Hello,

I want to replace a ceiling light fixture with a ceiling fan and have a question about the wiring. The light is controlled by 2 3-way switches, meaning I can turn on the light from 2 sides of the room. The fan has a blue wire that powers the lights, and a black wire that I assume powers the fan, a green wire is the ground and *1* white wire.

I can install the fan and hook up the lights to the existing 3-way circuit, but I'll need to run another conductor for the fan. No problem, there is an outlet below where I want to put the variable controller for the fan. But when I get to the fan, I'll have to connect the white wires together to complete the circuit.

Question: isn't there a possible hazard if the two circuits are different (the one for the fan and the one for the lights), is there a possibility that I'd energize one circuit from the other through the common neutral in the fan box?

Thanks,

Teabird

On 8/20/2012 5:14 PM, teabird wrote:
Hello,

I want to replace a ceiling light fixture with a ceiling fan and have a question about the wiring. The light is controlled by 2 3-way switches, meaning I can turn on the light from 2 sides of the room. The fan has a blue wire that powers the lights, and a black wire that I assume powers the fan, a green wire is the ground and *1* white wire.

I can install the fan and hook up the lights to the existing 3-way circuit, but I'll need to run another conductor for the fan. No problem, there is an outlet below where I want to put the variable controller for the fan. But when I get to the fan, I'll have to connect the white wires together to complete the circuit.

Question: isn't there a possible hazard if the two circuits are different (the one for the fan and the one for the lights), is there a possibility that I'd energize one circuit from the other through the common neutral in the fan box?

Thanks,

Teabird


It's not a good idea to do what you're suggesting. If you're going to
hard wire the fan, the 3 wires should come from the switch. Depending
upon the make and model fan, and how the 3 way system is wired, you may
be able to operate the lights from the existing 3 way system, and the
fan by a pull chain. It's also possible to get a remote control kit for
the fan, instead of using the wall switches. Depending upon the 3 way
wiring, it may be possible to operate the fan from one of the switches,
and the light, from the other. You could also spend a pile of $$$ and
get a Casablanca fan with "intellitouch" controls.
Make sure that the ceiling box is strong enough for fan support as well.

On Monday, August 20, 2012 5:50:02 PM UTC-4, RBM wrote:
On 8/20/2012 5:14 PM, teabird wrote:

Hello,



I want to replace a ceiling light fixture with a ceiling fan and have a question about the wiring. The light is controlled by 2 3-way switches, meaning I can turn on the light from 2 sides of the room. The fan has a blue wire that powers the lights, and a black wire that I assume powers the fan, a green wire is the ground and *1* white wire.



I can install the fan and hook up the lights to the existing 3-way circuit, but I'll need to run another conductor for the fan. No problem, there is an outlet below where I want to put the variable controller for the fan.. But when I get to the fan, I'll have to connect the white wires together to complete the circuit.



Question: isn't there a possible hazard if the two circuits are different (the one for the fan and the one for the lights), is there a possibility that I'd energize one circuit from the other through the common neutral in the fan box?



Thanks,



Teabird





It's not a good idea to do what you're suggesting. If you're going to

hard wire the fan, the 3 wires should come from the switch. Depending

upon the make and model fan, and how the 3 way system is wired, you may

be able to operate the lights from the existing 3 way system, and the

fan by a pull chain. It's also possible to get a remote control kit for

the fan, instead of using the wall switches. Depending upon the 3 way

wiring, it may be possible to operate the fan from one of the switches,

and the light, from the other. You could also spend a pile of $$$ and

get a Casablanca fan with "intellitouch" controls.

Make sure that the ceiling box is strong enough for fan support as well.

If I wire the fan and light together, they will operate together when I throw the switch. I'm looking for a way to operate them separately.

The fan housing does not have a slot or a string for a separate fan switch, and I'm trying to understand a way to hard-wire it.

Even with a remote control unit, it still needs to be powered.

Perhaps the fan I have can't be wired to operate separately, then so be it.


Teabird

On 8/21/2012 6:21 AM, teabird wrote:
On Monday, August 20, 2012 5:50:02 PM UTC-4, RBM wrote:
On 8/20/2012 5:14 PM, teabird wrote:

Hello,



I want to replace a ceiling light fixture with a ceiling fan and have a question about the wiring. The light is controlled by 2 3-way switches, meaning I can turn on the light from 2 sides of the room. The fan has a blue wire that powers the lights, and a black wire that I assume powers the fan, a green wire is the ground and *1* white wire.



I can install the fan and hook up the lights to the existing 3-way circuit, but I'll need to run another conductor for the fan. No problem, there is an outlet below where I want to put the variable controller for the fan. But when I get to the fan, I'll have to connect the white wires together to complete the circuit.



Question: isn't there a possible hazard if the two circuits are different (the one for the fan and the one for the lights), is there a possibility that I'd energize one circuit from the other through the common neutral in the fan box?



Thanks,



Teabird





It's not a good idea to do what you're suggesting. If you're going to

hard wire the fan, the 3 wires should come from the switch. Depending

upon the make and model fan, and how the 3 way system is wired, you may

be able to operate the lights from the existing 3 way system, and the

fan by a pull chain. It's also possible to get a remote control kit for

the fan, instead of using the wall switches. Depending upon the 3 way

wiring, it may be possible to operate the fan from one of the switches,

and the light, from the other. You could also spend a pile of $$$ and

get a Casablanca fan with "intellitouch" controls.

Make sure that the ceiling box is strong enough for fan support as well.

If I wire the fan and light together, they will operate together when I throw the switch. I'm looking for a way to operate them separately.

The fan housing does not have a slot or a string for a separate fan switch, and I'm trying to understand a way to hard-wire it.

Even with a remote control unit, it still needs to be powered.

Perhaps the fan I have can't be wired to operate separately, then so be it.


Teabird

If the fan you have, has blue, black, and white wire wires, the light
and fan can be operated separately. Usually there are pull chains to
control fan and light, in case there are no wall switches. Many
manufacturers sell a wireless remote kit. It's a two piece kit, a
receiver sits up in the fan's canopy. It only needs one set of feed
wires, white and black. The receiver has a black, blue, and white wire
that connect to the corresponding fan wires. Once connected, you operate
the fan speeds and light kit from the remote.

On Aug 21, 6:21*am, teabird wrote:
On Monday, August 20, 2012 5:50:02 PM UTC-4, RBM wrote:
On 8/20/2012 5:14 PM, teabird wrote:

Hello,

I want to replace a ceiling light fixture with a ceiling fan and have a question about the wiring. *The light is controlled by 2 3-way switches, meaning I can turn on the light from 2 sides of the room. *The fan has a blue wire that powers the lights, and a black wire that I assume powers the fan, a green wire is the ground and *1* white wire.

I can install the fan and hook up the lights to the existing 3-way circuit, but I'll need to run another conductor for the fan. *No problem, there is an outlet below where I want to put the variable controller for the fan. *But when I get to the fan, I'll have to connect the white wires together to complete the circuit.

Question: *isn't there a possible hazard if the two circuits are different (the one for the fan and the one for the lights), is there a possibility that I'd energize one circuit from the other through the common neutral in the fan box?

Thanks,

Teabird

It's not a good idea to do what you're suggesting. If you're going to

hard wire the fan, the 3 wires should come from the switch. Depending

upon the make and model fan, and how the 3 way system is wired, you may

be able to operate the lights from the existing 3 way system, and the

fan by a pull chain. It's also possible to get a remote control kit for

the fan, instead of using the wall switches. Depending upon the 3 way

wiring, it may be possible to operate the fan from one of the switches,

and the light, from the other. You could also spend a pile of $$$ and

get a Casablanca fan with "intellitouch" controls.

Make sure that the ceiling box is strong enough for fan support as well..

If I wire the fan and light together, they will operate together when I throw the switch. *I'm looking for a way to operate them separately.

The fan housing does not have a slot or a string for a separate fan switch, and I'm trying to understand a way to hard-wire it.

Even with a remote control unit, it still needs to be powered.

Perhaps the fan I have can't be wired to operate separately, then so be it.

On Monday, August 20, 2012 5:14:07 PM UTC-4, teabird wrote:
Hello, I want to replace a ceiling light fixture with a ceiling fan and have a question about the wiring. The light is controlled by 2 3-way switches, meaning I can turn on the light from 2 sides of the room. The fan has a blue wire that powers the lights, and a black wire that I assume powers the fan, a green wire is the ground and *1* white wire. I can install the fan and hook up the lights to the existing 3-way circuit, but I'll need to run another conductor for the fan. No problem, there is an outlet below where I want to put the variable controller for the fan. But when I get to the fan, I'll have to connect the white wires together to complete the circuit. Question: isn't there a possible hazard if the two circuits are different (the one for the fan and the one for the lights), is there a possibility that I'd energize one circuit from the other through the common neutral in the fan box? Thanks, Teabird

You should not use different circuits. You need to run 14/3 from one of the existing switch boxs where the incoming hot is. If you are lucky that will be the box that presently has the 14/2 going to the ceiling. But since you have a couple 3-way switches that might not be the case. It's possible to have a hot 14/2 going to the first switch box, 14/3 going from that box to the second box, and finaly 14/2 going to the ceiling box. In that situation you have no full time hot in the second switch box.

On Aug 21, 4:02*pm, teabird wrote:
On Tuesday, August 21, 2012 10:29:30 AM UTC-4, wrote:
On Aug 21, 6:21*am, teabird wrote:

On Monday, August 20, 2012 5:50:02 PM UTC-4, RBM wrote:

On 8/20/2012 5:14 PM, teabird wrote:

Hello,

I want to replace a ceiling light fixture with a ceiling fan and have a question about the wiring. *The light is controlled by 2 3-way switches, meaning I can turn on the light from 2 sides of the room. *The fan has a blue wire that powers the lights, and a black wire that I assume powers the fan, a green wire is the ground and *1* white wire.

I can install the fan and hook up the lights to the existing 3-way circuit, but I'll need to run another conductor for the fan. *No problem, there is an outlet below where I want to put the variable controller for the fan. *But when I get to the fan, I'll have to connect the white wires together to complete the circuit.

Question: *isn't there a possible hazard if the two circuits are different (the one for the fan and the one for the lights), is there a possibility that I'd energize one circuit from the other through the common neutral in the fan box?

Thanks,

Teabird

It's not a good idea to do what you're suggesting. If you're going to

hard wire the fan, the 3 wires should come from the switch. Depending

upon the make and model fan, and how the 3 way system is wired, you may

be able to operate the lights from the existing 3 way system, and the

fan by a pull chain. It's also possible to get a remote control kit for

the fan, instead of using the wall switches. Depending upon the 3 way

wiring, it may be possible to operate the fan from one of the switches,

and the light, from the other. You could also spend a pile of $$$ and

get a Casablanca fan with "intellitouch" controls.

Make sure that the ceiling box is strong enough for fan support as well.

If I wire the fan and light together, they will operate together when I throw the switch. *I'm looking for a way to operate them separately.

The fan housing does not have a slot or a string for a separate fan switch, and I'm trying to understand a way to hard-wire it.

Even with a remote control unit, it still needs to be powered.

Perhaps the fan I have can't be wired to operate separately, then so be it.

Teabird- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

It can be wired to operate separately. *The only issue

is the way you proposed the fan and the fan light

would be on different circuits. *Since the fan/light has

only one neutral, you would be cross connecting

neutrals which is a code violation.

As RBM suggested, I'd look in the switch box for either

of the two controlling switches. *Find the hot there that

runs the light and use that as the source to run up to the

fan. * I'd run a hot, neutral and light wire to the new

fan switch location, then go from there to the fan.

The other option suggested was to possibly use a

remote to control the fan, and leave the light on the

3 way switch. *As long as the hot to the remote

receiver comes off the 3 way switch hot, that is OK

too. * The remotes come with a wall mounting bracket

so if you want to have it serve as a wall switch type

arrangement, you can just leave it in the holder.

Thanks for the code information, that was what I thought. *I think it would be easier for me (because of the layout of the house and switch boxes) to tap the outlet and run another line, rather than find the hot from the panel behind a switch and then have to fish another line. *Of course, if it's indeed a different circuit, I won't do that.

Thanks again, and to Unknown for his answer as well.

Teabird- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

What makes it so much easier to tap into the
outlet and run that line to the fan, as opposed
to tapping into one of the 3 way switch boxes
that serve the light?
What is going to control the fan? A wall switch?
Pull chain? Remote?

On Tuesday, August 21, 2012 4:58:19 PM UTC-4, wrote:
On Aug 21, 4:02*pm, teabird wrote:

On Tuesday, August 21, 2012 10:29:30 AM UTC-4, wrote:

On Aug 21, 6:21*am, teabird wrote:



On Monday, August 20, 2012 5:50:02 PM UTC-4, RBM wrote:



On 8/20/2012 5:14 PM, teabird wrote:



Hello,



I want to replace a ceiling light fixture with a ceiling fan and have a question about the wiring. *The light is controlled by 2 3-way switches, meaning I can turn on the light from 2 sides of the room. *The fan has a blue wire that powers the lights, and a black wire that I assume powers the fan, a green wire is the ground and *1* white wire.



I can install the fan and hook up the lights to the existing 3-way circuit, but I'll need to run another conductor for the fan. *No problem, there is an outlet below where I want to put the variable controller for the fan. *But when I get to the fan, I'll have to connect the white wires together to complete the circuit.



Question: *isn't there a possible hazard if the two circuits are different (the one for the fan and the one for the lights), is there a possibility that I'd energize one circuit from the other through the common neutral in the fan box?



Thanks,



Teabird



It's not a good idea to do what you're suggesting. If you're going to



hard wire the fan, the 3 wires should come from the switch. Depending



upon the make and model fan, and how the 3 way system is wired, you may



be able to operate the lights from the existing 3 way system, and the



fan by a pull chain. It's also possible to get a remote control kit for



the fan, instead of using the wall switches. Depending upon the 3 way



wiring, it may be possible to operate the fan from one of the switches,



and the light, from the other. You could also spend a pile of $$$ and



get a Casablanca fan with "intellitouch" controls.



Make sure that the ceiling box is strong enough for fan support as well.



If I wire the fan and light together, they will operate together when I throw the switch. *I'm looking for a way to operate them separately.



The fan housing does not have a slot or a string for a separate fan switch, and I'm trying to understand a way to hard-wire it.



Even with a remote control unit, it still needs to be powered.



Perhaps the fan I have can't be wired to operate separately, then so be it.



Teabird- Hide quoted text -



- Show quoted text -



It can be wired to operate separately. *The only issue



is the way you proposed the fan and the fan light



would be on different circuits. *Since the fan/light has



only one neutral, you would be cross connecting



neutrals which is a code violation.



As RBM suggested, I'd look in the switch box for either



of the two controlling switches. *Find the hot there that



runs the light and use that as the source to run up to the



fan. * I'd run a hot, neutral and light wire to the new



fan switch location, then go from there to the fan.



The other option suggested was to possibly use a



remote to control the fan, and leave the light on the



3 way switch. *As long as the hot to the remote



receiver comes off the 3 way switch hot, that is OK



too. * The remotes come with a wall mounting bracket



so if you want to have it serve as a wall switch type



arrangement, you can just leave it in the holder.



Thanks for the code information, that was what I thought. *I think it would be easier for me (because of the layout of the house and switch boxes) to tap the outlet and run another line, rather than find the hot from the panel behind a switch and then have to fish another line. *Of course, if it's indeed a different circuit, I won't do that.



Thanks again, and to Unknown for his answer as well.



Teabird- Hide quoted text -



- Show quoted text -



What makes it so much easier to tap into the

outlet and run that line to the fan, as opposed

to tapping into one of the 3 way switch boxes

that serve the light?

What is going to control the fan? A wall switch?

Pull chain? Remote?

The hard part is fishing the new wire into the back of the switch box. It's much easier to cut a new opening in the wall halfway up to accept a blue box for the controller, that way I have easier access to fish/force the new wires into the back of the box. And at the top, I'll need to drill through the top plate, then send the wire down. It'll be easier to have the fresh cut hole to reach through.

Tea

On Aug 21, 5:12*pm, teabird wrote:
On Tuesday, August 21, 2012 4:58:19 PM UTC-4, wrote:
On Aug 21, 4:02*pm, teabird wrote:

On Tuesday, August 21, 2012 10:29:30 AM UTC-4, wrote:

On Aug 21, 6:21*am, teabird wrote:

On Monday, August 20, 2012 5:50:02 PM UTC-4, RBM wrote:

On 8/20/2012 5:14 PM, teabird wrote:

Hello,

I want to replace a ceiling light fixture with a ceiling fan and have a question about the wiring. *The light is controlled by 2 3-way switches, meaning I can turn on the light from 2 sides of the room. *The fan has a blue wire that powers the lights, and a black wire that I assume powers the fan, a green wire is the ground and *1* white wire.

I can install the fan and hook up the lights to the existing 3-way circuit, but I'll need to run another conductor for the fan. *No problem, there is an outlet below where I want to put the variable controller for the fan. *But when I get to the fan, I'll have to connect the white wires together to complete the circuit.

Question: *isn't there a possible hazard if the two circuits are different (the one for the fan and the one for the lights), is there a possibility that I'd energize one circuit from the other through the common neutral in the fan box?

Thanks,

Teabird

It's not a good idea to do what you're suggesting. If you're going to

hard wire the fan, the 3 wires should come from the switch. Depending

upon the make and model fan, and how the 3 way system is wired, you may

be able to operate the lights from the existing 3 way system, and the

fan by a pull chain. It's also possible to get a remote control kit for

the fan, instead of using the wall switches. Depending upon the 3 way

wiring, it may be possible to operate the fan from one of the switches,

and the light, from the other. You could also spend a pile of $$$ and

get a Casablanca fan with "intellitouch" controls.

Make sure that the ceiling box is strong enough for fan support as well.

If I wire the fan and light together, they will operate together when I throw the switch. *I'm looking for a way to operate them separately.

The fan housing does not have a slot or a string for a separate fan switch, and I'm trying to understand a way to hard-wire it.

Even with a remote control unit, it still needs to be powered.

Perhaps the fan I have can't be wired to operate separately, then so be it.

Teabird- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

It can be wired to operate separately. *The only issue

is the way you proposed the fan and the fan light

would be on different circuits. *Since the fan/light has

only one neutral, you would be cross connecting

neutrals which is a code violation.

As RBM suggested, I'd look in the switch box for either

of the two controlling switches. *Find the hot there that

runs the light and use that as the source to run up to the

fan. * I'd run a hot, neutral and light wire to the new

fan switch location, then go from there to the fan.

The other option suggested was to possibly use a

remote to control the fan, and leave the light on the

3 way switch. *As long as the hot to the remote

receiver comes off the 3 way switch hot, that is OK

too. * The remotes come with a wall mounting bracket

so if you want to have it serve as a wall switch type

arrangement, you can just leave it in the holder.

Thanks for the code information, that was what I thought. *I think it would be easier for me (because of the layout of the house and switch boxes) to tap the outlet and run another line, rather than find the hot from the panel behind a switch and then have to fish another line. *Of course, if it's indeed a different circuit, I won't do that.

Thanks again, and to Unknown for his answer as well.

Teabird- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

What makes it so much easier to tap into the

outlet and run that line to the fan, as opposed

to tapping into one of the 3 way switch boxes

that serve the light?

What is going to control the fan? *A wall switch?

Pull chain? *Remote?

The hard part is fishing the new wire into the back of the switch box. *It's much easier to cut a new opening in the wall halfway up to accept a blue box for the controller, that way I have easier access to fish/force the new wires into the back of the box. *And at the top, I'll need to drill through the top plate, then send the wire down. *It'll be easier to have the fresh cut hole to reach through.

Tea- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Why can't you just put the new blue box for the
controller next to the
existing 3 way switch box that has the hot in it? You
have a hole right next to the 3 way box and can
feed cable right into it.

On Tuesday, August 21, 2012 5:39:01 PM UTC-4, wrote:
On Aug 21, 5:12*pm, teabird wrote:

On Tuesday, August 21, 2012 4:58:19 PM UTC-4, wrote:

On Aug 21, 4:02*pm, teabird wrote:



On Tuesday, August 21, 2012 10:29:30 AM UTC-4, wrote:



On Aug 21, 6:21*am, teabird wrote:



On Monday, August 20, 2012 5:50:02 PM UTC-4, RBM wrote:



On 8/20/2012 5:14 PM, teabird wrote:



Hello,



I want to replace a ceiling light fixture with a ceiling fan and have a question about the wiring. *The light is controlled by 2 3-way switches, meaning I can turn on the light from 2 sides of the room. *The fan has a blue wire that powers the lights, and a black wire that I assume powers the fan, a green wire is the ground and *1* white wire.



I can install the fan and hook up the lights to the existing 3-way circuit, but I'll need to run another conductor for the fan. *No problem, there is an outlet below where I want to put the variable controller for the fan. *But when I get to the fan, I'll have to connect the white wires together to complete the circuit.



Question: *isn't there a possible hazard if the two circuits are different (the one for the fan and the one for the lights), is there a possibility that I'd energize one circuit from the other through the common neutral in the fan box?



Thanks,



Teabird



It's not a good idea to do what you're suggesting. If you're going to



hard wire the fan, the 3 wires should come from the switch. Depending



upon the make and model fan, and how the 3 way system is wired, you may



be able to operate the lights from the existing 3 way system, and the



fan by a pull chain. It's also possible to get a remote control kit for



the fan, instead of using the wall switches. Depending upon the 3 way



wiring, it may be possible to operate the fan from one of the switches,



and the light, from the other. You could also spend a pile of $$$ and



get a Casablanca fan with "intellitouch" controls.



Make sure that the ceiling box is strong enough for fan support as well.



If I wire the fan and light together, they will operate together when I throw the switch. *I'm looking for a way to operate them separately.



The fan housing does not have a slot or a string for a separate fan switch, and I'm trying to understand a way to hard-wire it.



Even with a remote control unit, it still needs to be powered.



Perhaps the fan I have can't be wired to operate separately, then so be it.



Teabird- Hide quoted text -



- Show quoted text -



It can be wired to operate separately. *The only issue



is the way you proposed the fan and the fan light



would be on different circuits. *Since the fan/light has



only one neutral, you would be cross connecting



neutrals which is a code violation.



As RBM suggested, I'd look in the switch box for either



of the two controlling switches. *Find the hot there that



runs the light and use that as the source to run up to the



fan. * I'd run a hot, neutral and light wire to the new



fan switch location, then go from there to the fan.



The other option suggested was to possibly use a



remote to control the fan, and leave the light on the



3 way switch. *As long as the hot to the remote



receiver comes off the 3 way switch hot, that is OK



too. * The remotes come with a wall mounting bracket



so if you want to have it serve as a wall switch type



arrangement, you can just leave it in the holder.



Thanks for the code information, that was what I thought. *I think it would be easier for me (because of the layout of the house and switch boxes) to tap the outlet and run another line, rather than find the hot from the panel behind a switch and then have to fish another line. *Of course, if it's indeed a different circuit, I won't do that.



Thanks again, and to Unknown for his answer as well.



Teabird- Hide quoted text -



- Show quoted text -



What makes it so much easier to tap into the



outlet and run that line to the fan, as opposed



to tapping into one of the 3 way switch boxes



that serve the light?



What is going to control the fan? *A wall switch?



Pull chain? *Remote?



The hard part is fishing the new wire into the back of the switch box. *It's much easier to cut a new opening in the wall halfway up to accept a blue box for the controller, that way I have easier access to fish/force the new wires into the back of the box. *And at the top, I'll need to drill through the top plate, then send the wire down. *It'll be easier to have the fresh cut hole to reach through.



Tea- Hide quoted text -



- Show quoted text -



Why can't you just put the new blue box for the

controller next to the

existing 3 way switch box that has the hot in it? You

have a hole right next to the 3 way box and can

feed cable right into it.

Sure, I could do that but neither switches are where I want them. The first is right next to the front door, and accessing the top plate right under the eve will be very difficult, and other is just inside the next room, the kitchen nook. Anyway, I first need to identify which box has the hot, and hopefully it's the one in the nook.

Tea

teabird wrote in
:

Hello,

I want to replace a ceiling light fixture with a ceiling fan and have
a question about the wiring. The light is controlled by 2 3-way
switches, meaning I can turn on the light from 2 sides of the room.
The fan has a blue wire that powers the lights, and a black wire that
I assume powers the fan, a green wire is the ground and *1* white
wire.

I can install the fan and hook up the lights to the existing 3-way
circuit, but I'll need to run another conductor for the fan. No
problem, there is an outlet below where I want to put the variable
controller for the fan. But when I get to the fan, I'll have to
connect the white wires together to complete the circuit.

Question: isn't there a possible hazard if the two circuits are
different (the one for the fan and the one for the lights), is there a
possibility that I'd energize one circuit from the other through the
common neutral in the fan box?

Thanks,

Teabird




They sell electronic remotes for fan/lights that do not need two separate
hot lines.

If you take two hot wires from two different circuits and those two
circuits happen to come from opposite sides of the panel box (left &
right buss bars), those two hot wires will have 220 between them. Doesn't
sound like a good idea does it?

Hello,



I want to replace a ceiling light fixture with a ceiling fan and have

a question about the wiring. The light is controlled by 2 3-way

switches, meaning I can turn on the light from 2 sides of the room.

The fan has a blue wire that powers the lights, and a black wire that

I assume powers the fan, a green wire is the ground and *1* white

wire.



I can install the fan and hook up the lights to the existing 3-way

circuit, but I'll need to run another conductor for the fan. No

problem, there is an outlet below where I want to put the variable

controller for the fan. But when I get to the fan, I'll have to

connect the white wires together to complete the circuit.



Question: isn't there a possible hazard if the two circuits are

different (the one for the fan and the one for the lights), is there a

possibility that I'd energize one circuit from the other through the

common neutral in the fan box?



Thanks,



Teabird









They sell electronic remotes for fan/lights that do not need two separate

hot lines.



If you take two hot wires from two different circuits and those two

circuits happen to come from opposite sides of the panel box (left &

right buss bars), those two hot wires will have 220 between them. Doesn't

sound like a good idea does it?

Thanks to everyone for their input. It turns out that the outlet is on a different circuit so I won't be tapping into that one. I'm gonna wait a few weeks for it to cool down to go into the attic.

Thanks again,

Teabird

On 8/21/2012 12:10 PM, wrote:
On Monday, August 20, 2012 5:14:07 PM UTC-4, teabird wrote:
Hello, I want to replace a ceiling light fixture with a ceiling fan and have a question about the wiring. The light is controlled by 2 3-way switches, meaning I can turn on the light from 2 sides of the room. The fan has a blue wire that powers the lights, and a black wire that I assume powers the fan, a green wire is the ground and *1* white wire. I can install the fan and hook up the lights to the existing 3-way circuit, but I'll need to run another conductor for the fan. No problem, there is an outlet below where I want to put the variable controller for the fan. But when I get to the fan, I'll have to connect the white wires together to complete the circuit. Question: isn't there a possible hazard if the two circuits are different (the one for the fan and the one for the lights), is there a possibility that I'd energize one circuit from the other through the common neutral in the fan box? Thanks, Teabird

You should not use different circuits. You need to run 14/3 from one of the existing switch boxs where the incoming hot is. If you are lucky that will be the box that presently has the 14/2 going to the ceiling. But since you have a couple 3-way switches that might not be the case. It's possible to have a hot 14/2 going to the first switch box, 14/3 going from that box to the second box, and finaly 14/2 going to the ceiling box. In that situation you have no full time hot in the second switch box.

Existing wiring could also be hot to the light with separate 3-wire
romexes to each switch. If wired that way one switch could be abandoned
and 2 switches installed at the other location - or light switch at one
and fan control at other. Or new wiring from light location to
controller. More flexible if controller does not need neutral.

Slight chance it is wired with a hot an neutral at each 3-way (4 wires
between).

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bud--