Wiring Ceiling Fan

[RC]

Installed a ceiling fan in my kids room and had it wired into the wall switch. Previously this wall switch controlled an outlet on the wall. The fan works fine but none of the outlets in the room work. What went wrong? What are the proper connections that need to be done or undone at the outlet that was previously controlled by the switch? Thanks

 

[kenimpzoom]

Re: Wiring Ceiling Fan

http://www.faqs.org/faqs/electrical-wiring/part1/preamble.html <br /><br />This link might help.<br /><br />Ken

 

[Xcusme]

Re: Wiring Ceiling Fan

You really shouldn't need to change any of the wiring at the outlets. The outlets were being fed from the switched side of the wall switch (original wiring). The wire that goes to the outlets needs to be connected to a constant Hot (black usually) . If the wire that feeds the outlets is in the box with the switch, connect it to the constant Hot wire. The original switch has 2 screws, one for constant Hot, the other goes to the Load (outlets,fan,lights). <br /><br />If the outlets come alive when the fan is on, that means the outlets are connected to the 'switched' side of the switch, move it to the other screw (Hot feed side).<br /><br />If the switchbox has only 2 wires in it, then I'll assume the outlets feed wire is in the ceiling box. If this is the case, open the ceiling box, find the outlets feed wire and connect it to a constant Hot lead in the ceiling box.

 

[crab bait]

Re: Wiring Ceiling Fan

was the ceiling box already there an wired with a light..?? or not..<br /><br />if so..<br /><br />did the switch control the cieling box..??<br /><br />with the switched wall outlet(s).. were all switched..?? or just one..??<br /><br /> or all half switched.. the other half hot/not switched..??

 

[SoulWinner]

Re: Wiring Ceiling Fan

Very Good Xcusme, couldn't have said it better myself. I get so aggrevated at switched outlets. I discovered my computer is plugged into a switched outlet. Guess how I found out?

 

[eurolarva]

Re: Wiring Ceiling Fan

Hope you put a heavy duty box in the ceiling. Ceiling fans require something a little more beefy than a standard box.

 

[RC]

Re: Wiring Ceiling Fan

Ok, I was a bit off in my description. The outlet that is controlled by the switch still works, it's the other two outlets in the room that now don't work. Somehow a connection to the other outlets was broken. There was no existing box or light in the ceiling and yes, living in California I installed it with a heavy duty brace! Thanks for all the replies so quickly.

 

[Parrott_head]

Re: Wiring Ceiling Fan

Are you comfortable using a Volt-Ohm meter? If so get a meter and find out if you lost the hot or neutral.<br />The hot wire should be the narrow slot, the neutral the wider one.<br />Put one lead of the meter to the hot slot and the other to a good ground, perhaps the screw head in the cover. If it it fails to light up you lost your hot. If it does light up than you have lost your neutral. <br />Did the switch have two black wires under one screw? Did you get them both back under the same screw?<br /><br />If this doesn't help and you are comfortable working with a meter let me know and I can walk you through the checks to figure it out. You will need a long piece of wire for a jumper.<br />Good Luck.