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john hubert · Apr 10, 2009, 04:19 PM

I have a red white black and a white and black in my bathroom ceiling for a fixture. The black is live at all times the first red white and black seem to be switchable from the 3 wall switches. How do I hook up the 3 way fixture I purchased. There was not a fixture in the ceiling, I guess it broke and was removed. I am thinking the live black should be spliced with one of the other wires but I'm not sure which one.
Thanks
John

Missouri Bound · Apr 10, 2009, 05:09 PM

You have 3 switches? The live wire needs to go to each switch. If these switches are in place you can take off the cover and see which wire is common to all the switches. That will be your hot wire. The neutral can not be switched, it must run continuously to the fixture. The live wire will go to the switches, then a wire from each switch will go to the fan, the light, and the heater... one to each.

donf · Apr 10, 2009, 07:29 PM

To begin with, we need to know the source of the power.

Is there a Black / White pair already in the ceiling with the Black being the constant Hot? Or does power come to the wall switch (es) and from there to the fixture?

How many switches do you have and what is each switch supposed to control?

ballengerb1 · Apr 10, 2009, 07:46 PM

Starting at your switch box you need a 20 amp, 12-2 wire feeding the box. From the box to the fan you run one common white neutral and a green ground. Each switch will send out a black to each of the 3 units, you can use 14 gauge wire for these 3 leads. Most fan/heater/light units have 3 small outlets inside and you just plug you unit into the outlet control by one of the witches you like. It really doesn't matter much which switch does what, it's a matter of your personal preference unless you have a switch plate with labels for each device, fairly rare.

john hubert · Apr 10, 2009, 08:03 PM

Originally Posted by donf

To begin with, we need to know the source of the power.

Is there a Black / White pair already in the ceiling with the Black being the constant Hot? Or does power come to the wall switch (es) and from there to the fixture?

How many switches do you have and what is each switch supposed to control?

Yes there is a black and white pair in the ceiling with the black being constantly hot. I have three wall switches with 1 for light 1 for fan 1 for heater

ballengerb1 · Apr 10, 2009, 08:26 PM

You should have not any hot wire in the ceiling unless your 3 switches are connected and one is turned on. Is there a second switch that might be controlling this old ceiling box?

Missouri Bound · Apr 11, 2009, 08:51 AM

Ballengerb... why not? Many older homes had live boxes in the ceiling intended for use with a pull chain fixture. This may be the case here.

donf · Apr 12, 2009, 09:52 AM

If power is supplied to the ceiling, please tell us how you routed the power to the switches?

Any chance you can post a picture of what you have and what you are trying to do.

Even a drawing showing the wiring plan would be nice to see, please.

ballengerb1 · Apr 12, 2009, 07:27 PM

Missouri, I am still trying to remember the last time,if ever, I saw a live ceiling box in a bathroom. I guess just because I never saw one doesn't automatically mean it doesn't exist. We still need to hear John give a better description of what he has coming into his switch bow, what leaves that box and what is in the ceiling. If he does have a live 24/7 black in the ceiling he can't use it without creating a switch loop and that's a big trick for 3 switches. John can you make us a drawing showing all the locations I mentioned?

Missouri Bound · Apr 12, 2009, 07:37 PM

Ballengerb... I lived in a home built in the 50's... every room, including the bathroom had a live box... but you are correct, it's the exeption. But I've seen a lot of older homes with unusual electrical configurations, so nothing surprises me. It sounds like he's missing a wire to complete his 3 switch configuration. Unless he can add a wire, he may have to go to two switches and put the heater on one switch and the fan/light on the other.

ballengerb1 · Apr 12, 2009, 07:45 PM

I agree. Luckily many heater/fan/light wiring is a very short run from wall switch to the unit and he may be able to pull back what he has and get the correct 5 wires in place to the fan. He must also confirm that he has 12 gauge and 20 amp breaker to the switch, this is the minimum requirement for Nutone, Nautilus and Broan.