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Fan / Light Combination Switch Wiring
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Switched Separately
Power at Fixture Light 3 way Switches Fan at one Location only
(2011 NEC new rule 404.2 (C) Compliant)
For more information on this new rule read
'2011 NEC New Rule 'Switch Connections'
WHILE EXTREME CARE HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED IN THE
PREPARATION OF THIS SELF-HELP DOCUMENT, THE AUTHOR AND/OR PROVIDERS
OF THIS DOCUMENT ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR ERRORS OR OMISSIONS,
NOR IS ANY LIABILITY ASSUMED FROM THE USE OF THE INFORMATION,
CONTAINED IN THIS DOCUMENT, BY THE AUTHOR and / OR PROVIDER.
Connections Instructions:
(as depicted in the diagrams above)
At the Fixture
box...
Two cables entering this box, one coming from switch
box 1, and one is the 'circuit power supply' cable.
* a) using an insulated wire nut connect / join the
white wire coming from 'circuit power supply cable'
+ the white wire coming from switch box 1 + the
white wire connected to the grounded conductor
(neutral) of the fan / light combo fixture.
* b) using an insulated wire nut connect / join the
black wire coming from 'circuit power supply cable'
+ the blue wire coming from switch.
* c) connect the black wire coming from switch to
the switched ungrounded conductor (hot) from light
(shown as black in diagram)
* d) connect red wire coming from switch to the
switched ungrounded conductor (hot) from fan (shown
as red in diagram)
* e) please see under important notes in regards to
the equipment grounding conductor (bare wire).
At switch box
1...
Two cables entering this box, one coming from
fixture, and one coming switch box 2.
* a) using an insulated wire nut connect / join the
blue wire coming from fixture + the black wire
connected to one main screw of fan switch + the
black wire coming from switch box 2.
* b) connect the black wire coming from fixture to
the common screw of 3 way switch.
* c) connect the red wire coming from fixture to the
last main screw of the fan switch.
* d) connect the red wire coming from switch box 2
to one of the remaining main screws of the 3 way
switch.
* e) connect the blue wire coming from switch box 2
to the last remaining main screws of the 3 way
switch.
* f) using an insulated wire nut connect / join the
white wire coming from fixture + the white wire
coming from switch box 2.
* g) please see under important notes in regards to
the equipment grounding conductor (bare wire).
At switch box
2...
One cable entering this box coming from switch box
1.
* a) connect the black wire coming from switch box 1
to the common screw of 3 way switch.
* b) connect the red wire coming from switch box 1
to one of the remaining main screws of the 3 way
switch.
* c) connect the blue wire coming from switch box 1
to the last remaining main screws of the 3 way
switch.
* d) using an insulated wire nut cap off the white
wire coming from switch box 1.
* e) please see under important notes in regards to
the equipment grounding conductor (bare wire).
Important Notes:
By electrical codes you MUST have at least 6 inches
of wire in the electrical box itself, and also the
wire must be able to reach at least 3 inches outside
the box, it can fail an electrical inspection if the
required min. wire length is not met. You may have
the wires a bit longer (within reason) but they
cannot be shorter. Also see the note on box fill
further down in this article.
Use wire nuts of the correct size to join wires
together. For fan / light combination fixtures, most
likely it will have wire connections, the white wire
is the grounded conductor (neutral), any green wires
are equipment grounding conductors, then there will
be two other wires one will be the switched
ungrounded conductor (hot) for the light, and one
will be the switched ungrounded conductor (hot) for
the fan.. If you are confused please post to our
forums for further clarification.
What is not shown in the drawings to avoid
confusion, is that each wire cable also has a bare
equipment grounding wire included. This wire is
connected to a grounding screw in each electrical
box (if the box is metal), joined either through the
grounding screws in the box itself or via a wire nut
to the bare wire of the next cable entering /
exiting the box, it is also connected to any
grounding screw (if there is one) on the switch
itself, as well as any grounding screw at the
fixture (green wires that attach to the fixture are
grounds). Now if using a plastic box, it is made of
a material that is non conductive, however some
plastic boxes have a metal strip inside that can
still be used to connect equipment grounding wires,
in the event that it does not use wire nuts to join
the bare grounding wires together. The equipment
grounding wire (bare in most cables) must be
electrical conductively joined throughout the
circuit. Green wires are also equipment grounding
conductors.
At the switch itself there are 3 main electrical
screws, one of these 3 screws is distinctly
different in color (perhaps darker) than the other
2. This screw connection is called the common screw.
It is very important that in order for the 2
switches to work as they are intended to that the
correct wire is attached to the common screw.
Basically as depicted in the drawings one switch has
the ungrounded conductor (hot) from the circuit
power supply cable attached to the common screw,
where the other switch had the ungrounded conductor
(hot) feed to the light fixture itself.
Please also note that there are a variety of
manufactures out there that make 3 way switches so
it is possible that the switch you buy may have the
common screw located in a different spot or side of
the switch then depicted in the drawings in this
article, just make sure that the wire depicted to go
to the common screw of each of the switches is
actually connected to the common screw of the 3 way
switch you bought. The other 2 wires going between
the remaining screws of one switch to the other
switch does not matter as long as one wire of the 2
remaining wires go on each of the remaining 2 screws
of the screw.
If there is an equipment grounding screw on the 3
way switch it may be green in color and be separated
away from the main connections of the switch and
likely part of the metal frame that is also part of
the mounting structure of the switch.
Extensions to
this Switch circuit...
Be Aware that there is a limit by code on how many
wires can be in a given size electrical box, when
adding more wires to the same box you may have to
install a larger and / or deeper box to allow space
for more wires coming and out of the box.
Here is an article / explanation in regards to box
fill calculations ' Box
Fill Calculation'
The instructions here are based on the fact that the
circuit has already been wired to the configuration
shown in this article and we are now making the
wiring changes for onward power.
From the switch
locations....
Switch 1 Box
onward Options...
Option 1
- Onward switched power controlled from
light switches
Not shown in the diagram but the onward
cable also has a bare wire (equipment grounding conductor) that
also must be connected to all the other bare wires at the switch
electrical box.
Connection Instructions for
onward cable (switched from light switches)
(only the changes to the wiring are described here)
* a) Using an insulated wire nut, attach / join - the white wire
of onward cable + the white wire coming from fixture + the white
wire coming from switch box 2.
* b) Using an insulated wire nut, attach / join - the black wire
of onward cable + the black wire coming from fixture + the black
wire connected to the common screw of 3 way switch.
Identification of wires of
onward wire cable...
Black - Switched ungrounded conductor (hot) controlled from
light switches.
White - grounded conductor (neutral)
**************
Option 2 -
Onward switched power controlled from fan switch
Not shown in the diagram but the onward
cable also has a bare wire (equipment grounding conductor) that
also must be connected to all the other bare wires at the switch
electrical box.
Connection Instructions for
onward cable (switched from fan switch)
(only the changes to the wiring are described here)
* a) Using an insulated wire nut, attach / join - the white wire
of onward cable + the white wire coming from fixture + the white
wire coming from switch box 2.
* b) Using an insulated wire nut, attach / join - the black wire
of onward cable + the red wire coming from fixture + the red
wire connected to one of the main screws of fan switch.
Identification of wires of
onward wire cable...
Black - switched ungrounded conductor (hot) controlled from fan
switch
White - grounded conductor (neutral)
*************
Option 3 -
Onward 'always on' power
Not shown in the diagram but the onward
cable also has a bare wire (equipment grounding conductor) that
also must be connected to all the other bare wires at the switch
electrical box.
Connection Instructions for
onward cable (always on)
(only the changes to the wiring are described here)
* a) Using an insulated wire nut, attach / join - the white wire
of onward cable + the white wire coming from fixture + the white
wire coming from switch box 2.
* b) Using an insulated wire nut, attach / join - the black wire
of onward cable + the blue wire coming from fixture + the black
wire coming from switch box 2 + the black wire connected to one
of the main screws of fan switch.
Identification of wires of
onward wire cable...
Black - ungrounded conductor (hot) always on
White - grounded conductor (neutral)
**************
Option 4 -
Onward 'always on' power and switched power controlled
from light switches
Not shown in the diagram but the onward
cable also has a bare wire (equipment grounding conductor) that
also must be connected to all the other bare wires at the switch
electrical box.
Connection Instructions for
onward cable (always on & switched [light switch])
(only the changes to the wiring are described here)
* a) Using an insulated wire nut, attach / join - the white wire
of onward cable + the white wire coming from fixture + the white
wire coming from switch box 2.
* b) Using an insulated wire nut, attach / join - the red wire
of onward cable + the blue wire coming from fixture + the black
wire coming from switch box 2 + the black wire connected to one
of the main screws of fan switch.
* c) Using an insulated wire nut, attach / join - the black wire
of onward cable + the black wire coming from fixture + the black
wire connected to the common screw of 3 way switch.
Identification of wires of
onward wire cable...
Red - ungrounded conductor (hot) always on
Black - switched ungrounded conductor controlled by light
switches
White - grounded conductor (neutral)
***********
Option 5 - Onward
'always on'' power and switched power controlled from fan switch
Not shown in the diagram but the
onward cable also has a bare wire (equipment grounding
conductor) that also must be connected to all the other
bare wires at the switch electrical box.
Connection
Instructions for onward cable (always on & switched [fan
switch])
(only the changes to the wiring are described here)
* a) Using an insulated wire nut, attach / join - the
white wire of onward cable + the white wire coming from
fixture + the white wire coming from switch box 2.
* b) Using an insulated wire nut, attach / join - the
black wire of onward cable + the blue wire coming from
fixture + the black wire coming from switch box 2 + the
black wire connected to one of the main screws of fan
switch.
* c) Using an insulated wire nut, attach / join - the
red wire of onward cable + the red wire coming from
fixture + the red wire connected to one of the main
screws of fan switch.
Identification of
wires of onward wire cable...
Black - ungrounded conductor (hot) always on
Red - switched ungrounded conductor controlled by fan
switch
White - grounded conductor (neutral)
*************
Option 6
- Onward two switched power from both fan switch
and light switches
\Not shown in the diagram
but the onward cable also has a bare wire
(equipment grounding conductor) that also must
be connected to all the other bare wires at the
switch electrical box.
Connection
Instructions for onward cable (2 switched)
(only the changes to the wiring are described
here)
* a) Using an insulated wire nut, attach / join
- the white wire of onward cable + the white
wire coming from fixture + the white wire coming
from switch box 2.
* b) Using an insulated wire nut, attach / join
- the black wire of onward cable + the black
wire coming from fixture + the black wire
connected to the common screw of 3 way switch.
* c) Using an insulated wire nut, attach / join
- the red wire of onward cable + the red wire
coming from fixture + the red wire connected to
one of the main screws of fan switch.
Identification
of wires of onward wire cable...
Black - switched ungrounded conductor (hot)
controlled by light switches
Red - switched ungrounded conductor (hot)
controlled by fan switch
White - grounded conductor (neutral)
*************\
Option 7
- Onward 'always on' & two switched
power from both fan switch and light switches.
Not shown in the diagram but the onward
cable also has a bare wire (equipment grounding conductor) that
also must be connected to all the other bare wires at the switch
electrical box.
Connection Instructions for
onward cable (2 switched and always on)
(only the changes to the wiring are described here)
a) Using an insulated wire nut, attach / join - the white wire
of onward cable + the white wire coming from fixture + the white
wire coming from switch box 2.
* b) Using an insulated wire nut, attach / join - the black wire
of onward cable + the black wire coming from fixture + the black
wire connected to the common screw of 3 way switch.
* c) Using an insulated wire nut, attach / join - the red wire
of onward cable + the red wire coming from fixture + the red
wire connected to one of the main screws of fan switch
* d) Using an insulated wire nut, attach / join - the blue wire
of onward cable + the blue wire coming from fixture + the black
wire connected to one of the main screws of fan switch + the
black wire coming from switch box 2.
Identification of wires of
onward wire cable...
Black - switched ungrounded conductor (hot) controlled by light
switches.
Red - switched ungrounded conductor (hot) controlled by fan
switch.
Blue - ungrounded conductor (hot) always on.
White - grounded conductor (neutral).
**********
Switch Box 2 Onward
Options....
(only onward 'always on' power available)
Onward 'always on' power
Not shown in the diagram but the onward
cable also has a bare wire (equipment grounding conductor) that
also must be connected to all the other bare wires at the switch
electrical box.
Connection Instructions for
onward cable (always on)
(only the changes to the wiring are described here)
* a) Using an insulated wire nut, attach / join - the white wire
of onward cable + the white wire coming from switch box 1.
* b) Using an insulated wire nut, attach / join - the black wire
of onward cable + the black wire coming from switch box 1 + the
black wire connected to the common screw of 3 way switch.
Identification of wires of
onward wire cable...
Black - ungrounded conductor (hot) always on
White - grounded conductor (neutral)
*************
From the fixture location....
Both onward 'always on' & switched power is available from the
fixture location.
(showing bellow the fixture portion of the circuit)
Option 1 -
Onward switched power controlled from light switches
Not shown in the diagram but the onward
cable also has a bare wire (equipment grounding conductor) that
also must be connected to all the other bare wires at the
fixture electrical box.
Connection Instructions for
onward cable (switched from light switches)
(only the changes to the wiring are described here)
* a) Using an insulated wire nut, attach / join - the white wire
of onward cable + the white wire coming from 'circuit power
supply cable' + the white wire coming from switch box 1 + the
white wire connected to the grounded conductor (neutral) of the
fan / light combo fixture.
* b) Using an insulated wire nut, attach / join - the black wire
of onward cable + the black wire coming from switch box 1 + the
black wire connected to the switched ungrounded conductor (hot)
of light on the fan / light combo fixture.
Identification of wires of
onward wire cable...
Black - Switched ungrounded conductor (hot) controlled from
light switches.
White - grounded conductor (neutral)
************
Option 2 -
Onward switched power controlled from fan switch
Not shown in the diagram but the onward
cable also has a bare wire (equipment grounding conductor) that
also must be connected to all the other bare wires at the
fixture electrical box.
Connection Instructions for
onward cable (switched from fan switch)
(only the changes to the wiring are described here)
* a) Using an insulated wire nut, attach / join - the white wire
of onward cable + the white wire coming from 'circuit power
supply cable' + the white wire coming from switch box 1 + the
white wire connected to the grounded conductor (neutral) of the
fan / light combo fixture.
* b) Using an insulated wire nut, attach / join - the black wire
of onward cable + the red wire coming from switch box 1 + the
red wire connected to the switched ungrounded conductor of fan
on the fan/ light combo fixture.
Identification of wires of
onward wire cable...
Black - switched ungrounded conductor (hot) controlled from fan
switch
White - grounded conductor (neutral)
**********
Option 3 -
Onward 'always on' power
Not shown in the diagram but the onward
cable also has a bare wire (equipment grounding conductor) that
also must be connected to all the other bare wires at the
fixture electrical box.
Connection Instructions for
onward cable (always on)
(only the changes to the wiring are described here)
* a) Using an insulated wire nut, attach / join - the white wire
of onward cable + the white wire coming from 'circuit power
supply cable' + the white wire coming from switch box 1 + the
white wire connected to the grounded conductor (neutral) of fan
/ light combo fixture.
* b) Using an insulated wire nut, attach / join - the black wire
of onward cable + the blue wire coming from switch + the black
wire coming from the 'circuit power supply cable'.
Identification of wires of
onward wire cable...
Black - ungrounded conductor (hot) always on
White - grounded conductor (neutral)
************
Option 4 -
Onward 'always on' power and switched power controlled from
light switches
Not shown in the diagram but the
onward cable also has a bare wire (equipment grounding
conductor) that also must be connected to all the other
bare wires at the fixture electrical box.
Connection
Instructions for onward cable (always on & switched)
(only the changes to the wiring are described here)
* a) Using an insulated wire nut, attach / join - the
white wire of onward cable + the white wire coming from
'circuit power supply cable' + the white wire coming
from switch box 1 + the white wire connected to the
grounded conductor (neutral) on the fan / light combo
fixture.
* b) Using an insulated wire nut, attach / join - the
black wire of onward cable + the blue wire coming from
switch box 1 + the black wire coming from the 'circuit
power supply cable'
* c) Using an insulated wire nut, attach / join - the
red wire of onward cable + the black wire coming from
switch + the black wire connected to switched ungrounded
conductor (hot) of light on the fan / light combo
fixture.
Identification of
wires of onward wire cable...
Black - ungrounded conductor (hot) always on
Red - switched ungrounded conductor controlled by light
switches
White - grounded conductor (neutral)
*************
Option 5
- Onward 'always on'' power and switched power
controlled from fan switch
Not shown in the diagram but the onward
cable also has a bare wire (equipment grounding conductor) that
also must be connected to all the other bare wires at the
fixture electrical box.
Connection Instructions for
onward cable (always on & switched)
(only the changes to the wiring are described here)
* a) Using an insulated wire nut, attach / join - the white wire
of onward cable + the white wire coming from 'circuit power
supply cable' + the white wire coming from switch box 1 + the
white wire connected to the grounded conductor (neutral) of fan
/ light combo fixture.
* b) Using an insulated wire nut, attach / join - the black wire
of onward cable + the blue wire coming from switch box 1 + black
wire from 'circuit power supply cable'
* c) Using an insulated wire nut, attach / join - the red wire
of onward cable + red wire coming from switch box 1 + the red
wire connected to switched ungrounded conductor (hot) of fan on
fan / light combo fixture.
Identification of wires of
onward wire cable...
Black - ungrounded conductor (hot) always on
Red - switched ungrounded conductor controlled by fan switch
White - grounded conductor (neutral)
************
Option 6 -
Onward two switched power from both fan switch and light
switches
Not shown in the diagram but the onward
cable also has a bare wire (equipment grounding conductor) that
also must be connected to all the other bare wires at the
fixture electrical box.
Connection Instructions for
onward cable (2 switched)
(only the changes to the wiring are described here)
* a) Using an insulated wire nut, attach / join - the white wire
of onward cable + the white wire coming from 'circuit power
supply cable' + the white wire coming from switch box 1 + the
white wire connected to the grounded conductor (neutral) of fan
/ light combo fixture.
* b) Using an insulated wire nut, attach / join - the black wire
of onward cable + the black wire coming from switch box 1 + the
black wire connected to the switched ungrounded conductor (hot)
of light on fan / light combo fixture.
* c) Using an insulated wire nut, attach / join - the red wire
of onward cable + red wire coming from switch box 1 + the red
wire connected to switched ungrounded conductor (hot) of fan on
fan / light combo fixture.
Identification of wires of
onward wire cable...
Black - switched ungrounded conductor (hot) controlled by light
switches
Red - switched ungrounded conductor (hot) controlled by fan
switch
White - grounded conductor (neutral)
************
Option 7 -
Onward 'always on' & two switched power from both fan
switch and light switches.
Not shown in the diagram but the onward
cable also has a bare wire (equipment grounding conductor) that
also must be connected to all the other bare wires at the
fixture electrical box.
Connection Instructions for
onward cable (2 switched and always on)
(only the changes to the wiring are described here)
* a) Using an insulated wire nut, attach / join - the white wire
of onward cable + the white wire coming from 'circuit power
supply cable' + the white wire coming from switch box 1 + the
white wire connected to the grounded conductor (neutral) of fan
/ light combo fixture.
* b) Using an insulated wire nut, attach / join - the black wire
of onward cable + the black wire coming from switch box 1 + the
black wire connected to the switched ungrounded conductor (hot)
of light on fan / light combo fixture.
* c) Using an insulated wire nut, attach / join - the red wire
of onward cable + the red wire coming from switch box 1 + the
red wire connected to switched ungrounded conductor (hot) of fan
on fan / light combo fixture.
* d) Using an insulated wire nut, attach / join - the blue wire
of onward cable + the blue wire coming from switch box 1 + the
black wire from 'circuit power supply cable'
Identification of wires of
onward wire cable...
Black - switched ungrounded conductor (hot) controlled by light
switches.
Red - switched ungrounded conductor (hot) controlled by fan
switch.
Blue - ungrounded conductor (hot) always on.
White - grounded conductor (neutral).
Foreign Users:
The colors of the wires depicted
are based on the standards and code requirements / configuration
in the United States and Canada. If you are viewing this site
from a foreign country, your wiring standards and color of wires
may be different but the principal and sequence of wiring will
still remain the same. Therefore the information in this article
may still be of use to you regardless of what country you may be
in. Just translate the colors used here to the color of wires
used in your country in regards to ungrounded (hot) conductors /
grounded conductors (neutral) and equipment grounding conductors
as well know applicable code requirements in your country.
By: Donald Kerr
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