The ceiling fan's weight can complicate wiring projects.
Wiring a ceiling fan to an existing circuit is similar to wiring any other electrical fixture, except the bulk and weight of the fan adds a little work. Most fan kits come with mounting brackets that fit on standard ceiling electrical boxes, and then the fan is mounted to the bracket. The electrical box has to be properly anchored to a ceiling joist. If you can move the electrical box at all, stop the project and have a contractor check it.
Instructions
1. Cut power at the circuit box, and make sure it's off. Set your ladder under the existing ceiling fixture and climb to it.
2. Remove the screws that hold the existing fixture with a screwdriver, pulling the fixtures away and disconnecting the wires to get it free. Generally, you'll have to unravel a layer of electrical tape, then unscrew wire nuts. Leave the wires hanging from the electrical box.
3. Hold the mounting bracket from your ceiling kit up to the electrical box, lining up the screw holes. Secure the bracket with the screws provided in the fan kit and a screwdriver. Pull the wires down through the center of the bracket.
4. Put the fan together on the floor, following the kit's instructions and assembling all parts except the blades. Walk the fan housing up the ladder. Set it on top of the ladder, as close to the electrical box as you can get it, so you can connect the wiring. Some fan kits are designed to allow you temporarily hang the fan housing from a hook on the bracket while you wire it.
5. Connect the the fan unit to the black wire from the electrical box, and the white wire to the white wire. Connect them with your wire nuts. Wrap the connections in electrical tape.
6. Twist the bare copper grounding wire from the electrical box to the green grounding screw in the fan unit, using your hands.
7. Mount the fan unit to the bracket, using the screwdriver and the provided mounting screws. Attach ceiling fan blades as instructed in your kit. Turn the electricity on.
Tags: , wire from, black wire, black wire from, ceiling electrical