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-   -   Electrical Bath Ventilation Fan Wiring Help (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=636758)

  • Feb 17, 2012, 09:21 AM
    WVUBIG12
    Electrical Bath Ventilation Fan Wiring Help
    I am replacing a bathroom ventilation fan that had a light and a fan controlled by two switches. There was one two wire power line into the switch and one two wire power line out of the switches. Both light and fan operated independently. The incoming wire to the switch's white wire was tied into the old fan. Somehow everything worked. I have ties all whites (except from incoming power) to light and fan and the black to the fan and the fan works. How can I wire the fixture to get the light to work off the othe switch without running any mor wires. The light switch has no wire attached on the switch end.
  • Feb 17, 2012, 09:44 AM
    ballengerb1
    This is quicker than me retyping it. How to Wire a Bathroom Fan and Light Independently | eHow.com
  • Feb 17, 2012, 11:40 AM
    hkstroud
    Quote:

    There was one two wire power line into the switch and one two wire power line out of the switches. Both light and fan operated independently.
    As described that's not possible. Well, its possible but only if the ground wire was used as a conductor, which is a big no no.

    What you described is possible if what you have in the switch box is two switch legs, not power in and power out cables. In that case you would have 3 cables in the fan/light box at the ceiling.

    How many cables in the ceiling?
  • Feb 27, 2012, 07:26 AM
    WVUBIG12
    There was only one cable to the fan. I just decided to wire with the one switch operating both fan and light. The old methos just didn't appear normal but it worked somehow. Thanks for the responses.
  • Feb 27, 2012, 10:07 AM
    hkstroud
    Thanks for the update.

    Quote:

    I just decided to wire with the one switch
    That's good. With only one cable to the fan/light the ground wire must have been use as a conductor and as previously stated that dangerous.

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