[dcazmar]

I recently replaced a light with a lighted ceiling fan. The problem is that now when I use the light switch it blows the circuit. It works OK if I only use the chain to turn it off and on . What wires do I have switched. Thanks for your help.

[donf]

Dcazmar,

My immediate suspicion is that you have miswired the switch circuit.

Turn the breaker that feeds the fan circuit OFF. Never work on live wires!

When you removed the old light fixture, did you one find one cable with Black - White _ Bare ground or did you find find two wires. One heading towards a wall switch and the other heading else where. If you did find the two wires, then I suspect that you used a White wire from the switch to connect to the white leads in the ceiling. Huge error!

If your circuit is using a switch loop then you need to make the following connections:


Using the Black/White paring from the service panel. First connect the White wire that comes from the switch to the Black wire from the power source. Connect the White (Neutral) wire from the power source to the White wire from the fan.

Next take the black wire from the switch and connect that wire to the fan's black wire and either a Blue or a white and black striped lead from the light package.

At this point there are two remaining steps. First inspect the White wire that goes to the wall switch. There should be a piece of black tape wrapped around the insulation to flag this white wire as a "Hot" wire. If there is no tape, put some on the wire. Finally, turn the breaker back on and test the circuits.

[ceilingfanrepair]

Did you change any wiring at the switch? How did you wire the fan in the ceiling?