Posted: 5/1/2012 11:23:21 AM EDT
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I have a home wiring question.
In my bathroom I have a single light switch that when you turn it on, controls two separate lights, one on each side of the vanity. What I want to do is add a switch and run a line that will control a ceiling fan. I can take one of the left over wires and extend it and run it to the fan, but id like separate switches, and Id like to keep a vanity light. Can I pull power from the existing switch to send to the second switch that will control the fan, or do I need to add another circuit and run all new wire? I looked on line, but I cant think of the search term to describe what I'm doing, and the pictures Ive found don't show me what I think I'm looking for, so I'm probably looking right at what I need. 
If you can find any pictures or diagrams that would be cool too. Thanks for the help. |
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I think you could get a away with pulling power on the same circuit for a fan. Is your fan box already mounted in the ceiling? Cause that's a special install of its own.
If I understand what you're asking, you want to keep your two lights, but add a switched fan. Unless you plan on having your lights on in order to run the fan, you don't want to use the switched line from the last light to run your extra fan power. Then you'd need the light switch on and the fan switch on at the same time. I'm confused by what you mean when you say, "take one of the left over wires" .... do you mean left over construction 12/2 or 14/2 romex just lying around? Of course you can use that. If you mean 'left over' as in there's an unused wire in your junction box ... probably not, unless it's a 3 wire source - which if it is, you can just plug it into the top of a new switch. If it's 14/2, find the hot line supplying your existing light switch. Should be easy to tell if you have one of those non contact voltage testers. It'll be the hot side when your switch is off. Black most likely. You'll need a length of romex wire going from your new switch to the fan. Easy. Even easier if you have room in the light switch box to mount your fan switch. You'll also need 2 little lengths of wire to split/pigtail the hot supply to the top of both switches. So what you end up with is - hot line into the switch box, split with a pigtail to the top of your two switches. Then wires on the bottom of the switches go one to your light circuit and the other to your new fan. |
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Quoted:
I think you could get a away with pulling power on the same circuit for a fan. Is your fan box already mounted in the ceiling? Cause that's a special install of its own. No, I would have to cut a hole and mount a new box. If I understand what you're asking, you want to keep your two lights, but add a switched fan. Unless you plan on having your lights on in order to run the fan, you don't want to use the switched line from the last light to run your extra fan power. Then you'd need the light switch on and the fan switch on at the same time. I want to get rid of the two lights on the sides of the medicine cabinate and use one of the wires to run to a new single fixture. I'm confused by what you mean when you say, "take one of the left over wires" .... do you mean left over construction 12/2 or 14/2 romex just lying around? Of course you can use that. If you mean 'left over' as in there's an unused wire in your junction box ... probably not, unless it's a 3 wire source - which if it is, you can just plug it into the top of a new switch. By left over wires, I meant the left over wire from when I got rid of one of the lights as referenced above If it's 14/2, find the hot line supplying your existing light switch. Should be easy to tell if you have one of those non contact voltage testers. It'll be the hot side when your switch is off. Black most likely. You'll need a length of romex wire going from your new switch to the fan. Easy. Even easier if you have room in the light switch box to mount your fan switch. You'll also need 2 little lengths of wire to split/pigtail the hot supply to the top of both switches. So what you end up with is - hot line into the switch box, split with a pigtail to the top of your two switches. Then wires on the bottom of the switches go one to your light circuit and the other to your new fan. I talked to a friend of mine after posting this and he said the same thing, that I could splice into the existing wire going into the old switch and run it to a new switch, then run new wire up to the ceiling. Thanks for the help everyone. |