Installing a Ceiling Fan Without a Ground Wire
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How to Provide the Ground Wire Safety Feature for Ceiling Fans – The ground wire system of the home serves as a safe path to the earth ground in the event of an electrical malfunction where voltage is released outside of the safely insulated energized areas of any electrical device. |
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Should You Install a Ceiling Fan Without a Ground Wire
Electrical Question: We are installing a ceiling fan ourselves and have found that our chandelier we are replacing has no ground wire. We are reluctant to put in the fan now. What should we do?
This electrical wiring question came from Carla.
Dave’s Reply:
Thanks for your electrical wiring question Carla.
How to Provide the Ground Wire Safety Feature for Ceiling Fans
- The ground wire system of the home serves as a safe path to the earth ground in the event of an electrical malfunction where voltage is released outside of the safely insulated energized areas of any electrical device.
- In the event where electricity makes a connection to the grounded system of the home, an over current protection device, when properly sized and installed, will interrupt the flow of electricity to the affected circuit.
- The most common over current devices installed for the home electrical system are circuit breakers or fuses. The installation of the ceiling fan without the ground wire will not affect the performance of the ceiling fan, however this safety system that is provided through the ground system will not be available.
- Depending on the age of the home, and if the home is older, then it may be that many other circuits do not have a ground wire as well. This can only be determined by examining the electrical system of the home, which is best performed by a professional licensed home inspector or electrician.
- A ground system may be added to the home to add this measure of safety, or the electrical wiring may be upgraded and brought up to current standards and code requirements which is always my recommendation for a safer home electrical system.
RESOURCES
How to Install Ceiling Fans and Wiring
Ceiling Fan Wiring diagram #1
Ceiling Fan Wiring diagram #2
Ceiling Fan Installation #1
Ceiling Fan Installation #2
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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.
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Electrical TipThe Safest Way to Test Electrical Devices and Identify Electric Wiring!The Non-Contact Electrical TesterThis is a testing tool that I have had in my personal electrical tool pouch for years, and is the first test tool I grab to help identify electrical wiring. It is a Non-contact tester, [amazon.com], I use for the detection of Standard Voltage in Cables, Cords, Circuit Breakers, Lighting Fixtures, Switches, Outlets and Wires. Simply insert the end of the tester into an outlet, lamp socket, or hold the end of the tester against the wire you wish to test. Very handy and easy to use. |
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