How to wire this exhaust fan.

[Hydrastas 10+ year member]

Lately i've been updating my bathroom and i've come across an electrical problem. In my bathroom there are wires ran for the light and one for an outlet. I've put in an exaust fan and was wondering how the hell to wire it. I tried wiring it outside the light switch and the problem was that when i turned on the switch, the light would come on and the fan would as well, but when i turned off the switch the light would go off and the fan would stay on... If i were to wire the fan at the switch itself, would that cause both the fan and the light to come on and off at the same time? I'm used to dc, so ac is not my specialty. The way that the light is wired is that there is always power running through the light, and the switch just opens that circuit, i'm thinking that if i put the exhaust + and - with the lights at the switch, that the fan will still always be on, but i'm not sure.

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[wesl56 10+ year member]

man can you clarify some? thats confusing as hell... why dont you just run a new wire from the fan to the box where the lightswitch is, and add in a new switch for the fan? its a bathroom so it should be pretty small so fairly easy to do, right?

 

[Decipha 10+ year member]

nope if you wire it like that through the switch it will go off with the lights and come on with the lights, if the exhaust fan is connected to a constant power source disconnect a side and run it through the switch for the light

^^or you can do as he said and run a new switch just for the fan

 

[theCybe 5,000+ posts]

A new switch would be the best option for a good install, but as far as workability, it just sounds to me like you've wired it to the wrong poles in the switch.

 

[tanky321 10+ year member]

The fan and light should plug into outlets built into the fixture itself. One will be black and one is white. Use two switches if you want them to come on seperatly. Which is probably your best bet. I drew up a schematic for you the solid wire is the black the spotted wire is the neutral(White). Just wire it like this. Using wirenuts. If you just want one switch to control both just wire nut the two whites together and the two blacks together at the fan itself. Hope this helps.