Hello,
I replaced a light fixture with a ceiling fan. Today I redid the job because it wouldn't balance. Works great... but not from the wall switch any longer. Had to install a fan brace because the junction box was not very secure. No attic access. I have three white wires, three black wires and a ground coming from the ceiling. I have the usual black, white, blue and ground coming from the fan. When I took the light down, the three black wires were bundled together, two whites were capped off and not connected to anything, and one white was connected. I *have* identified which white wire makes the ceiling fan run with the wall switch off, but no matter what mix of wires I use (including what was there originally) the fan won't shut off at the switch. Any assistance would be appreciated.

Sounds like a switch loop circuit. Look at the wiring in the switch box and identify the 2 wires. Take the hot ceiling lead and connect it to the switch white, putting a piece of black tape on the white. Now, connect the black from the switch to the fan black and light blue. Find the neutral in the ceiling and connect to the fan white. Let us know what happens.

Thank you.
What specifically do you mean by "identify the 2 wires"?

I have done a lot of light fixtures, outlets and ceiling fans, but I normally just replace what is there, so my terminology is lacking.

Open up your wall switch box for the fan and tell me what color wires are on the switch.

Ah, okay. I will have to wait until this weekend to do that since the ceiling fan is at my son's house.

Is the switch box in the wall at your son's house too?

Yes, I'm working at his house in my spare time.

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Originally Posted by torregro

Yes, I'm working at his house in my spare time.

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Yep, know how that is, my son just bought his first house, close next Friday and dad will get to work!

I hear you. Fortunately, I got the water lines from the 60's changed out and the new toilet set without incident. Apparently Mom (me) is better at plumbing than electricity. ;-)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by torregro

I hear you. Fortunately, I got the water lines from the 60's changed out and the new toilet set without incident. Apparently Mom (me) is better at plumbing than electricity. ;-)

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You Go Girl! Light fixtures and fans for that matter, can be only wired 1 of 2 ways. A) Hot through the switch or B)hot at the ceiling using a "switch loop". In A, the hot enters the switch and is almost always black. In B, switch loop, hot is at the ceiling-how do you get power back through the switch? In most cases, white in not a primary feed color, it is the neutral wire. However, the code allows you to run a piece of Romex from the ceiling to the switch and back by connecting the hot black in the ceiling to the white on the new cable, putting a piece of black tape or Magic Marker it and then run the black back to the light. Simple but confusing to many people. If you see 2 black wires on a switch, or possibly a black and red and a white wire also in the box, it is through wired. However, if you see a black and white wire on the switch, 99%+ it is a switch loop. Let us know what you find.