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...
On Jun 14, 1:03 pm, AZ Nomad wrote:
On Mon, 14 Jun 2010 11:33:58 -0500, Joe J wrote:
I started what I thought would be medium difficulty project and now on
stumped.
I wanted to install a ceiling fan in the master bedroom. There
currently
are no ceiling lights, just a wall switch which controls half of the
wall
outlets. I have access to the basement and attic and since there is no
wiring in the basement, I assumed it all ran through the attic. Wrong,
nothing up there either, it all runs through the walls.
I found the header above the wall switch and drilled a one inch hole
through
that and see that I'm in the right space after shinning a light down.
How do I proceed?
The wall box has two 14/3 romex coming in and both reds are tied
together
with a jumper from that to the switch. Same for the blacks and a
jumper.
The two whites are tied together.
Do I tear out the wall box, find the hot red, fish a line down from the
attic and run a new line to the fan? I want to lose the switched
outlets
and have both halves of the outlets hot all the time. Then the switch
can
control the fan.
Or...I'm assuming one of those 14/3 cables has power on both red and
black.
Could I run a 14/3 cable to the fan and have separate light and fan
switch
given the setup in that box now? I'm thinking three blacks tied
together,
two reds (losing the switched outlets feature) with jumper to both
switches.
Any guidance would be appreciated. Summer is here and that attic is
getting
hot!

Hire a competant electrician; they know how to snake wires.
If your time is worth more than about a dollar an hour, you'll save
money.

Is this a regular switch or 3way? Assuming it's a regular switch,
best guess would be that the blacks are the hot wire and the reds are
the switched side. All you need to do is identify the hot. Then you
need to permanently connect the black to red, eliminating the
switch. Then you replace the switch with a fan control switch,
connecting the switch to hot, wire from it to fan, and neutral to the
fan tied to the other neutrals. The hardest part will be snaking
between the switch box and the hole in the top plate. You should be
able to do that by punching out a hole in the top of the box. You
definitely don't want to tear the box out, unless it's an old work box
that you can see will come out. Regular boxes are nailed to the
stud.

Another option that may be easier and better is to use a wireless
remote to control the fan. They also have holders so you can have a
resting place for it next to the switch. But you could also use it
next to the bed to adjust the fan without getting up. If you go that
route, all you need is to find a circuit in the attic that you can tap
on to. The fan gets powered up permanently.

It's a single pole switch. Also, there are no power runs in the attic or
basement, that's part of my problem.