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3,165 Posts
So, Zstopa, kudos for trying to figure it out. But..... you've got a couple problems:
1. You are burning a lot of calories for a ceiling fan that could be replaced for $75. Part of DIY is learning/playing/taking things apart. But part of DIY is also knowing when to call it a day, park your ceiling fan on your tool bench, and walk away. I've pried apart many a defective item for fun, but some things don't merit fixing.
2. Your plan to have a switch control the light and chain control the fan is going to fail unless you have the right combo of wires in your switch box. If you only have a switch loop at the switch or if you only have the old wiring (shown in the picture) at the switch - then your plan will likely result in a switch that can turn the both fan and light on and off. But not independent action, unless you futz around with the control boxes inside the fan canopy. There are other ways to accomplish what you want to do, but pending confirmation that the fan isn't destined for the dump.... See #1 or #3
3. The problem with cheap things (like your made-in-china fan from the big box store) is that when they fail they tend to end up costing you more than a better quality item would have in the first place (how's that for one convoluted abuse of the english language :wink
. You will have to find out what part of the fan failed - something BROKE - hence the sparks/smoke/etc.
Rewiring or reconnecting your jBox and switch is not going to fix whatever went poof.
And, if one thing went poof, it may not have been the only point of failure.
And, just to be a REAL stick in the mud... are you renting? able to do electrical work in your jurisdiction? do you have HOer's/renter's insurance?
There are REAL SAFETY ISSUES at stake here. Old wiring + inexperience = MAJOR FIRE RISK.
Don't let our flippant comments discourage you. Just know that most on the best part of the forum (electrical) are just trying to help you do it right or to save you from the same mistakes we have made.....
1. You are burning a lot of calories for a ceiling fan that could be replaced for $75. Part of DIY is learning/playing/taking things apart. But part of DIY is also knowing when to call it a day, park your ceiling fan on your tool bench, and walk away. I've pried apart many a defective item for fun, but some things don't merit fixing.
2. Your plan to have a switch control the light and chain control the fan is going to fail unless you have the right combo of wires in your switch box. If you only have a switch loop at the switch or if you only have the old wiring (shown in the picture) at the switch - then your plan will likely result in a switch that can turn the both fan and light on and off. But not independent action, unless you futz around with the control boxes inside the fan canopy. There are other ways to accomplish what you want to do, but pending confirmation that the fan isn't destined for the dump.... See #1 or #3
3. The problem with cheap things (like your made-in-china fan from the big box store) is that when they fail they tend to end up costing you more than a better quality item would have in the first place (how's that for one convoluted abuse of the english language :wink
. You will have to find out what part of the fan failed - something BROKE - hence the sparks/smoke/etc.Rewiring or reconnecting your jBox and switch is not going to fix whatever went poof.
And, if one thing went poof, it may not have been the only point of failure.
And, just to be a REAL stick in the mud... are you renting? able to do electrical work in your jurisdiction? do you have HOer's/renter's insurance?
There are REAL SAFETY ISSUES at stake here. Old wiring + inexperience = MAJOR FIRE RISK.
Don't let our flippant comments discourage you. Just know that most on the best part of the forum (electrical) are just trying to help you do it right or to save you from the same mistakes we have made.....
