Switch loop

Gratephul · 06-07-2012, 11:05 PM

Have a question ...Today I wired a ceiling fan using a switch leg in an attic that was powering a light fixture with a pull chain. The ceiling fan and light fixture are at the end of the cable run.

Basically i need to know the best way to reinstall the light fixture, because it obviously does not operate properly in that setup.

Was not sure if i could A) do a switch loop out of that junction box, to a new box, then to a new switch for the light or B) do a switch loop to the new fan switch.

My feeling is that I should leave the fan/light as they are, and look for a new source for the light.

Any advice would be appreciated.

joed · 06-07-2012, 11:18 PM

I do not understand what you had and what you want. I think you had a light fixture that had a pull chain.
Is the fan a replacement for the pull chain fixture? in the same box as the Pull chain? In a different box as the PC?
Do you want a switch for the light and the fan? two switches, one for each? a switch for the fan only?

What cables do you have? What cables did you add?

Gratephul · 06-07-2012, 11:28 PM

I installed a ceiling fan/light in a bedroom, ran 14/3 over to 2 new switches on the wall...one for the fan, one for the light. To power the switches, I tapped into an existing light fixture (with pull chain), in the attic. However i realized that the pull chain light was very dim, etc.

So i eliminated the light fixture(with pull chain) for the time being, and the fan and light fixture work great.

So in the morning i need to find a solution for the light fixture in the attic (the one with the pull chain).

jbfan · 06-07-2012, 11:35 PM

How did you wire the pull chain light back into the circuit?

A pull chain light dosen't use a switch loop.

Gratephul · 06-08-2012, 06:49 AM

I did not wire the pull chain fixture back in yet, that's really the question...how do i get the pull chain fixture back in there without affecting the new light/fan.

Thanks for the reply

hammerlane · 06-08-2012, 07:03 AM

AFter you installed the fan/light combo you say the pull chain lite in the attic was dim. Did the fan/lite combo function properly at this time. Or did the fan/lite combo function "great" only when you eliminated the pull chain lite?

A setup like below will work.

joed · 06-08-2012, 09:20 AM

In the PC fixture you should have two black connected, two whites connected and the grounds connected. Add a black and white pigtail to these bundles and connect them to the PC socket.

Gratephul · 06-08-2012, 10:36 AM

Thanks!...that was the problem; i had not pigtailed the neutral to the pull chain fixture.