When you install a ceiling fan in place of an existing ceiling light, the obvious disadvantage is that you're losing that overhead lighting. The obvious solution is to get a fan with a light kit included as part of the unit. It's a little more complicated to wire than a basic fan, but it's not outside the abilities of an average homeowner. Make sure the electrical box in the ceiling is firm and immobile before you start. (If it isn't, consult a contractor before you install the fan.)
Instructions
1. Cut the electricity to the existing ceiling light, at the fuse box. Loosen the light fixture from the ceiling by removing the screws holding it to the electrical box. Lower it until you can disconnect the wires above it. Leave the white, black and bare copper ground wires hanging down from the box.
2. Find the mounting bracket that came with the new ceiling fan. Attach the bracket to the electrical box with the screws that came with it. Wrap the copper ground wire from the box around the green screw on the bracket.
3. Partly assemble the fan according to the instructions it came with, putting together everything except the blades. Carry the assembly up the ladder and set it close enough to the electrical box to connect the wires. (Note: On some models, there will be a hook on the mounting bracket, from which you can hang the fan unit, so it will dangle sideways off the ceiling, allowing connection of the wires.)
4. Connect the white wire from the fan to the white wire from the ceiling box, by twisting a wire cap around the ends of the two wires.
5. Connect the black (fan motor) wire from the fan, and the blue (light) wire from the fan, to the black wire from the box, by twisting a wire cap around the ends of all three wires together.
6. Raise the fan housing to the ceiling. Push wire connections up into the electrical box. Mount the fan housing to the mounting bracket with the screws it came with. Restore the electricity. If the fan motor and the light both work properly, install the fan blades with the provided screws.
Tags: wire from, came with, mounting bracket, around ends, ceiling light