Ask Me Help Desk

Ask Me Help Desk (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/forum.php)
-   Electrical & Lighting (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/forumdisplay.php?f=105)
-   -   Bathroom light/fan combo on separate switches (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=549187)

  • Jan 29, 2011, 06:51 PM
    marknor
    Bathroom light/fan combo on separate switches
    I want my new bathroom light/fan combo to work off separate switches. I have the two switches installed and the cables run to the fixture. My power wire is at the fixture as well. I just cannot figure out how to wire this thing so the light is on one switch and the fan another.
  • Jan 29, 2011, 07:11 PM
    hkstroud

    What kind of cable do you have between the fixture and the switches?
  • Jan 29, 2011, 07:11 PM
    donf

    Did you install the switches?

    I don't suppose you used a 14/3 cable to get to the switches from the supply cable. If you did then the switch loop should be configured as follows:

    White (re identified as Black to signify it is a hot conductor) from the supply black to the switch outlet. Pigtailed at the outlet on tail to the bottom of light switch, one tail to bottom of fan switch.

    Black from fan switch to fan conductor. Red from light switch to Light conductor.

    If you did not use this configuration, you must tell us exactly what you have.
  • Jan 29, 2011, 09:08 PM
    marknor
    Comment on donf's post
    All wire is 12/2. power supply, switches, everything.
  • Jan 29, 2011, 09:09 PM
    marknor
    Comment on hkstroud's post
    12/2 everywhere. No red wire.
  • Jan 29, 2011, 10:24 PM
    hkstroud
    1 Attachment(s)

    I am assuming two 12/2 cables to switches.

    Connect the white of incoming power to white of both fan and light.

    Color both ends white wires in cables going to switches black

    In the ceiling box, connect both white wires of cables going to switches to black of power into ceiling fixture box.

    Connect the black of one cable going to the switch to fan black. Connect black of the other cable going to the switch to light black.

    At the switch, connect the black of one cable to a switch screw. Connect the white of the same cable to the other screw of the same switch.

    Connect the black of the other cable to a screw of other switch, connect white to the other screw.
  • Jan 30, 2011, 03:44 PM
    marknor
    Comment on hkstroud's post
    Thank you so very much. My fan and light work superbly. You are very appreciated for taking your time and using your talents to help others. . again, my most sincere thanks!
  • Jul 3, 2012, 06:20 PM
    Sun Devil
    I have two light switches, one for the lights over the mirror and the other over the shower/tub. The fan is connected to the light switch that goes to the mirror lights, so each time you turn on the lights to the mirror the fan goes on. I want to take it off that switch and move it to the other switch.

    In looking in the light switch box there are four #14 wires coming into the box. I can't tell which one is from the fan.

    Any ideas??
  • Jul 3, 2012, 10:53 PM
    hkstroud
    If you have four cables in the switch box it is most likely that you have this arrangement.
    One cable is power coming to the switch box. One cable goes to the vanity light. One cable goes to the shower light. One cable goes to the fan.

    The black wire of the power in cable will be attached to both switches. The white of the power in cable will be attached to the white of all other cables. The black of the both the vanity light and the fan will be attached to one of the switches. You should know which switch turns the fan and the vanity light on. Those wires will probably be connected together with a wire nut and a pig tail to the switch. Disconnect those wires and remove the pigtail. Connect one wire to the switch. Temporarily put a wire nut on the other. Turn power back on and test switch. If light comes on connect the other wire (the one you temporarily put the wire nut on) to the wire on the other switch and use the pigtail to reconnect to the switch.

    If the fan comes on, remove the wires from both switches, connect them together with the pig tail and reconnect to the switch. Connect the remaining wire (the one with the temporary wire nut) to the other switch.

    I am assuming that by "four #14 wires" you mean four cables. If you mean 4 wires, black, white, red and ground the change will have to be made in the vanity light, fan or shower boxes. If the cable runs from the switch to the fan, the change can be made in the fan box. If the cable runs from the switch to the either the vanity light or the shower light, the cable between the fan and that box will have to be change to 3-wire cable.

  • All times are GMT -7. The time now is 10:08 PM.