N8N wrote:
On Feb 8, 10:00 pm, (Doug Miller) wrote:
In article , "Jay-T"
wrote:
I am trying to figure out how to (or if I can) wire a ceiling fan
and light so that the fan and light are controlled separately --
and both are controlled from two different sets of switches at two
different locations. The room has two doorways and I would like to
be able to control the ceiling fan and light individually from a
set of switches located near each of the doorways. This would be
similar to having a ceiling light controlled by
two 3-way switches, with one at each doorway, except that in this
case I would like the switch sets to be able to control the ceiling
fan and ceiling fan light separately from either doorway.

Here is the existing wiring configuration:

The power/feed goes to the first switch setup at doorway "1" with
12/2 wire; then 12/3 wire goes from there to the switch setup at
doorway "2"; then 12/3 wire goes from there up to a ceiling light.
In other words, the room is presently wired as a typical 3-way
switch setup to a ceiling light, but the wiring going up to the
existing ceiling light was prewired with 12/3 wire instead of 12/2
in case we ever wanted to replace the ceiling light with a ceiling
fan/light. The ceiling box for the existing light was already
installed using a ceiling fan box in case the light was ever
changed to a ceiling fan/light fixture.

So, what I would like to do now is change the existing ceiling
light to a ceiling fan/light, and change the switch setup at each
doorway to be able to control the ceiling fan and ceiling
individually from either doorway.

Is there a way to do this using the existing wiring that is now in
place (without using any wireless/remote devices)?

No.

You don't have enough conductors in the existing wiring. You need 5
conductors
going from doorway 1 to doorway 2 (two travelers for each 3-way
switch, plus
neutral). The 12/3 from doorway 2 to the ceiling box is sufficient
(one hot
from each 3-way switch, plus neutral).

Further, it's likely that the existing switch boxes are not large
enough to
accomodate the additional two conductors.

ASSuming that he rewires it so he has switch leg wiring, why would he
need a neutral between the two doorways? e.g. repull the feed so that
it goes to the ceiling box instead of doorway 1, then leave the 12/3
to doorway 1, then you'd need 12/4 to doorway 2 for 3-ways for both
fan and light. 12/3 from doorway 1 to doorway 2 to have control of
lights at both doorways and control of fan only at doorway 1.

I'm not sure that I would bother with a 3-way fan control however. I
think a 3-way for the light is a good idea but once you have the light
on, you could walk over to the other door to turn on/off the fan.

nate

Thanks. It would not be too hard for me to pull a new cable from doorway 1
to doorway 2 if I decided to do that. That's because the room is over an
open ceiling basement. But , running nay new wires from the switch up to
the fixture would be very difficult and would require opening the wall and
ceiling. So I definitely don't want to do that one.