Wiring a ceiling fan need not be as complicated as most people make it seem. Rather, it is an easy step-by-step process.
- Switch off the power. Remember you cannot work with the energy flowing through the cables. Switching off the power using a circuit breaker is therefore the first safety precaution you should take. In addition, most fans are better positioned where the chandeliers are since that is where the power outlets on your ceiling are. If there is no mid light fixture on your ceiling, then determine the central point where your fan will be.
- Take note of the wires that you will work with. If you have dismounted a light fixture, disconnect the wires and be sure to pair them accordingly when wiring the ceiling fan. Usually, there will one black wire, which is sued for the electric current and a neutral wire, which is mainly white. A third green wire may be present. This is a ground wire.
- Wiring the fan will require you to use the standard color coding. This means that you can only pair existing wires with similar ones from the fan. Pair the white wires with white, black to blue or black, green and green/bare copper. In most cases, the ground wire is attached to the junction box. If this is the case in your house, loosen the screws on the junction box, then intertwine the ground wire from the fan to the existing one and finally, tighten screws that hold the ground wires back.
Before finalizing the installation, ensure that you test whether the wiring is bringing electricity to the fan. Before doing this however, ensure that all the safety procedures are followed when switching the power back on. Remember to also check if the power for your chandeliers or bulbs is back on. After confirming this, tuck the splice back into the junction box and firmly secure the mounting plate that gives way to the fan’s outlet box. The next steps will involve connecting the fan blades and the light kit.
One of the best ways to ensure that wiring the ceiling fan does not cause you unnecessary anxiety is by reading the instruction manual that is provided by most fan manufacturers. A general rule when wiring the ceiling fan is to always connect same size wires and never to join different size wires. If the fan needs more power voltage than the ceiling power source can provide, consider connecting it directly to a volt plug that can handle its power requirements.