How To Wire A Ceiling Light With A Wall Switch

Adding a wall switch to a ceiling fixture can be done in a matter of hours.

How to wire a ceiling light with a wall switch.

Split the incoming hot wire into a y and connect it to a terminal on each switch. If the wall is heavily insulated push conduit through the insulation and then feed wires or cable through the conduit. The fan has power when the switch is on while the fan speed and the light if the fan has one are controlled by pull chains on the fan itself or by a remote control device. It should be 48 from the floor.

Because the electrical code as of the 2011 nec update requires a neutral wire in most new switch boxes a 3 wire cable runs between the light and switch. Cut out the traced hole with an oscillating saw. Pick a single pole light switch for most applications. With single switch wiring power to the fan is controlled by a standard single pole wall switch like a regular light switch.

Common applications include ceiling or hallway light switches a cellar or attic light a ceiling fan or chandelier or an outdoor patio light. Connect white wires together. Determine a location for the light switch. The wiring trick that lets you wire a ceiling fan with light to one switch.

Connect the blue wire to the red wire. A single pole wall switch usually has a lever or toggle that completes the circuit when it is flipped up to turn a light device or appliance on. This is an updated version of the first arrangement. To do this method the wire from your wall circuit to your light has to have 3 wires.

The biggest challenge is planning the cable route and running it from the fixture to the new wall switch position. That second wire is usually blue or red. The ceiling light fixture requires a neutral for the light to work and your wall switch box does not have a neutral wire available so additional wiring will be required to obtain the neutral wire from the outlet. The red and black are used for hot and the white neutral wire at the switch box allows for powering a timer remote control or other programmable switch.

Connect black fan wire to the black ceiling wire. Now for the trick. In the switch box. The ceiling fan will have a black wire and another non white wire.

Ceiling fan connection light wired to light switch fan on off with pull chain the wiring diagram above is for typical installation wiring light is switched the fan is powered by a pull chain once you have found and identified all of the wires on your fan and in your electrical box you can get to work on connecting them. Trace the electrical box for the switch and cut it out the same way as the mounting box.