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Trying to install new ceiling fan. Box has (4) 3 wire cables into box. All grounds wired together. 3 blacks 1 white wired to black wire in fan. 3 white wired to white in fan. Left over black wire to ground on fan. Been wired this way for years with no problems. Hooked up new ceiling fan same way and didn't work properly. Had no power from switches and fan overheated and light quit working. Forgot to add that ceiling fan wired to 2 switches. Any help and solutions would be great. Thanks
I assume that means there is a black, a white and a ground in each cable. That type of cable is usually referred to as 14/2 with ground or 12/2 with ground (depending on size). The first number refers to the size and the second number designates the number of conductors. The ground is not a conductor.Quote:
Box has (4) 3 wire cables into box.
Please confirm that is the wiring you have.
I suspect that means that a black wire from the fan is connected to a bare ground wire in a cable. Please confirm.Quote:
Left over black wire to ground on fan.
Remove switch cover and describe wiring there. I suspect you will find one cable, with the white wire connected to both switches, the black connected to one switch and the bare ground connected to the other. If so that would mean that someone was using the ground wire as a conductor. That is a big no-no and is not safe.
Please confirm that is the wiring you have.
Yes that is correct. Black, white and ground in each cable.
I suspect that means that a black wire from the fan is connected to a bare ground wire in a cable. Please confirm.
A single black wire from 1 cable is tied to green ground wire coming from fan.
As far As the switches. They are both 3 way switches with a white, black and red wire.
4 cables into ceiling fan box.
All 4 bare ground wires are wired together.
3 white wires wired to white wire on fan.
3 black wires and 1 white wired to black wire on fan.
1 black wire from cable wired to green wire on fan.
I have a basic understanding of electrical but this wiring has me quite confused and just doesn't seem right.
Maybe the answer is right in front of my face ? Wire 4 white wires to white on fan, wire 4 blacks to black & blue on fan, and grounds to ground? I for the life of me can't figure out why the existing single black wire from cable is wired to green wire in fan?
I can understand that but I don't think you are telling me everything.Quote:
I have a basic understanding of electrical but this wiring has me quite confused and just doesn't seem right.
If the switches are indeed 3-way switches, then in one switch box you must have, one 2-conductor cable (black and white) and two 3-conductor cables (black, white and red). In the other switch box there should be two 3-conductor cables (black, white and red).
Please confirm.
Under no circumstance should that exist.Quote:
1 black wire from cable wired to green wire on fan.
There is no way that anyone could make what you have described so far work. Evan if they used the ground as a conductor. Please describe the wiring in each switch box. What I suspect you will find is a single 2-conductor cable and two 3-conductor cables in each box.
Forgive me for not relaying you all the correct info. I'm trying my best.
Yes, in each switch box is a single 2 conductor cable and (2)3 conductor cables.
I agree completely that the current wiring should not work. But I'm positive that I'm describing it to you correctly. I wish I could show you a picture of it. The room it's in is a converted garage. I'm not sure if they redid wiring or what.
Thanks for your help and patience.
Beginning to make sense.
What I suspect you have in the ceiling box is a 2-condoctor cable bring power to the ceiling box. A 2-conductor cable taking power to switch box one. A 2-conductor cable taking power to switch box two. A 2-conductor cable taking power on to some other light or outlet.
Do you have a test light or meter?
I understand what your saying and that makes sense. All I have is the little circuit tester that lights up.
Turn power off. Disconnect all wires except bare ground wires. Put wire nut on each wire. Turn power back on. Remove wire nut on one black wire and do a voltage check between it and ground. When test light lights, mark that black as hot (put a different color wire nut on it). Connect one white wire to the hot black. Do a voltage check between white wire and ground at switch box #1. If test light lights, mark that white in the ceiling box as switch #1. It test light does not light, do the same thing at switch box #2. If test light lights, mark white wire in ceiling as as switch #2.
If test light does not burn at either switch, disconnect the white wire in the ceiling box and connect another white wire to the black hot wire. Repeat procedure at each switch box.
When you have identified the white wires that go to each switch, connect the hot black, the two whites going to the switches and the remaining black together with wire nut. Connect the remaining two whites wires in the ceiling and the white of the fan together with a wire nut. Connect the black (in the cable with the white going to switch 1) to the black of the fan/light). Connect the black (in the cable with the white going to switch #2) to the blue of the fan/light.
At switch box #1, connect the white to the common of one of the switches. Connect the red and white wires of the 3-conductor cable to the traveler screws. Connect the black of the 2-conductor cable to the black of the 3-conductor cable.
Connect the black of the other 3-conductor cable to the common of the other switch. Connect the red and white to the traveler screws.
At switch box #2, chose one of the 3-conductor cables . Connect the black to the common, connect the red and white to the traveler screws.
Turn power on. If you chose the correct 3-conductor cable at switch box #2, the switches (the one that you connected the white to at switch box #1 and the one you wires at switch box #2) should turn either the fan or the light on.
If they do not, remove the 3-conductor cable and connect the other one, black to common, white and red to traveler screws.
Check switches again.
The connect the other switch at box #2. Connect white of the 2-conductor cable to the common. Connect the red and white of the 3-conductor cable to the traveler screws. Connect the black of the 2-conductor cable to the black of the 3-conductor cable.
Post back and let me know.
Got it figured out. The green wire from the fan wired to the single black was the light wire. It was a really old fan and in newer fans as you know, the wire is blue. Kind of embarrassed that I missed that. I appreciate your time and I learned some things chatting with you. Thanks again.
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