I recently took down a ceiling fan with light as it has a bad bearing. I bought a newer version of the same unit. When trying to install the new one, I ran into a wiring issue. Unfortunately, I did not pay attention to the wiring configuration when I removed the old fan.

There is only 1 cable to the unit from the wall switch - black wire / white wire / ground. The switch has 2 controls = 1 side switch for the fan and another for the light. The fan / light unit has a white wire, a ground and 2 black wires. Solid black to the fan and black with white stripe to the light. When I turn on the light switch, the white wire from the ceiling becomes energized. When I turn on the fan switch, both the white and black wire become energized.

Which wires from the ceiling do I connect to which on the fan / light unit?

UPDATE: I previously mis-stated which wires become hot when I turn on each switch. Read on for correct wiring info.

I recently took down a ceiling fan with light as it has a bad bearing. I bought a newer version of the same unit. When trying to install the new one, I ran into a wiring issue. Unfortunately, I did not pay attention to the wiring configuration when I removed the old fan.

There is only 1 cable to the unit from the wall switch - black wire / white wire / ground. The switch has 2 controls = 1 side switch for the fan and another for the light. The fan / light unit has a white wire, a ground and 2 black wires. Solid black to the fan and black with white stripe to the light. When I turn on the light switch, the white wire from the ceiling becomes energized. When I turn on the fan switch, the black wire become energized.

I know which black wire from the fan connects to which hot wire from the switch, but now, what do I do with the white wire on the fan? Do I just put a wire nut on it and connect it to nothing?

If I understand correctly, you have a switch that is actually two switches in on one strap. You have a two wire cable (black, white) with ground between the switch location and the ceiling box.

How many wires in the switch box? How many wires in the ceiling box The switch(es) cannot be wired to control the fan and the light with 2-wire cable between the switch location and the ceiling. You need 3-wire cable (black, white, red) with ground to control the fan and the light from the wall switches.

Hi Harold. The cable from the switch box to the ceiling box is romex 14/2. Not sure how they had the previous fan/light rigged up, but it worked. Sounds like I will be pulling new 14/3 if I can. I just hope the existing cable is not stapled too much.

If I had to guess, they used the 14/2 ground as a neutral in place pulling a 14/3. Dangerous?