Ceiling Fans with Wiring Diagrams
Summary: Ceiling Fans are a great way to lower your energy bill and brighten up one of your favorite rooms. Replacing an existing fixture with a ceiling fan or adding one to a new location will require you to select a ceiling electrical box that is rated for "ceiling fans". This and a few other issues are covered along with typical wiring diagrams.
Energy Savings with Ceiling Fans:
More than one-third of U.S. households did not have a single ceiling fan as of 2001, according to U.S. Department of Energy Data. Households that did have such fans reportedly averaged 2.8 fans per home!
Research show that there was a big difference in ceiling fan use in various regions and states.
Almost 85% of homes in Florida had at least one ceiling fan, yet 53% of people in California were completely
without these simple energy-saving devices.
Ceiling Fans
Here’s how ceiling fans assist a home’s energy efficiency, according to the American Lighting Association:
• Air movement makes the occupants feel more comfortable. Fans cool in the summer by wind chill.
In the summer, a fan makes the air seem as
much as eight degrees (Fahrenheit) cooler. “A
temperature of 78-80 degrees feels like 72 . . .
the thermostat can stay set at 78, resulting in a lower electric bill.”
• Fans warm in the winter by recirculating warm air (which rises). The difference in temperature between warm air at the top of a room and where people move around can be as much as 15 degrees (Fahrenheit). “By redistributing the warm air, ceiling fans heat up the occupied portion of the room.”
• "To enjoy the full cooling and warming effects of a fan, the fan should have reversible direction. Single-direction fans are generally useful only for cooling."
There are a variety of ways to wire a ceiling fan.
Here are a few typical ways to help you understand how to install your fan.
Power Only to the Ceiling Box - No Wall Switch
With this method the ceiling fan operates by the pull chains only. If you have this situation and you do not wish to have a wall switch installed, then the solution would be to purchase a ceiling fan with a remote control unit. Now your remote control will take the place of the switch. Most of the remote controls will allow you to select three speeds for fan control and three levels of light.
Single Switch Control for the Fan and Light
The switch operates the power going to the ceiling box, and the power is either "on" or "off". You still have the option of using the pull chains as desired, however you could get confused if you turn the ceiling fan or light "off" using the pull chain method and wonder why the wall switch does not operate the ceiling fan or light. [see troubleshooting]
Single Switch for Fan and a Dimmer for the Light
When having separate controls for the ceiling fan you will need separate wires going from the wall switch box to the ceiling fan box. The location of the power source will have a bearing on how many wires will need to be installed between the switch box and the ceiling fan box. The requirement is that the ceiling fan must have a separate wire for each switched function. The neutral is shared by the fan and the light. I'm assuming your home has a ground found at all the junction boxes, if not I encourage you to have your wiring upgraded asap.
See our section on [Smoke Detectors]
Remote Control Units for Ceiling Fans
Typical Remote Unit
The standard remote package comes with a module which is installed into the fan cradle assembly and the hand remote. Some units come with a saddle that can be attached to the wall making it easy for you to find and operate.
A remote control for your ceiling fan can take the place of the wall switch and most of the remote controls will allow you to select three speeds for the fan operation and three levels of light.
More features available
Extended features are available with some of the newer remote units including programmable temperature control and time controls. As far as I know they still won't get the coffee pot brewing, but I'll show you how to automate that process on another page.
A Safety Issue: Make sure there is a 7 Foot clearance between the floor and the blades of the fan.
Ceiling Fan Wiring Diagram
Ceiling Fans with Wiring Diagrams top of page
Next in this Series:
Ceiling Fan Installation Part 1
