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    caspersage76's Avatar
    caspersage76 Posts: 4, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    Sep 3, 2013, 05:35 PM
    Switch box height from floor. NEC code.
    Installing ceiling fans. There are pre-existing switch boxes at 60" from the floor that were for baseboard heating controllers. The base board heaters are long gone but the switches remain. Can I install the ceiling fan switches in these boxes? I hate the thought of patching those holes and then cutting new holes fan switches.
    Thanks, Casper
    hkstroud's Avatar
    hkstroud Posts: 11,929, Reputation: 899
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    #2

    Sep 3, 2013, 05:46 PM
    No code, you can have it at any height you want. Neighbors may look at you strangely though.
    ma0641's Avatar
    ma0641 Posts: 15,675, Reputation: 1012
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    #3

    Sep 3, 2013, 05:55 PM
    Wire away. We just had someone comment about a "code violation "with a switch box at 24" from the floor. That's OK too. You could treat the 60" box as a junction box, install a new box at 48" and put a paintable cover on the 60" box or hang a picture over it.
    caspersage76's Avatar
    caspersage76 Posts: 4, Reputation: 1
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    #4

    Sep 3, 2013, 07:23 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by hkstroud View Post
    No code, you can have it at any height you want. Neighbors may look at you strangely though.
    Thanks, let me push this a little further. What's your thoughts on using existing wiring. The baseboard heat wiring used 12-2-G Panaflex solid strand wire (b/w/g). I upgraded to 200 amp services and the electrician preserved the old heater circuits by including 3 20 amp breakers as "spares" in the panel. There is currently no load on those circuits but each contains the wiring circuit for 2 heaters. It would be very easy to just replace the switches and crawl up in the attic to re-route the heater wire to the location of the fan.
    caspersage76's Avatar
    caspersage76 Posts: 4, Reputation: 1
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    #5

    Sep 3, 2013, 07:23 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by ma0641 View Post
    Wire away. We just had someone comment about a "code violation "with a switch box at 24" from the floor. That's OK too. You could treat the 60" box as a junction box, install a new box at 48" and put a paintable cover on the 60" box or hang a picture over it.
    Thanks, let me push this a little further. What's your thoughts on using existing wiring. The baseboard heat wiring used 12-2-G Panaflex solid strand wire (b/w/g). I upgraded to 200 amp services and the electrician preserved the old heater circuits by including 3 20 amp breakers as "spares" in the panel. There is currently no load on those circuits but each contains the wiring circuit for 2 heaters. It would be very easy to just replace the switches and crawl up in the attic to re-route the heater wire to the location of the fan.
    hkstroud's Avatar
    hkstroud Posts: 11,929, Reputation: 899
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    #6

    Sep 3, 2013, 09:03 PM
    Sounds good to me, however!!

    These heater circuits were probably 240 volt. "Preserving 3 20 amp breakers" is a further indication.

    If it is a 240 volt circuit remove the white from the breaker and attach it to the neutral/ground bar to make the circuit 120 volt.
    caspersage76's Avatar
    caspersage76 Posts: 4, Reputation: 1
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    #7

    Sep 4, 2013, 06:42 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by hkstroud View Post
    Sounds good to me, however!!!!

    These heater circuits were probably 240 volt. "Preserving 3 20 amp breakers" is a further indication.

    If it is a 240 volt circuit remove the white from the breaker and attach it to the neutral/ground bar to make the circuit 120 volt.
    Thanks again,

    I believe the electrician changed them to 120 volt, in the old 125 amp panel I think the breakers were 30 amp. Never opened the panel, hope it is easy to check.
    hkstroud's Avatar
    hkstroud Posts: 11,929, Reputation: 899
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    #8

    Sep 4, 2013, 07:17 PM
    If they are single breakers the will be 120. Simply do a voltage check between black and white wires.

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