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EOS · Nov 28, 2007, 04:45 PM

You guys just helped me tremendously with wiring (wireless remote) my ceiling fan. Now I've run into the same situation installing our bathroom exhaust fan...

Currently In Bathroom:

1 light controlled by 1 switch
Power is at the light fixture and the switch is at the end of the cicuit

White --------- Light _________Switch
Black_______ Light -------------

We installed the exhaust fan
Purchased a dual switch to control both the light and fan separately, but are unsure how to wire the new switch onward to the fan.

Thank you in advance!!

tech1968 · Nov 28, 2007, 05:31 PM

Connect one side of fan switch to motor,and the other side to 120v source.
Which will be the hot or 120v constant source also use on light switch.Please Make sure to use proper
Tools,for safety. Good Luck.

ballengerb1 · Nov 28, 2007, 07:05 PM

This is a switch loop and only the black incoming line is hot, it feeds both switches. The dual switch has two screws for the white wires that go to the fan and the light. The white wires should get one wrap of black tape so others will recognize the switch loop.

labman · Nov 28, 2007, 08:56 PM

It is not clear from you post where you are mounting the switch. If you only have 2 wires plus ground at the wall switch, you can't use a second switch there to control the fan and light separately. You could add a separate switch at the fan/light connecting the black from the switch to the inputs, and the fan and light to the outputs. You could also use a remote as suggested in your living room question.

EOS · Nov 29, 2007, 06:02 AM

Originally Posted by labman

It is not clear from you post where you are mounting the switch.

I wanted to replace the single switch with a dual switch, but was unsure how or if I could when we saw at the single switch that the white wire was hot.

ballengerb1 · Nov 29, 2007, 08:07 AM

"the white wire was hot" white should only be "hot" if the switch is thrown. The blk is the hot lead and it can power both switches but needs two white going to the fan/light, one for each. Remotes are great solutions for an issue with adding a light to an existing ceiling fan. Not sure a remote fits your need for a exhaust fan and light fixture. It could be done but more involved than with a ceiling fan. If you can pull and extra white to the fixture you should be able to get what you want out of this project.

EOS · Nov 29, 2007, 08:20 AM

Thank you. I'll give that a shot.

labman · Nov 29, 2007, 09:30 AM

Unless your house is one of the few wired up with conduit, you can't add one more wire between the switch and light fixture. Since the switch is wired up with a white, I suspect it is the white in a length of NM. You would have to hack some holes in the drywall and run a length of 3 conductor. Note, wire is sized to breaker feeding it, not the load.

Your best option might be a pull chain to a switch at the fan. I guess you could look into the X-10 devices too.