Many compact or portable appliances do not need dedicated circuits. Examples include portable fans, ceiling fans, countertop cookers, food processors and small space heaters.
Circuit – Ceiling fans can be installed on general lighting circuits in most cases. Some larger fans may require their own dedicated circuit. Wall switch – The wall switch control must be rated for ceiling fans if it will be used to operate the fan.
Simplified Control and Convenience
Consolidating multiple ceiling fans onto a single switch offers the convenience of centralized control. Instead of searching for and operating multiple switches, you can easily adjust the speed and lighting settings of all the fans simultaneously.
There's really no problem in replacing an existing light fixture with a ceiling fan in terms of the electrical needs. But what you really have to be careful of is to make sure the electrical box that the light fixture is attached to will support the extra weight of the ceiling fan.
Both the light and fan (one fixture) should be on the same circuit. The neutral wire is shared between them in the fixture wiring harness and will be likewise in the electrical circuit(s).
A fan with or without lights can be wired into an existing lighting circuit and is a simple DIY job.
You can just cap the red wire with a small wire nut and ignore the switch on the wall. Pull and twist and the wires will likely pop out (the reason backstabs like this are not reliable). If they're torn up or won't come out then snip and restrip.
You can learn how to install a ceiling fan without existing wiring by doing the prep work yourself and hiring an electrician to run the wiring. Don't let a lack of wiring keep you from finding a ceiling fan that suits your needs and saving yourself some of the project's cost.
Inspect the existing junction box to make sure it's rated for ceiling fans. There should be an inscription on the ceiling fan box to indicate this. The box is usually metal. If not, replace it with a fan-rated junction box and a fan brace between the ceiling joist to help support the fan's weight.
There should be no problem running 4 ceiling fans on a single 15 ampere circuit, though it will depend on what else is on the circuit. Say a 52" fan is 90-100 watts (at high speed), plus three 60 watt bulbs. That puts each fixture at 280 watts or so. Which means four of them, would be 1120 watts.
If the red and black wires are part of the ceiling fan, then they may be provided to allow separate connections of power to the fan motor and to a fan light. If that is the situation, then it MAY be acceptable to connect them both together and power everything from the same source.
For a ceiling fan, you'll typically need a specific type of light switch that accommodates both the fan and its lighting components. There are a few common options: Single Switch with Pull Chains: Many ceiling fans come with built-in pull chains for both the fan and the light.
Wiring a Fan or Light Without Switches
For rooms without switches, ceiling fan remotes can alleviate the need of using a pull chain. Connect the white wires (neutral wires) from your fan and ceiling together.
A professional electrician is fully trained in maintaining wiring structures properly. They know how to mount and balance ceiling fans safely. Especially if a ceiling doesn't provide ample structural support or has weak plaster, a ceiling fan can be wobbly if it's installed by an amateur.
The red wire is generally used to switch the fan on and the black for the light in the fan, or vise versa, using 2 switches in the wall. If you have a remote receiver in the fan housing it takes the place of the 2 wall switches so you only need 1 hot wire (in this case black) to power the remote receiver.
Most building codes require ceiling fans to be mounted on special fan-rated boxes made of metal or strong plastic with deep-threaded holes for the mounting screws. The box must be mounted firmly by attaching it directly to a framing member or using a fan-rated brace.
If you do not have attic access, this can complicate your ceiling fan installation. A professional electrician should add electrical circuits if these are necessary. For dependable ceiling fan installation, repair, or maintenance, you can trust our experts at US Electric to get the job done right.
Without extra support, your ceiling fan will probably fall out and rip right through the drywall. A ceiling fan support brace reinforces the structural integrity of a junction box so the fan stays in place.
Many compact or portable appliances do not need dedicated circuits. Examples include portable fans, ceiling fans, countertop cookers, food processors and small space heaters.
Today, ceiling fans have become more advanced, coming equipped with technology that allows for wireless and remote operation. These sophisticated ceiling fans are called smart ceiling fans. They are also sometimes called automated fans, fans that feature smart technology, or app-enabled residential fans.
Without the red wire, the light and fan would turn on and off together from a single wall switch.
Red wire – hot
Typically, they connect smoke detectors in the house's power system. When the alarm goes off, red wires help ensure that all alarms sound off as well. Ceiling fan installations have red wires near light switches. Electricians can connect a black and a red wire or even two red wires.
If you decide to go with a pro, the total cost to remove a ceiling fan is around $100 to $500, depending on the type and number of ceiling fans you have.