Ok my hubby is trying to connect a ceiling fan on to a light switch that is already dedicated to a plug in the room. He split the conduit in the attic to feed the ceiling fan but when you turn off the switch the plug turns off (along with the night light that is plugged in) but if you pull the chain of the fan the night light turns on ( plugged in to the wall) and it switches to a 3 way dimmer like the fan would change speeds but the fan doesn't work at all.

INSIDE SWITCH

2 wire with 1 black wire 1 white wire and a bronze ground wire (this is not being used)

It's hard to tell from the description, but it almost sounds like the fan and the outlet are wired in series. The wall switch controls power to both, and the fan switch will allow enough current to flow to operate the bulb but not the fan. Obviously this is incorrect.

Since you're in the ceiling anyway, what you really need to do is run a completely new wire (pair+ground) from the ceiling fan box to the wall switch box. Sometimes this can be difficult. The outlet wiring should be put back exactly as it was before. Then (in the wall switch box), connect all the bare copper (ground) wires together, hook the white wires together, and the black wire from the fan should go to the black wire that feeds the switch. (One feeds the switch, one feeds the outlet) If you connect it to the wrong black wire, the fan will only work when the switch is on--therefore, hook to the other black wire.

This is my best guess based on the info presented. Please double-check everything you do before applying power. Consult with a knowledgeable handyman if you have any doubts.

Hope this helps,
WallyH

Apparently he tapped into the switch leg. The switch leg takes power from the outlet box to the switch and when the switch is on, back to the outlet itself. There is no neutral. He needs to put things back like they were. He needs to go to the outlet box. There he should find a white wire connected to a black wire.

If both halves of the outlet are switched unwire the black and white wires. Connect the white wire to neutral side of the outlet, the same side where the other white wire is connected. Connect the black wire to the hot side of the outlet, the same side where the other black wire is attached.

If only one half of the outlet is switched you need to replace the outlet. Get rid of the pigtails (those short pieces of wire). Connect the black wires to the hot side (dark colored screws) and the white wires to the neutral side) light colored screws.

Run a new cable to the switch box from the ceiling fan. In the switch box, connect the white wires together. Connect the ground wires together. Connect the black wires to the switch.

After he has pulled the outlet come back here and tell what wires you have just to be sure.

I agree with Harold.

How many wires are at the switch, and how many wires are at the outlet?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by hkstroud

Apparently he tapped into the switch leg. The switch leg takes power from the outlet box to the switch and when the switch is on, back to the outlet itself. There is no neutral. He needs to put things back like they were. He needs to go to the outlet box. There he should find a white wire connected to a black wire.

If both halves of the outlet are switched unwire the black and white wires. Connect the white wire to neutral side of the outlet, the same side where the other white wire is connected. Connect the black wire to the hot side of the outlet, the same side where the other black wire is attached.

If only one half of the outlet is switched you need to replace the outlet. Get rid of the pigtails (those short pieces of wire). Connect the black wires to the hot side (dark colored screws) and the white wires to the neutral side) light colored screws.

Run a new cable to the switch box from the ceiling fan. In the switch box, connect the white wires together. Connect the the ground wires together. Connect the black wires to the switch.

After he has pulled the outlet come back here and tell what wires you have just to be sure.

---

I agree. I re-read the problem more carefully, and it sounds like there is only one romex in the switch box. This would be the switch leg--no hot leg at all. Sorry for the oversight.

WallyH