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1 Familiarize Yourself with Wire ColorsThe colors of the ceiling fan wiring might be slightly different than other household circuit wires. It's important to understand what each wire does and how it connects with the others. Wiring a ceiling fan with four wires is the most common. However, an additional color wire might be included. Here is what each wire color represents: Household:
Fan:
Knowing how to wire a ceiling fan means taking some precautionary steps:
3 Wiring a Fan or Light Without SwitchesThis ceiling fan wiring diagram is commonly used when there is no switch in the room where the fan/light will be located. It allows someone to draw power for the fan and/or the light from one connection to a nearby power source. This method means that you would use the pull chains included with your fan to turn on the light and the fan. For rooms without switches, ceiling fan remotes can alleviate the need of using a pull chain.
4 Wiring a Fan With a Switch for Light and Pull Chain for FanOne of the most commonly used methods, this wiring task is for ceiling fans that only require one light switch. In this scenario for a ceiling fan with lights, wrapping the white wire with electrical tape is recommended to mark that it is a hot wire as opposed to a neutral wire. In order for the light to be controlled by its own switch, the wiring between the switch and the fan unit needs a fourth wire, a red wire, to carry power to the light kit.
5 Wiring Ceiling Fan and Light Operated With One SwitchKnowing how to wire a ceiling fan with this method allows you to turn on the fan and the light from a single wall switch, cutting out the need to use the pull chain each time to adjust the fan.
6 Wiring Ceiling Fan and Light with Separate SwitchesThis method allows the fan and light to operate separately. It also affords the option to install a dimmer for the light. (Don’t attach a dimmer to the fan’s power. Its speed should only vary by use of its built-in controls.) The power supply line (the black wire) should feed both switches and those switches power the fan (black) or the light (blue). To do this method, the wire from the wall circuit to your light has to have three wires. If you are replacing an existing fan on a two-switch setup, there may be an existing three-conductor wire, which means a red wire will be in the box. This will supply power for the light kit. If you are installing a fan for the first time or adding a separate switch for a light kit for the first time, you will need to run a new wire from the switch box to the junction box in the ceiling, where the fan will be. You need to use a new run of three-conductor wire (denoted as “14-3” – check your local code for the specific gauge).
In the switch box:
7 Wiring a Remote-Operated Ceiling FanMany newer ceiling fans come with wireless remotes for ease and convenience. The ceiling fan remote receiver is placed inside the body of the fan and the control will sit on the wall of your room. For a handheld remote:
A ceiling fan creates a cool environment and circulates stale air in any room. Need tools and materials for installing a ceiling fan? Download The Home Depot Mobile App and take a look at the latest ceiling fans and light fixtures. The Home Depot delivers online orders when and where you need them. What does the red wire go to on a ceiling fan?A red wire up in the ceiling fan junction box usually indicates that the wiring has been installed which provides separate switch for the light and a separate switch for the fan motor. If your ceiling fan does not have a light fixture, then simply cap off the red wire and attach the fan motor to the black wire.
Is blue wire the same as red?Red wires are hot wires common in a 240-volt outlet or when a wall switch controls the outlet. Blue and yellow wires are hot wires for ceiling fans and three- or four-way switches. White or gray electrical wires are neutral wires.
Where does the blue wire go on a ceiling fan?The black wire from the ceiling fan is the hot wire that runs the motor and turns the fan blades. The white wire is neutral and completes the fan circuit. The blue wire is the hot wire for the ceiling fan light fixture. The ceiling fan motor does not have a ground wire.
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