power is coming in, and what color wire is connected to the common screw of each switch, I can probably draw you a diagram.

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Originally Posted by hkstroud

No, you cannot have two places at which you control the speed of the fans. You can have two places to turn them on and off (which you have). One of those places can also control the speed if the speed control switch is also a 3-way switch.

You said that you had wiring done in preperation for this. That wiring should have been complete leaving you with a white wire and another color wire for connection to the fan. If the fans are to be fan/light you should have a white wire and two other wires to connect to the fan /light. Because of the way wires are used in this situation I cannot tell you by color, which two wires will have voltage between them at a given switch setting.

The first question is, where is the power coming in at. It can be coming in at either switch or either light. If you tell me where the power is comming in, and what color wire is connected to the common screw of each switch, I can probably draw you a diagram.

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I'm not sure how to tell where the power is coming in at.

I did do the following tests with the switches:

Switch 1 up
Switch 2 down
120V from white to red
120V from white to black
0V from red to black

Switch 1 down
Switch 2 up
120V from white to red
120V from white to black
0V from red to black

Switch 1 down
Switch 2 down
< 1V from white to red
< 1V from white to black
0V from red to black

Switch 1 up
Switch 2 up
< 1V from white to red
< 1V from white to black
0V from red to black

Does this tell you anything?

Nope. Just look in the switch boxes and the ceiling boxes and tell me the number of cables and the type, 2-wire or 3-wire.
A wire is a single wire, a cable is 2 or more wires in an outer covering. When counting wires do not count the ground wire.

Do these fans have lights?

I do not understand the need for a 3 way switch setup for fan motors.