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kartman · Dec 29, 2012, 07:46 PM

I unhooked a ceiling fan with light. All black wires were tied together. Two of the whites went to switches, one for the fan, one for the light and the other one went to the black wire from the fan. Now the fan has a black, a black/white for the light, and a white. Since all blacks are together, I have one white w/120 on it and the other two have 60 volts on them. How do I wire this -- where do I put the black for the fan, the black/white for the light and the white to the hot?

burdenpi · Dec 29, 2012, 08:38 PM

Any chance you could add a picture? I hear its worth a thousand words.

hkstroud · Dec 30, 2012, 08:58 AM

From your description it appears that you have one cable (black and white wire) bring power to the ceiling box, another cable taking power to one switch and returning power when the switch is on for the fan (a switch loop) and another cable doing the same for the light. It is customary to use the white to take power to the switch in such switch loops and use the black to return power. This is not only customary but has been a requirement for the last couple cycles of the NEC code. It is also a requirement that such a white wire be re-designated as a hot conductor by coloring the each end some color other than white or green. Usually done by wrapping each end with black electrician's tape. Had this been done you wouldn't be confused now.

Confirm the wiring by removing the switch plate cover and the switches. Each switch should have a black and a white wire attached. Should be no other wiring.

After confirming switch wiring.

Disconnect the three blacks. Put wire nuts on all wires. Turn power on. Do a voltage check between the black and white wires of each cable to determine which cable is bring power to the box. After determining the power cable, put black electrician's tape on the white wires of the other two cables. Turn power off.

Connect the black of the power cable and the two whites with black tape together with a wire nut.

Connect the white of the power cable to the white of the fan/light.

Connect the black of one switch loop to the black of the fan/light.

Connect the black of the other switch loop to the black/white of the fan/light.