Lighting, Light Fixtures, Ceiling and Exhaust Fans - Ceiling fan w/ light and remote

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View Full Version : Ceiling fan w/ light and remote


kenruss1
07-17-07, 09:38 AM
We bought 2 fans,Harbor Breeze model #192900. Both rooms had ceiling lights w/identical wiring. The first was easy enough to install,works perfectly. The diagrams I followed are as such: House black and white to receiver supply wires blk and wht. Green to house grd.from bracket. Next on the other side of receiver, white is common to fan and light,blue to blue is hot for light,and black to black is hot for fan. There is also a wall switch that works for the first. #2 I did EXACTLY the same and it won't work. I rechecked the wiring many times and can't figure it out. The wall switch was OK prior to this. The remotes are programmed the same and both work on #1 fine. Please note: breaker for wall switch only controls fan and 1 other outlet in the room. Also, on my last check of connection I left the breaker on and got a slight shock when touching motor housing. I have a circuit tester that lit up bright in a hot outlet and very dim when testing box wires after removing fan. it seems like a ground issue, but with fan gone and switch and breaker on, it should act as if the light were still there, right? Any help is appreciated!!


racraft
07-17-07, 10:02 AM
Tell us ALL the wires at the ceiling.

kenruss1
07-17-07, 10:58 AM
I looked up in the box and tucked away there are an addional black and white wire that are wire nutted together. There is also a newer looking bare ground that is attached to the box with a dark green clip. I don't know what these are for, but weren't used for the old light fixture, if that helps at all. Thanks for such a fast reply-hope this can be fixed!


racraft
07-17-07, 11:06 AM
The wires indicate that you have a switch loop. Check your wiring at the switch.

kenruss1
07-17-07, 11:11 AM
What exactly is a switch loop and what specifically do I look for?

racraft
07-17-07, 11:23 AM
What did you do, if anything at the switch? What is the wiring at the switch.

You should know what a switch loop is, or you shouldn't be attempting this job. You did buy a book on home wiring didn't you? What does your book say a switch loop is?

Electricity can and does kill people. You need a basic understanding of home wiring BEFORE you attempt to make changes, even one as simple as replacing a light.

A switch loop is one method of wiring a switch to control a light. It involves the hot wire (and only the hot wire) being run to the switch.

John Nelson
07-17-07, 06:00 PM
The black and white wire connected together up at the ceiling, with neither wire connected to the fixture, is an indication of a switch loop. The black wire is the unswitched hot from the power source. The white wire is a (reindentified) hot wire carrying unswitched hot to the switch. These two wires are from separate cables.

The black wire that shares a cable with the white wire mentioned above is the return wire from the switch. It carries switched hot back to the fixture.

The white wire that shares a cable with the black wire in the first paragraph is the neutral.

You mentioned the wall switch. Is this just a simple ordinary light switch? Or did you get some sort of wall control with the fan? And if it's just a simple switch, did you do anything to it? And if so, why?