Installing a ceiling fan, but only have red and black wires from light

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › Installing a ceiling fan, but only have red and black wires from light

golfpunk111

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Master Geek
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Topic # 127489 12-Aug-2013 18:20

Hi

Just brought a ceiling fan off trademe was going to install it myself into an existing light socket, but only have red and black wires coming out of the ceiling and the fan controller box (it also has a light incorporated) was four connections green, blue, white and black. I am assuming I'm not going to be able to use the existing wires on their own to get this to work and that I'll have to get an electrician in to connect up some new wires?

Thanks

Reanalyse

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Reply # 876022 12-Aug-2013 18:23

6 people support this post

Please get a sparky to do it, both for legality and for you to stay alive

mattwnz

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Reply # 876023 12-Aug-2013 18:24

What do the instructions say? Does it say it needs to professionally wired in?

Jemahl

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Reply # 876043 12-Aug-2013 19:11

Are you replacing a halogen drop light? The red and black could very well be leading to a 12v DC transformer box for such, or be branched from a nearby source and not actually a mains line.

If you are intent on doing this yourself, i highly recommend getting up there and tracing the cables back to their origin to see what's actually what before wiring anything at all.

Sparkies are incredibly cheap when you consider the possible alternatives ...

golfpunk111

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Reply # 876049 12-Aug-2013 19:17

Unfortunately no instructions it's a secondhand ceiling fan. It's a 1970's house and all the light fittings/sockets only have red and black wires that lead back to the switchboard.

Thanks

gregmcc

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Reply # 876056 12-Aug-2013 19:31

golfpunk111: Hi

Just brought a ceiling fan off trademe was going to install it myself into an existing light socket, but only have red and black wires coming out of the ceiling and the fan controller box (it also has a light incorporated) was four connections green, blue, white and black. I am assuming I'm not going to be able to use the existing wires on their own to get this to work and that I'll have to get an electrician in to connect up some new wires?

Thanks

4 Wires are

1) Earth - you don't have one at your old light
2) Neutral (Common for the light and fan)
3) Switched red for the light - you have this at your old light
4) Switched/speed control for fan (Did you get the speed control unit for the fan?)

Niel

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Reply # 876057 12-Aug-2013 19:32

4 people support this post

It used to be that there is no earth wire for light fittings, but your fan will need earth as it has a metal housing (and very unlikely to be double insulated). You need to get a registered electrician to redo the wiring for that circuit, all the way back to the switch board. At least he can use the existing wires to draw through the new, so may not be too expensive. But he might insist you get a new light fitting unless the used one is in very good condition (because he has to sign off the installation as safe, with liability).

You can never have enough Volvos!

pctek

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Reply # 884897 26-Aug-2013 18:18

Ceiling: Black is your hot wire. Red goes to the light fixture.

White is neutral.

The light and fan can both be connected to the red wire and the switch
will operate them as long as they are turned on in the fixture. If the
fan is to be operated all the time, connect it to the black and the
light to the red.

Works fine, have had ours like that for years....

gregmcc

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Reply # 884910 26-Aug-2013 18:35

pctek: Ceiling: Black is your hot wire. Red goes to the light fixture.

White is neutral.

The light and fan can both be connected to the red wire and the switch
will operate them as long as they are turned on in the fixture. If the
fan is to be operated all the time, connect it to the black and the
light to the red.

Works fine, have had ours like that for years....

And as you have not mentioned the green wire I would assume that there isn't one and therefore illegally installed.

A fault in the ceiling fan could cause the entire unit to become electrically live with the potential to kill someone who touchs it, not to mention there would be the risk that the fault could cause a fire as well.

pctek

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Reply # 886572 29-Aug-2013 15:12

gregmcc:
pctek: Ceiling: Black is your hot wire. Red goes to the light fixture.

White is neutral.

The light and fan can both be connected to the red wire and the switch
will operate them as long as they are turned on in the fixture. If the
fan is to be operated all the time, connect it to the black and the
light to the red.

Works fine, have had ours like that for years....

And as you have not mentioned the green wire I would assume that there isn't one and therefore illegally installed.

A fault in the ceiling fan could cause the entire unit to become electrically live with the potential to kill someone who touchs it, not to mention there would be the risk that the fault could cause a fire as well.

As it has only been there 23 years, I'll keep that in mind and worry soon.