Home Automation - What's with the RED wire?

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View Full Version : What's with the RED wire?

11-08-00, 08:59 PM
I am replacing a ceiling fan in a home that is only 20 years old. I came across a BLACK, WHITE, and RED wire connecting to the old fan, which, in turn has corresponding wires (red included). Somebody please tell me the designation of the RED wire, and does that change the BLACK and WHITE wire designation? I know that the standard is, BLACK = HOT; WHITE = NEUTRAL; BARE or GREEN = GROUND. What's up with the RED one? (The new fan has BLACK, WHITE and GREEN). I'd appreciate any help.

11-09-00, 10:53 AM
The red wire should be another hot lead. Did your old fan have a separately switched light? If so, then the red lead is probably a switched hot for the light. By this I mean separate wall switches. I suppose there is some possibility that the old fan was 240 volt, though I've never heard of that.
11-09-00, 03:16 PM
hello ikillbugs,
most generly the red wire in a celling box is 1 of 2 things. a full time hot for the fan, or a switched hot for eather the light or fan. if you have 2 switches side by side or stacked that control the old fan tyhe the red will be a switched hot, if there is only 1 switch then the red is more then likley a full time hot for the fan and power comes into the switch box.