A ceiling fan uses a brace to secure its base against the ceiling.
The mounting box that holds a regular light fixture will not properly support a ceiling fan. Not only does a ceiling fan weigh considerably more than a light, but the vibration caused when the fan spins creates additional strain on the mounting box. A ceiling fan brace provides additional support for the mounting box. Ceiling fan installers slip the brace through the old light's hole in the ceiling and install the ceiling fan brace without causing further damage to the drywall.
Instructions
1. Assemble the ceiling fan brace. Slip the U-bolt assembly over the wide half of the brace, keep its threads facing the same direction as the ear on the end of the brace. The narrow half of the brace slides into the center of the wide half.
2. Push the the 4-inch round hole in the ceiling.
3. Turn the brace so its ends face the joists on both sides of the hole and so the ears on the ends of the brace face downward. The ears hold the brace off the drywall at the proper height for a ceiling fan's electrical box.
4. Position the brace so it rests over the center of the hole, and spread the brace's two halves until the ears touch the joists.
5. Tighten the ceiling fan brace's adjustment nut with an . This locks the ears against the joists.
6. Position the electrical box's U-bolt in the center of the hole.
7. Push the wire feeding power to the ceiling fan into the electrical box through one of the small holes on the top of the box.
8. Align the electrical box's two small bolt holes, found in the center of the electrical box, with the ends of the U-bolt. Push the box tight against the brace, and secure the box with the U-bolt's nuts. Use an adjustable wrench to tighten the nuts.
Tags: ceiling brace, adjustable wrench, , brace through, center hole, half brace