I have an outlet which is turned on/off by a wall switch. Only 1 12-2 wire going into switch box (black to top screw/white to bottom screw/ground to screw holding switch to box). I'd like to make the outlet always on and then hook-up a ceiling fan that would be turned on/off by the switch (I'd control the light/fan components from the chains on the ceiling fan, so just need it powered by the switch, that's all).

Question:
1. Can I take the black/white off the switch, nut them together (thus completing the circuit to my outlet turning the outlet to an "always on")?

2. Can I then jumper the black/white nut connection back to the switch (to provide power to the switch again)... and take the new 12-2 romex from the ceiling fan and put the black to the other screw on the switch, the ground to the same ground screw... but what about the white?

Just looking for the easiest way to make the outlet on and have the switch only operate the ceiling fan.

Remove the outlet from the outlet box. If both the top and the bottom halves of the outlet are controlled by the switch you will find that the white wire of the cable going to the switch connected to one or more black wires. The black wire of the cable going to the switch will be connected to the hot side of the outlet. One or more white wires will be connected to the other (neutral) side of the outlet. Connect all black wires together and to hot side of the outlet. Connect all white wire together and to the neutral side of the outlet.

The hot side of the outlet will have a brass screw. The neutral side of the outlet will have a silver screw.

If only the top or only the bottom half of the outlet is controlled by the switch you will find that the tab between the two hot (brass) screws has been removed. Remove and discard the outlet and replace it with a new outlet. Wire as described above.

At the switch;
Remove the wires from the switch. Run a 3-wire cable from the switch to the ceiling. Connect the white of the 3-wire cable to the white wire coming from the outlet. Connect the two black wires together with a wire nut and add a pig tail (a short piece of black wire), connect the pig tail to the switch. Connect the red wire to the switch.

At the ceiling connect the white wires together. Connect the black from the switch to the black of the fan. Connect the red from the switch to the blue of the fan/light.

The switch will turn the light on and off. The pull chain will turn the fan on and off.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hkstroud

At the switch;
Remove the wires from the switch. Run a 3-wire cable from the switch to the ceiling. Connect the white of the 3-wire cable to the white wire coming from the outlet. Connect the two black wires together with a wire nut and add a pig tail (a short piece of black wire), connect the pig tail to the switch. Connect the red wire to the switch.

At the ceiling connect the white wires together. Connect the black from the switch to the black of the fan. Connect the red from the switch to the blue of the fan/light.

The switch will turn the light on and off. The pull chain will turn the fan on and off.

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Thanks! Unfortunately I already bought 100-feet of 12-2 romex wire (and ran it from the ceiling fan into the switch box already in 2 diff. rooms.)... do I need 3-wire cable with the extra red as you mention? I am perfectly happy having the fan/light BOTH controlled at the switch (where the pull-chains for the light & fan turn them on/off as appropriate). Can you offer an alternative just using black/white/ground wire? I'd hate to have to spend more $$ and go back in the fun attic again...

Yes, you can use the 2-wire but the switch will have to be ON for either the fan or the light to work.

At the switch box, connect the black from the outlet and the black to the ceiling to the switch. Connect the two white wires together.

At the ceiling connect the black from the switch to both the black to the fan, and to the blue to the light.

You can always add a control and receiver to control each separately, and control speed and brightness.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hkstroud

Yes, you can use the 2-wire but the switch will have to be ON for either the fan or the light to work.

At the switch box, connect the black from the outlet and the black to the ceiling to the switch. Connect the two white wires together.

At the ceiling connect the black from the switch to both the black to the fan, and to the blue to the light.

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Yes, understood about it needing to be on. This is perfect and everything was setup exactly as you initially described (luckily brass tabs all intact). Thanks for the quick response, I'm literally working on it as you wrote back!! VERY HELPFUL!! This solves 3 rooms for me and makes the wife happy :-).