[ktarry]

I am trying to replace an old ceiling fan (that had a light) with a newer version that has a remote to control both the light and fan. The old fan was wired to work on 2 separate switches - one for the light (I'll call it switch #1) and one for the fan (switch #2). There is a third switch in the room (switch #3) that controls a closet light (more on that later!).

After removing the old ceiling fan, I have 5 wires coming from the ceiling junction box - 2 black, 2 white and one green (ground). Only one of the black wires appears to be "hot", and the hot wire seems to be controlled by switch #1. There is no tape or markings on any of the wires.

The new fan's instructions had no scenario for 2 black/2 white configurations so I simply connected both black wires from the junction box to the black wire on the remote unit, both white wires from the junction box to the white wire on the remote unit, as well as the ground wire. The light, fan and remote were all working fine off switch #1.

Here's where it started to get strange - as soon as I wired the new ceiling fan as described above switch #3 would no longer turn on the closet light unless both switch #1 and #2 were both on. This struck me as odd given switch #3 always appeared to be independent of switches #1 or#2 in the past (i.e. the closet light was not controlled by any switch other than #3 prior to installing this new fan).

Does anyone have any idea how the old ceiling fan would have been wired to allow the closet light to operate independently? Is there any way to change my wiring of the new ceiling fan to correct the problem?

Thanks,
Ken

[Stratmando]

Hopefully switch wiring has not been disturbed, they were fine. If separate fan and light before, you should have capped one off, and connected fan remote black to one of ceiling blacks.
Should have been 2 greens?
May be more wires tucked in box.
May have to remove switches to understand better. Don't change anything, they worked
Before. If you did, let us know.

[ktarry]

Thanks very much for the quick response. I haven't touched the original switch wiring at all. As you suspected there are in fact two greens (one is connected to the fan and is part of the black/white/green combination that is "cold", the other is part of the "hot" black/white/green (copper) feed and was grounded to a screw inside the juction box).

When you say "cap it off", do you mean at the switch or the junction box? When I cap it off at the junction box, the fan and light work but there is no longer power to switch #3 (i.e. the closet light won't work).

Any thoughts?

[Stratmando]

I meant, if you had 2 switches, 1 for light, and 1 for fan, then more than likely, 2 wires were switch legs(light and fan/switchs 1 and 2) from that switch box. Since you didn't touch switch wiring, closet light power may go through fan box, and/or closet light
Switch leg.
What is strange, with only 4 wires(not counting ground) you might have:
Black----switch 1 Light
Black----switch 2 Fan
White----Neutral
White-- Doesn't make sense, if switchleg for closet light, would need 1 more, In and Out.
Even without tester, may be able to remove switches, closet light, and have access to fan boxes
And may get a good idea what is going on.

[ktarry]

Thanks again - I agree it doesn't really make sense. I suspect it has something to do with the effect of the pull strings on the original fan in conjuntion with the 3-way switches. I'm going to have an electrician take a look at it and let you know how that turns out.

Cheers,
Ken

[Stratmando]

It should not take too long. Hope all goes well.

[ceilingfanrepair]

First things first, disconnect the fan and wire it as it was before. You can even wire the old fan back in place if you like. Confirm everything works as it did before, if not some other wiring was accidentally disturbed and you will have to trace it.

Report back.

Ceiling fan wiring - Ceiling Fans N More

[ktarry]

I had an electrician come in and fix the problem. I wasn't around when he was here but here is what he wrote on the invoice:

"Tripped out GFI receptacle in main upper bath, causing power failure to back bedroom and master closet - reterminate GFI with no load - side connections reset."

"Reconfigured wiring to master bedroom ceiling fan, remount wall switch to control light. Bypass old fan switch."

I understand the second paragraph. First one I don't understand, but it sounds suspiciously like I screwed something up...

Thanks for all your help.

[Stratmando]

You did not screw anything up by tripping GFI. It happens.
Reterminate, may be reconnect. Side connection reset, don't know.

[ceilingfanrepair]

Sounds like the GFI was wired wrong. Hope it didn't cost too much.