How to Wire an Exhaust Fan & Light

If you want to replace that noisy bathroom fan but don't want to pay an electrician to do it, don't worry--with some basic tools you can easily do it yourself by following the steps outlined here. You'll learn two methods in this article: Use the first method if the power source comes in at the fan/light and the second method if the power source comes in at the switch. Both methods use a double switch so that the fan and light may be operated independently.

Things You'll Need

• Double switch 12-gauge three-wire cable Voltage tester Screwdriver Wire cutter Wire stripper Insulated wire connectors Pliers Black electrical tape

Instructions

Instructions

1. Go to the service panel and turn off power to the circuit you will be working on. If there is already a switch installed, return to the switch and remove the cover. Check all wires for current with your voltage tester. If there is a white wire connected to the switch--with or without black tape wrapped around it-- follow the instructions in step two. If there is no white wire connected to the switch, follow the instructions in step four.

2. The power supply connects to the fan/light: Run the three-wire cable between the light and the switch if it isn't already installed. Connect the white wire from the power supply to the white wires from the fan and the light. Connect the black wire from the power supply to the white wire of the cable connected to the switch. Wrap a piece of black electrical tape around each end of this white wire to indicate that it is a hot wire rather than a neutral wire. Connect the black wire from the switch to the black wire from the fan and the red wire from the switch to the remaining wire from the light.

3. At the switch, the white wire from the fan/light should be connected to the side that has one connection, and the black and red wires should be connected on the other side.

4. The power supply connects to the switch: Run the three-wire cable between the light and the switch if it isn't already installed. Connect the black wire from the power supply to the side of the switch with one connection and the white wire from the power supply to the white wire of the cable connected to the fan/light. Connect the black and red wires from the fan/light to the other side of the switch. At the fan, connect black to black and whites to white. The red wire from the switch connects to the remaining wire, whether it is blue or red.

5. Connect all bare or green wires together and to the boxes if they are metal. Any green screws on the switch or fan/light should also be connected to the bare wires. Screw insulated connectors over all wire connections.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have a choice, connect the power from the service panel to the switch first, not the light. This makes any maintenance and repair easier.

• If the fan is in the shower/bath area, a GFCI circuit breaker is required on that circuit at the service panel. To avoid having to get out of the shower in a pitch-black bathroom if the GFCI breaker trips, there should be another light source in the bathroom that is on a different circuit.