| Lighting, Light Fixtures, Ceiling and Exhaust Fans A/C & D/C Electrical. Lamps, Recessed, Track, Fluorescent Lighting, Outdoor Yard/Patio, Direct, Indirect, Flood, Spot Lighting, Whole House and Attic Exhaust Fans. |  10-30-09, 12:11 PM | | Member | | Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: York, PA Posts: 3 | |  Light/Fan/Heat Switch Help
I bought a 3 rocker switch to install in my bathroom.
I would like to set it up so that I can have the fan on without the light, but when I hook up the switch, I always need to have the light on for the fan to run.
In the wall I have three sets of wires coming into the box.
Wire Set #1 - Light
1 - Black (Connected to Load 1)
1 - White (Connected to COM)
1 - Ground (Connected to switch)
Wire Set #2 - Fan
1 - Black (Connected to Load 2)
1 - White (Connected to White Wire in Set #3)
1 - Ground (Connected to Ground in Set #3)
Wire Set #3 - Heater
1 - Black (Connected to Load 3)
1 - White (Connected to White Wire in Set #2)
1 - Ground (Connected to Ground in Set #2)
The switch has 3 Loads, 1 COM, and 1 Ground input.
What should the proper connection be to get the FAN to run without needing the light to be turned on?
Thanks in advance.
Hirk | 10-30-09, 12:33 PM |  | Topic Moderator | | Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Maryland Posts: 3,131 | | | Either you don't have enough wires or you have left out a cable from your description. You should have a cable which provides power to this box. You would also have 3 switched hot wires to the housing.
Which wire is hot all the time and what cable is it in? __________________
All answers based on National Codes. Please check with your local building departments for local amendments. | 10-30-09, 12:35 PM | | Member | | Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: York, PA Posts: 3 | | | The hot wire is in Wire Set#1 and it is the white wire.
What would the other wire be coming in? I expected to see a red wire or something separate as you describe, but it is only the 3 sets.
Last edited by hirkos; 10-30-09 at 01:01 PM. | 10-30-09, 01:44 PM | | Member | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Texas Gulfcoast Posts: 4,136 | | | Unless #1 is a switch loop white would not be hot. Do you have 120v between black and white of #1? If you
have 0v it is a probably a switch loop. Does power actually come in at the fixture not the switch? If so #1 is probably a switch loop.
If power does originate at the fixture and #1 is a switch loop you have too many cables.
Assuming #1 is a switch loop:
White remarked yellow and connected to common. Black to L1
Cable 2: White remarked red and connected to L2
Black remarked blue and to L3.
Colors can be other then specified so long as they are not green or white. Remarked cables are marked on both ends with tape, marker pen or paint.
Note this may not be code compliant because all power cables are not in the same sheath. Wait for the pros before doing this.
Last edited by ray2047; 10-30-09 at 02:45 PM. | 10-30-09, 03:12 PM | | Member | | Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: York, PA Posts: 3 | | | Thanks Ray...
Nothing is color coded as I would expect... I will get a pro to take a look. | 10-30-09, 03:25 PM | | Member | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Texas Gulfcoast Posts: 4,136 | | Quote: Originally Posted by hirkos  Thanks Ray...
Nothing is color coded as I would expect... I will get a pro to take a look. | I meant wait for one of the pros here not hire some one. | 10-30-09, 03:39 PM | | Topic Moderator | | Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Maryland Posts: 3,131 | | | I know you said the W from C1 is hot. Just try to switch the black and the white from C1. If the black was actually the hot you would not have power at the COM until SW1 was on.
Does the heater work as wired? __________________
All answers based on National Codes. Please check with your local building departments for local amendments. | | Thread Tools | | | | Display Modes |  Linear Mode |  Posting Rules | You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts
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