Replacing ceiling fan with 2-way wall switch

577 Views 5 Replies 6 Participants Last post by diyorpay, Mar 4, 2020

bytheshore

Discussion Starter · Mar 4, 2020

I'm replacing a ceiling fan that is wired to a wall switch with separate switches for the fan and the light. I want to keep the wiring that way.

My question is, what do I shop for? Almost no fans call out their compatibility for a 2-way switch.

Can all fans be wired that way, or do they have to be specifically configured as such?

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Nealtw

· #2 · Mar 4, 2020

bytheshore said:
I'm replacing a ceiling fan that is wired to a wall switch with separate switches for the fan and the light. I want to keep the wiring that way.

My question is, what do I shop for? Almost no fans call out their compatibility for a 2-way switch.

Can all fans be wired that way, or do they have to be specifically configured as such?

I have not seen one that does not have separate wires for light and fan.

If you didn't have 2 switches you just put them together.

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joed

· #3 · Mar 4, 2020

If it has a light and a fan it will work with two switches.
Some units have remotes but I believe they can all be removed for switch operation.

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HandyAndyInNC

· #4 · Mar 4, 2020

Just to be clear. There is no such thing as a 2-way switch. There are single pole, 3-way and 4-way switches. 3-way switches have 2 distinct switches, 4-way switches have 3 distinct switches. Each can have any number of lighting or power devices attached.

What you have is a single pole switch, one for each function in the fan. You may use (2) distinct single pole switches, or you may use (2) physical switches built into a single device.

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rjniles

· #5 · Mar 4, 2020

Just do not buy a fan with an integrated remote. Any thing else will have separate wiring for light and fan

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diyorpay

· #6 · Mar 4, 2020 (Edited)

At the ceiling box will be 3 or 4 wires from 2 separate wall switches. Usually a Black, a Red (or another Black) and a White (or 2). The Black and the Red (or another Black) are the hot supply, one from each switch.

Fan/Light combos typically have 3 wires: Black (fan), Blue (Light) and white. You have 2 separate 'devices' wired to their own single pole switch.

At ceiling: all Whites together/capped. Black to Black/capped. Red (or other Black) to Blue/capped.

What are you giving up? Presently from wall switches: Fan ON or OFF only. Light ON or OFF only.

Substitute a fan switch for 1 wall switch: OFF/ON plus gain speeds of fan at switch, possibly reverse fan direction. No more having to yank a chain. Substitute a light dimmer for other wall switch: OFF/ON plus full range dimming.

Buy the remote kind with a receiver and sender and every feature is done by remote. At switches location, there will be no live switches. They will be always ON or wiring jumped to always ON and switches are dummies to fill the wall slot.

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