An independent control can simpifly ceiling fan operation.
A major advantage of separating the ceiling fan switch control from the light switch control is to eliminate the need to turn the fan on or off from the fan pull chain, which can be difficult to reach. One consideration, however, is whether electrical wiring exists between the ceiling fan fixture and the wall switch for separate fan control, but has just not been hooked up. If wiring is not already installed for the fan control, which is typically the case, it must be installed.
Instructions
Check Existing Wiring
1. Set the breaker that supports the circuit being worked on to OFF. Using a screwdriver, remove the wall switch plate cover. Remove the existing ceiling fan from the ceiling fan box (electrical box above the fan assembly) per the ceiling fan assembly manual.
2. Remove the mounting screws from the existing wall switch, using a screwdriver. Carefully pull the wall switch out of the switch box to gain access to the switch terminals and wires behind the switch.
3. Search for wiring to support fan control; this could be an unconnected wire (typically red or blue) in addition to the black (light power, HOT), white (NEUTRAL), green or copper (GROUND) wires already attached to the switch. If there is not an extra, unused Romex wire to support fan control, new wiring must be installed.
4. Loosen the switch terminal screws to detach the wires, using a screwdriver. Take a piece of masking tape and label it "For Light," using a marker. Attach the piece of masking tape to the wiring that was just removed from the switch.
Install New Wiring
5. Check circuit requirements to determine if 12-gauge or 14-gauge Romex is needed. For a 20-amp circuit, use 12-gauge Romex, and for a 15-amp circuit, use 14-gauge Romex.
6. Route fish tape between the wall switch box and the ceiling fan box to support installation of the Romex. Attach one end of a two-conductor Romex, which contains one conductor for power (HOT), 1 conductor for neutral, and a ground wire, to the fish tape. Wrap electrical tape around the attachment point a few times to secure. Using the fish tape reel, pull the Romex through the wiring run.
7. Secure the Romex in the attic within 12 inches of an outlet box and every 4 1/2 feet along rafters, using a hammer and insulated staples. Leave enough Romex at both ends of the wiring run to be able to make connections to the new to be installed and the fan wiring. Detach the Romex from the fish tape, and cut the other end of the Romex using lineman's pliers.
8. Split the sheathing at the end of the Romex, using a utility knife or sheathing splitting knife. Cut the sheathing far enough back to allow approximately 1/2 inch of the sheathing to remain within the wall switch box or the ceiling fan box. Pull the sheathing back and cut the excess off with a utility knife.
9. Strip the insulation back from the conductor approximately 3/4 inch, using a wire stripper. Do this at each end of the Romex, for each wire. At the wall switch end of the Romex, bend the conductors with the lineman's pliers so that the conductors will completely go around the dual switch terminal screws. Loosen the terminal screws on the dual switch, using a screwdriver, so that the conductors can be attached around the screws.
Connect Wiring and Install New Switch
10. Attach the fan control HOT wire (black or red) conductor to the lower HOT terminal (indicated by a brass screw) of the dual switch. Using a screwdriver, tighten the terminal screw down enough so that the screw head is on top of the conductor and the conductor cannot inadvertently slip out. Attach all the grounds together using a wire nut. If the Dual Switch has a ground terminal, use a pigtail to connect the grounds to this terminal.
11. Install the wiring labeled "For Light" by attaching the light control HOT (black or red) wire conductor to the upper HOT terminal of the dual switch. Tighten the terminal screws down and check the connections. Remove the masking tape label. Attach all white wires from fan and light circuits, as well as the feed wires together using a wire nut. Attach the black feed wires to the remaining dual switch terminals.
12. Push the dual switch back into the wall switch box. Use a screwdriver to secure the dual switch to the switch box and the dual switch cover to the dual switch.
13. At the ceiling fan box, connect the Romex fan control (black or red) wire to the ceiling fan control wire by mating the two wire conductors together, side by side, then twisting this connection together using a wire nut. Twist the wire nut until the connection is tight, approximately three to four times. Repeat this procedure for each fan control wire, attaching the white wire conductors together and the green wire conductors together. Reinstall the ceiling fan per the ceiling fan assembly manual.
14. Turn the circuit breaker back on. At the dual switch, check the power to the light by moving the upper switch to on, and check the power to the fan by moving the lower switch to on. If the fan or light does not turn on, adjust the controls (pull chains) at the fan to ensure they are set to the ON state. If this does not work, recheck the wiring installation as performed per previous instructions.
Tags: dual switch, wall switch, fish tape, terminal screws, using wire, conductors together