The ceiling fan and light are controlled by two switches on the wall. In the same room, when I plug my tester into the outlet with the fan/light off, it shows no power at the outlet. If I turn the light on, the outlet says reversed hot/neutral, then when I turn the fan on, it says reversed hot/ground. Anyone know what is wrong? I'm guessing the switch used to control just the outlet like all the other bedrooms, and someone converted it to control the fan, and wired it wrong.
2007-12-30 21:20:10 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Smokey Bear: The outlet will only power a lamp very dim, or a fan very slow. I'm using a plug in tester that has lights on it. Depending on what lights light up on it, tells you whats wrong with it.
2007-12-30 21:34:17 · update #1
more than likely someone has switched box from single switch to double and changed from single light to ceiling fan without changing wire from switch to light from two wire with ground to three wire with ground wich it can be done not exactly code you will probably that in doing this they used the same common for both if so this causes a short or only power to one side unless both are on at same time you need to find out witch is the feed to the light and witch one power supply then get a wire nut and two peices of electrical wire black for positive side bare them back about 1/2 to3/4 of an inch put them along with black supply in and twist two make a seperate power supply for each switch the take the common or wite wire which will will supply common to both sides at fan then take copper wire wich is the ground at switch loose take a piece of the wite wire and take take plastic coating off you will be putting this on copper wire to supply power to fan do trhis at fan also take a piece of electical tape and mark wire with it at both ends or use a black marker ok at ceiling fan take all white wires and hook together possitives will more than likely be black blue or red ok take youre black supply and hook to one and the white that you coated and marked to the other the green wire is a grnd connect to box in ceiling ok back to switches all the commons or white wires should be wire nuted together and pushed to back of box to be out of the way take power supply the black wire you added two black wires to and on to each switch then take black wire to fan and attach to other side of one switch and take the wire you coated with plastic coating i hope you didnt leave any copper exposed and connect to other switch and both fan and light should function seperate and independent of each other without any problems
2007-12-31 05:18:38 · answer #1 · answered by average joe 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I’m trying to picture one outlet in the ceiling that powers a ceiling fan and light independently. It’s a strange arrangement. Why the outlet? Most modern ceiling fans are direct wired.
In familiar installations, (if the switches are side by side) one switch should supply the fan and the other the light. The neutral and the ground should be common to both. That would require 3 conductors and a ground from the switches to the fan/light device.
If the switches are by opposite entrances you may have a mis-wired 3 way switch.
2007-12-31 04:10:45 · answer #2 · answered by KOHA 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
By your description, it sounds as though the two switches were wired incorrectly in series. Sometimes this happens when only one switch is replaced. At this point, I would go to your local store ( Home Depot, Loews, etc) and get two switches for inseries wiring of the same brand. On the inside of the box will be a schematic showing which terminals are wired for an inseries installation. I hope this helps you.
2007-12-31 03:35:16 · answer #3 · answered by Nightrider 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
you dont provide a complete picture but a couple things could be wrong: there is no short otherwise the circuit would trip. One possiblility is that the two devices are wired in series-which would mean that you could only operate them if both switches are closed. Being miswired is the most likley problem. There may be more to it though. Check out the schematics in the links
2007-12-31 02:44:31 · answer #4 · answered by JF 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
How old is the house that you are in. If it's an old house, you may have wiring that they call knob and tube,(although it should be changed). If it's a new house, you may be able to figure it out a little easier!
2007-12-31 01:41:04 · answer #5 · answered by Wolfchevy3 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, since you told me that, and since I can't see the problem myself (sorry i can't troubleshoot very well yet without being there) I would take the advice of the first answer. haha
2007-12-30 21:27:23 · answer #6 · answered by Smokey Bear 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Probably wired incorrectly. Or, could be a short in the junction box. I'd check the J-box first with your tester (if you can find it). Either way, it's all in the wiring. Good luck.
2007-12-30 21:24:50 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
may be its a case of short circuit between the tube and fan
2007-12-30 21:23:22 · answer #8 · answered by rahul 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
get a electrician in before you fry yourself
2007-12-30 21:22:49 · answer #9 · answered by infobod2nd 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Totally agree with answer # 1.
Get a licensed Electrician.
2008-01-01 01:47:46 · answer #10 · answered by straight foward 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋