[jfguerrero1]

I changed out the exhaust fan, an old 25 year old model for a newer one yesterday. I did a simple swap. The new one has quick connects, but when I flipped the switch it tripped the 20 amp breaker. In the toilet area there is a 2-gang box with 2 switches, one for the light and one for the fan. The light continues to work, but when the fan switch is flipped to on it trips the breaker. The wiring is 12 guage from the switch to the fan. The fan has something different, but I don't think this should be causing a problem.

Don't understand why this is happening. Adding pictures of the new fan (box the fan came in) and quick connects.

Anyone have any ideas? Thanks in advance for your help,.

 

[joed]

Without knowing how you actually connected it, it's hard to say what is wrong.
It could be the cable clamp is too tight and causing a short.

 

[jfguerrero1]

Joed, thank you! I will look at that. I did tighten the cable clamp a bit tight. I had no idea that would cause a problem. I am adding another picture. This is the clamp you are saying may be too tight? If yes, how tight should these clamps be? Thanks again.

 

[HandyAndyInNC]

Snug to the wire.



Check the voltage at the fan box. Check continuity on the fan itself. I would cut off the quick plugs and twist the wires and then use a wire nut and tape.

 

[seharper]

Does the breaker have a TEST button on it?

 

[daveb1]

Does the power come to the fan first? Did you 'fix' the previous splice that was back to white?

 

[jfguerrero1]

Thank you all for your replies and especially to Joed and HandyAndyInNC. The problem was the clamp was on too tight. I loosened it to a 'snug' fit and all is well - problem resolved. I tried to reply from my iphone yesterday but could not.

 

[roughneck]

If the clamp was the issue, simply loosening it is not a fix. You’ll have to repair the wire that was damaged by over tightening it.

 

[jfguerrero1]

Thank you for the feedback roughneck. I'll take a look at this and pull the wiring through a few more inches to verify if there was any damage to the wiring under the clamp. Or, would there be damage in other areas in the wiring from the switch to the fan? Since I have the walls cutout already I can easily replace the entire wire from the switch to the fan - about 8 ft long. Would the damage be visible on the wiring jacket along the length of the wiring, (or under the clamp)?

 

[roughneck]

If it’s romex, and that’s where the short was, the damage could be to the inner conductor insulators or through the outer jacket as well.

 

[jfguerrero1]

Seems like my only option is to replace the entire wire from the switch to the fan then, since I can't inspect the inner conductor insulation. Thank you for your reply.

 

[roughneck]

Sure you can. There should be enough slack to pull more wire towards the fan junction box. Cut the outer jacket back and inspect.

 

[joed]

For a short to occur the insulation must have been pierced or cut. Definitely pull as much cable as you can into the box and check it.

 

[jfguerrero1]

I did not reply before, but thank you roughneck and joed for your input/advise. I did find that the overtightening had caused some damage in the cable jacket and the wires. I managed to pull the cable through about 6 inches, cut, and reconnect. The fan is working.

 

[roughneck]

Very good, now no worries about further trips from damaged wire (or worse).
Those clamps don’t need to be very tight at all.