Question – Troubleshooting a Ceiling Fan Light Fixture
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Here is the correct wiring of a ceiling fan light fixture. © By: Dave Rongey |
Question #1: I recently bought a light kit for my ceiling fan. This ceiling fan, although I don’t know the make or model, is your typical contractors grade ceiling fan. I installed the light kit properly, which really only included attaching the blue to the black wire and the white to the white wire. Simple enough….however the light fixture will not work.
The breaker is fine, the wires are properly attached with a wire nut and the bulbs are good. The fan will work when I turn on either the wall switch or the chain switch, however…no light.
I have the SAME ceiling fan in my bedroom. I removed the light kit from the living room and installed it on my bedroom fan and it works perfect. I reinstalled it in my living room and…no light. I checked the rest of the wiring inside the fans and they all appear to be similar. What could be the problem?
Question #2: Once I get the light kit working properly, I’d like to install a dimmer switch….for ONLY the light of course and maybe just use the chain to activate the fan (which I hardly ever use anyway). My question is…will a Single Pole dimmer switch work..and if so, what exactly do I need to do to get this to work? I understand that some of the wires may need to be changed in order to make the dimmer work. I’m not interested in buying a combo fan/light dimmer switch, but if that will be easier to install, I’ll go that route. If it’s easier to just buy a regular single pole dimmer switch and use it solely for the light, what exactly do I need to do? The fan is controlled by only ONE wall switch and of course the hanging chain. Please advise…
[ad#block]Question #1: I’m assuming that you are using the pull chain to operate the light kit – is there a light control pull chain switch on the living room ceiling fan as well as the light kit pull chain? There is a possibility that a pull chain switch may be bad. Another check is to make sure that your white wires are making a good connection in the wirenut. These wires are fine strand and it is possible for one to become loose. Other than that – it sounds like you have done everything correctly, especially as you have duplicated the installation with the light kit in the bedroom.
Question #2: Option One: A Remote Module Kit Follow this link
Option Two: An additional wire is needed for the light to operate independently from the fan motor. This can be done by adding a 2-wire Romex to the existing switch box. Share the hot as it is now for either a stack switch in your 1-gang box, or add a separate single pole dimmer switch if you decide to install a 2-gang box. Yes, you would have a spare wire which may be capped off and not used.
Please keep in mind that fan motors cannot be controlled by a Dimmer Switch, however they can be controlled by a Fan Speed Control Switch.
Please follow this link
Keep in mid that you only need ONE dimmer switch – not two. Just select which switch location you wish the dimmer to be installed.
The following may also be helpful for you:
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Be Careful and Be Safe - Never Work on Energized Circuits!
Consult your Local Building Department about Permits and Inspections for all Electric Wiring Projects.
More articles about Light Kit Wiring Questions and Home Electrical Wiring: |
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