Ceiling Fan and 3 way switches

[Witterbound]

I've got a ceiling fan with a light. I've got it wired to two switches, that are three way switches, which right now control only the light. The fan isn't wired up. I want to make each switch just a single switch. One for the light, and one for the fan. Can I do it?

[TnAndy]

Yes. IF you want to know how, you'll need to tell me WHERE the power comes in....it can be on either of the two existing switches, OR at the light/fan.

Cut the power to the circuit, pull the two switches out ( leave wires attached ), and look for a 2 conductor cable ( black/white + grd ) along with a 3 conductor cable ( black, red, white + grd ) in ONE of the two boxes with the switches. The black of the 2 conductor should go to the switch in that box...it will be on a black screw, or marked "common" on the back of the switch.

If that's the case, report back.

If NEITHER of the switches has a black FROM A 2 CONDUCTOR CABLE on it, then the power feed is at the light, by default. You'll need to do a little more investigating if that's the case, but we'll save that for now.

[Oldcountryboy]

If you drop the ceiling fan off the ceiling box, you should be able to see how many conductors (wires) are in the box. If you have just one cable coming into the ceiling box with just a black and white wire (and bare copper wire), then you will need to run another cable back to the 3 way switch box that has live power all the time.

In fact, if you just go ahead and run a 14-2 nm cable from your fan box back to the 3 way switch box that has the live power, then you will be able to just add another wall switch and still keep your 3 way switches in both locations. You might have to cut the old box out and add a bigger box. For instance, if you only have one switch by the door you can cut the old box out and add a 2 gang box, one switch will be your existing 3 way for the light and the second switch will be your new single pole switch for the fan.

They also make a combination dual 3 way switch/single pole switch that would fit in a one gang box. A receptacle plate would fit for the cover. The switch device is very expensive but might be worth not having to replace a one gang box or two gang box with a bigger box.

[Witterbound]

Tnandy, I'll check it out tonight. Thanks.

[oregon woodsmok]

Just installed one.

Bought a remote control switch for it. One part of the switch goes inside the fan, comes with a wiring diagram. The other part replaces the light switch. It has buttons for light and for fan speeds. Very easy. Works quite well.

Summer/ winter switch of the blade direction has to be done by getting up on a ladder and flipping the switch on the fan.

[Witterbound]

The power is at one of the switches. The wires from the fan also run into this box.

[TnAndy]

OK...lets be CLEAR. You have a 12/2 ( or 14/2 ) black/white ( forget the ground for now ) in one box, and a 12/3 ( or 14/3 ) black/red/white in the box ? That correct ??

And in the other box, you have ONLY a 12/3 ??

IF that is correct, then the black of the 12/2 is the power feed wire, and the white is the neutral.

To use 2 single pole switches, one to control the fan, and one to control the light ( in the other box where you now have a 3way, which is what I understood you want to do ), do this:

1. Remove both 3 way switches.

2. Use a short pc of black wire ( like 6" ), and wire nut it along with the BLACK wire of the 12/3 to the BLACK wire of the 12/2 ( the "hot" ). Connect the RED wire of the 12/3 to one terminal of a single pole switch, connect the pigtail to the other terminal. You now have a switch controlled RED wire of the 12/3....and power ALL the time on the black wire of the 12/3.

3. At the other box. Connect the black wire to a terminal on a single pole switch. Connect the RED wire to the other pole. The white wire, you can roll up...won't be used at this switch.

Now, at the ceiling box.

1. Connect the BLACK wire of the 12/3 coming from the first switch to the BLACK wire going down to the other switch with a wire nut. Right now, the black wire is probably connected the to the white wire at the light, and the black wire from switch #2 is probably connected to the black wire of the fan/light. These two need to be wire nutted ONLY together with no other wires. This takes power from your feed over to switch #2.

Now connect the red wire from one switch to the light, and the red wire from the other switch to the fan.....the reds are now "switch legs"......hot when you flip the single pole switch ON ( up ).

The white wire from switch #2, roll up and not used.

The white wire from switch #1, connect to the white of the fan/lights.

Then the other end of that same wire, in box #1, connect to the white of the 12/2 to complete the neutral.

You now have a single pole switch on one side of the room controlling the fan, and the other switch for the light.

There is also a way to use switch box #2 and a duplex single pole switch to control BOTH the fan and light from that side ( using that extra white ) IF you're interested.....no adding new wires, no expanding the box size itself....if you're interested.
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