Changing existing bathroom fan/light wiring
02-22-2006, 09:12 AM
#1
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Changing existing bathroom fan/light wiring
The builder installed a bathroom fan with a light in each bathroom where there is a tub/shower.
But they wired the light and fan together on one switch. So if we go into the bathroom to simply get a towel and turn on the light, the fan comes on with it.
My question is... I know you can wire these units (both are made by Broan), so that you can have the light on one switch, the fan on another.
But based on the instructions, I can't tell if I have to get into the attic to get after the wiring, of if I can get at things from the bathroom?
Does anyone know? I guess I can go look, but I was curious...
But they wired the light and fan together on one switch. So if we go into the bathroom to simply get a towel and turn on the light, the fan comes on with it.
My question is... I know you can wire these units (both are made by Broan), so that you can have the light on one switch, the fan on another.
But based on the instructions, I can't tell if I have to get into the attic to get after the wiring, of if I can get at things from the bathroom?
Does anyone know? I guess I can go look, but I was curious...
02-22-2006, 09:27 AM
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Yup you absolutely can. On page 3 there is the wiring schematic that shows how to wire it so you can have one switch for the fan and one for the light. You'll more than likely need to get into the attic to run another wire.
However, check out the switch first before you do that. Shut off the power to that circuit and pull the switch out of the wall. See if there are two sets of wires coming from the fan unit. They may have just run both sets to the single pole outlet. If so, it's as simple as getting a switch that can control both the fan and the light or go with two separate switches.
However, check out the switch first before you do that. Shut off the power to that circuit and pull the switch out of the wall. See if there are two sets of wires coming from the fan unit. They may have just run both sets to the single pole outlet. If so, it's as simple as getting a switch that can control both the fan and the light or go with two separate switches.
02-22-2006, 09:53 AM
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I'm replacing the two exhaust fans in my upstairs bathrooms with heat/fan/light models and I need to run new wiring and add one of these to control all three settings.
02-22-2006, 11:49 AM
#5
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Originally Posted by NSXNEXT
Yup you absolutely can. On page 3 there is the wiring schematic that shows how to wire it so you can have one switch for the fan and one for the light. You'll more than likely need to get into the attic to run another wire.
However, check out the switch first before you do that. Shut off the power to that circuit and pull the switch out of the wall. See if there are two sets of wires coming from the fan unit. They may have just run both sets to the single pole outlet. If so, it's as simple as getting a switch that can control both the fan and the light or go with two separate switches.
However, check out the switch first before you do that. Shut off the power to that circuit and pull the switch out of the wall. See if there are two sets of wires coming from the fan unit. They may have just run both sets to the single pole outlet. If so, it's as simple as getting a switch that can control both the fan and the light or go with two separate switches.
Thanks Neil. I seem to recall poking in there when I was painting the bathroom and didn't see anything that would lead me to believe it would be a simple change of a switch.
I'll keep you posted.
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02-22-2006, 11:59 AM
#8
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Originally Posted by TLuscious
not worth fixing you will have to redo drywall after finding the wires in the wall then spliting them. Can you just live with it.
How do you figure?
All the wires run through conduit. Shouldn't be a big deal at all.
02-22-2006, 12:24 PM
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Originally Posted by TLuscious
not worth fixing you will have to redo drywall after finding the wires in the wall then spliting them. Can you just live with it.
Huh?
It's an upstairs bathroom and he has an attic. All he has to do is climb up in the attic, trace the wire from the fan to the stud pocket it goes down and run another wire to the switch.Splitting wires? Might wanna stay away from the electricity.
02-22-2006, 01:33 PM
#10
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Originally Posted by TLuscious
not worth fixing you will have to redo drywall after finding the wires in the wall then spliting them. Can you just live with it.
The men are talking here... don't you have something to do in the kitchen 
02-22-2006, 01:51 PM
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Originally Posted by GreenMonster
The men are talking here... don't you have something to do in the kitchen
02-22-2006, 02:15 PM
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Originally Posted by NSXNEXT
Huh? It's an upstairs bathroom and he has an attic. All he has to do is climb up in the attic, trace the wire from the fan to the stud pocket it goes down and run another wire to the switch.
Splitting wires? Might wanna stay away from the electricity.
It's an upstairs bathroom and he has an attic. All he has to do is climb up in the attic, trace the wire from the fan to the stud pocket it goes down and run another wire to the switch.Splitting wires? Might wanna stay away from the electricity.
By the way I got a big sandwich right between my legs for you perv!
02-22-2006, 02:19 PM
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Originally Posted by TLuscious
How was I to know that it was not in his post.
Originally Posted by Scrib
The builder installed a bathroom fan with a light in each bathroom where there is a tub/shower.
But they wired the light and fan together on one switch. So if we go into the bathroom to simply get a towel and turn on the light, the fan comes on with it.
My question is... I know you can wire these units (both are made by Broan), so that you can have the light on one switch, the fan on another.
But based on the instructions, I can't tell if I have to get into the attic to get after the wiring, of if I can get at things from the bathroom?
Does anyone know? I guess I can go look, but I was curious...
But they wired the light and fan together on one switch. So if we go into the bathroom to simply get a towel and turn on the light, the fan comes on with it.
My question is... I know you can wire these units (both are made by Broan), so that you can have the light on one switch, the fan on another.
But based on the instructions, I can't tell if I have to get into the attic to get after the wiring, of if I can get at things from the bathroom?
Does anyone know? I guess I can go look, but I was curious...
02-22-2006, 02:30 PM
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Originally Posted by TLuscious
Ok genius where exactly does it say he has access to his attic??
Originally Posted by Scrib
But based on the instructions, I can't tell if I have to get into the attic to get after the wiring, of if I can get at things from the bathroom?
Since he already has a wire from the switch to the fan, all he has to do is disconnect it from the switch, attach two more pieces of Romex to it and pull it up from the fan.
02-22-2006, 02:36 PM
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Originally Posted by TLuscious
good luck looks like these blowhards have you all fixed up!
1 - Quit crapping up
thread.2 - Post something useful or get back in the kiddie pool.
02-22-2006, 02:42 PM
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Originally Posted by NSXNEXT
1 - Quit crapping up thread.
2 - Post something useful or get back in the kiddie pool.
thread.2 - Post something useful or get back in the kiddie pool.
got to have the last word dont you!
Im out.
02-22-2006, 03:05 PM
#19
Hey Scrib, I guess they didn't pull a 3-wire Romex from fan to switch, did they? Odds are probably no, but we do this for a fan like this or for just a fan/no light just in case the owner wants to add a fan/light.
But a lot of builders don't do this I know. NSXNEXT has the right idea it sounds like, but I can't think of a reason to run two different peices of 2-wire Romex. Running one peice of 3-wire and sharing the neutral should work the exact same way. It's just a lot less work and less wire crowding your box.
And I'm just curious, do they have the wire behind the wall in conduit, or the wire in the attic? Or both?
But a lot of builders don't do this I know. NSXNEXT has the right idea it sounds like, but I can't think of a reason to run two different peices of 2-wire Romex. Running one peice of 3-wire and sharing the neutral should work the exact same way. It's just a lot less work and less wire crowding your box.
And I'm just curious, do they have the wire behind the wall in conduit, or the wire in the attic? Or both?
02-22-2006, 03:56 PM
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Can we ban that annoying card reading bitch? 
Sweet on having conduit run through the house...thats the way to do it. Good Luck.
Sweet on having conduit run through the house...thats the way to do it. Good Luck.
02-22-2006, 04:52 PM
#23
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Originally Posted by Scrib
Everything is run in conduit, so it'll be no big deal to pull a new wire and add a double switch.
Conduit is code... No Romex.
Conduit is code... No Romex.
We can get away with romex in MA (well on existing stuff at least, don't know about new construction).
02-22-2006, 07:16 PM
#24
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The news isn't good.
I checked the box, and it's only wired for a single pole... Hot and common coming in... Blue and black on the switch... Nothng else.
I'll have to get up in the attic to check things out at some point... and maybe start tearing out the drywall...
I checked the box, and it's only wired for a single pole... Hot and common coming in... Blue and black on the switch... Nothng else.
I'll have to get up in the attic to check things out at some point... and maybe start tearing out the drywall...
02-22-2006, 07:41 PM
#25
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Just took the fan apart... Doesn't look like I'll have to get in the attic after all.
As suspected, the builder tied the light and fan together and brought the combined hot down to the post. All I need is another wire nut and a double switch... Running off to Home Depot to pick it up... Right after my business call with China.
As suspected, the builder tied the light and fan together and brought the combined hot down to the post. All I need is another wire nut and a double switch... Running off to Home Depot to pick it up... Right after my business call with China.
02-22-2006, 09:12 PM
#27
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WTF... I only saw single and three-pole switches. And I got there with 30 seconds before they closed.
I have to figure out how a three-pole works... I'm confused.
I have to figure out how a three-pole works... I'm confused.
02-22-2006, 09:51 PM
#29
Originally Posted by Scrib
Everything is run in conduit, so it'll be no big deal to pull a new wire and add a double switch.
Conduit is code... No Romex.
Conduit is code... No Romex.
02-23-2006, 07:32 AM
#30
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Originally Posted by Scottman111
No Romex eh, what parts of the house is that in?
02-23-2006, 07:53 AM
#31
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Originally Posted by Scottman111
What are you confused about Scrib? I can prolly help I think I figured it out.
Right now, I have one switch. The hot (black) comes into the switch, and the fan/light wire (blue) is tied into the switch. Common runs up to the unit.
I need a double switch so that I can control the fan and light seperately. But I'm a bit confused on how the this would work.
I have no problem running another wire from the fan/light and seperating the sources. Right now the fan and light and tied together in the unit.
So let's say I get the two wires down into the box (Blue for the Fan, Red for the light)...
How do I wire these into a double switch?
Does the hot (black) go into one of the posts? Or do I need to run it into both posts on the switch? Following me? Does the black need to be pigtailed or jumped or can it be put into one?
02-23-2006, 08:34 AM
#32
Turn the power off at the breaker!!
Seperate the light and fan wires where they are connected together and run a second wire from the fan/light to the box. You now have two wires running to the ceiling-the blue one and the new one. Hook each of them up to a switch output so that one goes to the fan, the other to the light. (Usually blue is light).
Use the same source (black) for both switches. Some switches tie the input together internally, some need a jumper-it depends on what you have.
Turn the power back on and check for smoke.
Seperate the light and fan wires where they are connected together and run a second wire from the fan/light to the box. You now have two wires running to the ceiling-the blue one and the new one. Hook each of them up to a switch output so that one goes to the fan, the other to the light. (Usually blue is light).
Use the same source (black) for both switches. Some switches tie the input together internally, some need a jumper-it depends on what you have.
Turn the power back on and check for smoke.
02-23-2006, 10:40 AM
#33
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Originally Posted by Zippee
Use the same source (black) for both switches. Some switches tie the input together internally, some need a jumper-it depends on what you have.
Turn the power back on and check for smoke.
02-23-2006, 11:44 PM
#36
Sorry I wasn't around to help Scrib, this is the first time I've been on today. Glad you figured it out though.
And BTW, when are you gonna do that work in your living room? (adding some lights if I'm not mistaken)
And BTW, when are you gonna do that work in your living room?
(adding some lights if I'm not mistaken)
02-24-2006, 07:37 AM
#37
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Originally Posted by Scottman111
And BTW, when are you gonna do that work in your living room?
(adding some lights if I'm not mistaken)I really don't know how I'm going to be able to do it cleanly. It really looks like too difficult a project to pull off correctly.
02-27-2006, 02:00 PM
#38
Originally Posted by Scrib
I really don't know how I'm going to be able to do it cleanly. It really looks like too difficult a project to pull off correctly.
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