Lighting, Light Fixtures, Ceiling and Exhaust Fans - Ceiling fan/light wiring help

I need some help - While away, my wife purchased a new ceiling fan and light fixture for the kitchen. In removing the old one, she disconnected the wires but did not label them. Now I have a problem. I have the standard on the fan/light (blue -light, black - fan, green-ground, and white - common). However, out of the box, I have two white, four black, and one red. There was a separate switch for the fan previously, and a three switches for the light (yes a four way switch). However, here is the added problem. When I capped off all the wires, due to uncertainity and time to think on what to do, I returned the breaker to on, and now my basement lights to not turn on. Somehow they are wired on this circuit.
I need some help here. I am okay with the whites obviously they are common and need to be together. The question is the red, which I assume is the traveller for the four way (although i don;t think those switches are wired right for the four way as if you turn one off, you cannot turn on at any of the other two, you can only turn on and off from one switch which defeats the purpose, however, that is a problem for another day as I need light in the kitchen and the basement.). Should the red remain with the whites, or should it be with the black. I am assume that three of the blacks should be together with the blue for the light, and then then one black with the black for the fan. But I am not taking any risks here with the red. I did try one black and one red to the blue, whites together, and the three blacks to the black and it kicked the breaker when I turned it on, so i knew that wasn't right. So I stopped right there, knowing it was beyond my immediate ability. It is the red that is where I am uncertain. PLEASE HELP.

If you have 4 black you should have 4 white. Is this system conduit or cables?
The whites may not all be neutral. There could be travelers for the 3way switches.
Without disconnecting any wires can you also tell all the wires in the switch box with the fan switch.

They are cables not conduit. You hit the nail on the head for my problem. There are only two whites. From the fan switch there is one black and one white. The red wire has me totally confused, but I can see from the first light switch that it has a red from it. I pretty sure both whites are neutral. I guessing that three of the blacks are for the three light switches, and one is for the fan switch. It is the red that is my problem.

You can't buy cable with only black wires. If there are 4 blacks there are 4 whites.
We need a decsription of all the wires in the light and switch box.

Okay -

Light Switch A: Terminal has two Reds and one White
Light Switch B: Terminal has Two Reds and Two White
Light Switch C: Terminal has One White, One Black, and One Red

Fan Switch: Terminal has one White and One Black

Ceiling Box has:

Four Blacks
One Red
Two Whites

It is the strangest thing I have ever seen.

An update here. There are four whites, three have been spliced into one deep up in the ceiling box. Who would have figured. Also, I have isolated the black and white for the fan switch. I now know the four whites as they should be. The one black as the fan switch. What I don't know now is where does this red wire go. Does it go with the neutral whites or does it go with the blacks for the light switch.

We are getting close.
The fan switch wire, the white will connect to some blacks. The black will connect to the fan hot(black) wire. The three white pigtailed will connect to the fan/light white.
I think this should do it.
Connect the fan switch white and all the blacks except the fan switch black together.
Connect the red wire to the light hot(blue)

Got it. But I don't understand why. I understand the fan switch black to fan black. I understand the three pigtailed white to the white. Why would the three light switch blacks and the fan switch white connect together? I understand the red to light/blue. Is there a reason for this? simple explanation will work. It is just puzzling to me why the white from the fan switch would connect together with the blacks for the light switch and the blacks from the light switch would not connect to the blue light.

Just curious, however, I will do as you described as nothing else seems to work.

I did attach the three light switch blacks to the light/blue. the pigtailed whites and and the fan switch white to the fan/light - white, and the black fan switch to the fan/black. The light would come on, but the switches would not work, and the fan would not turn on. So this scenario must be the answer.

Thanks so much. i will reply when done - it is now pitch black here so it will be tomorrow. and let you know how it goes.
You have been a blessing today. I think there is light at the end of the tunnel - pun intended.

Lucy's dad

The following did not work. Fan switch black to fan/light black. Fan switch white to the three blacks, and the red to the blue light. Kicked the breaker. I do believe it is the fan switch white connecting to the three blacks. I will connect to the common and see what happens.

Three blacks together
Red to the bluelight
black fan to the fan black
and the pigtailed whites and the fan switch white to the white.

lucy'sdad

okay - failure again.
I hooked blue to red
pigtailed whites and fan switch white to fan/light white

three light blacks together

fan switch black to fan black.
lights in basement would turn on, but no light in ceiling fan light.

Is it possible that one of the blacks supplies power to lights in the basement, two blacks are power to light in ceiling fan light?

Red is power for both?

When I hooked the red and three blacks together with light blue, I would get light in the ceiling fan light and lights in the basement but could not turn on/off at switch.

When I hooked three blacks together with light blue and nothing to the red. I had lights in basement, lights to ceiling fan, but could not turn on or off at switch.

Fan has yet to work at all. Is it time to call an electrician?

The wire you are calling the fan switch white is not the fan switch white or it would not have caused the breaker to pop.
You need to properly identify each wire.
The fan switch from your description is a switch loop. You connect the white to the black power wires. This brings power to the switch. Then the black brings the switched power back to the fan.
Please describe all the wires in the switch box with the fan switch and the light switch. The other two light switch boxes we don't care about right now. I think the info previously provided is good. When you describe the wires on the light switch make note of which one is on the black/common screw.

If yo look at this drqwing you see why a white connects to the blacks.

http://www.selfhelpandmore.com/switchoutlet/basiclightswitch/basiiclightswitchsl.htm