Electrical advise - Wiring ceiling fan to light switch

Linkex

Linkex

Linkex

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So this weekend mini project was installing a ceiling fan - not really messed around with a ceiling light before beyond changing the bulb, but I did the appropriate research and it all went reasonably well.

The problem I now have is that the fan was not designed to have a light switch in the mix - its a standard 9 wire job coming out the ceiling, so I have the 6 "circuit" wires going straight into the fans connectors, with the 3 wires from the switch taped up and unused.

I understand how the old ceiling rose works, so I know I could in theory connect up the fan and the wall switch using a similar set-up, however its designed to be mounted on the ceiling, not above it. I assume there is some kind of junction box designed to do the same job that can be pushed up into the ceiling, but I don't know what its called, so have not been able to successfully google it.


tl;dr - Need a box that takes in 9 ceiling wires, and spits out a live, neutral and earth, all controlled by the wall switch, that lives in the ceiling cavity.
 
Pics would be good. To connect the switch just connect the red from the switch cable with the 2 other reds together separate from the fan. Then connect the black from the switch to the live connector the reds were originally connected to.

(depending on how old your house is the colours may be brown/blue for L/N)

As for hiding stuff in the ceiling you can just come out of connector blocks in single cable tape up the blocks and push up into the ceiling void, although a junction box is the prefered method it is a bit awkward without lifting the floor/punching holes in the ceiling.
 
vonhelmet said:
Aren't you not allowed to do your own electrical work in this country any more?
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You are allowed, there is no gas safe type requirement yet for electrics unfortunately. You are however supposed to get any work carried out tested and certified, but not many people bother.


I will say again however, I would like electrical advice threads banned on this forum as there are so many bad bits of advice thrown about and bad/faulty electrics can and will kill.
 
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Firstly, there shouldn't be 3 wires from the switch unless you mean the red, black and earth?
Secondly, Chock block connectors are what you're after. These can be sliced individually into smaller blocks and pushed back into the hole in the ceiling if you wanted.

From me experience, i don't push the chock block connectors back into the ceiling if i can help it because if ever the wires come out, its a pain to get the block back out again.

Is there not enough room inside the fan base to stuff the connectors?
 
RobRX-7, I assume he means ln+e by the 3 same as he said 9 wires at the fitting. Also yea loosing a wire is a risk in the ceiling but asking ad the terminals are tight and taped over it should be ok, although a JB would be ideal, it's not always practical.
 
vonhelmet said:
Aren't you not allowed to do your own electrical work in this country any more?
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You're allowed to do DIY electrical work within your own house, certain electrical work requires notification to building control. Work in kitchens and bathrooms will generally require this, changing a light switch in the lounge perhaps not...

For bathrooms you need to be aware of zones and what can/can't be installed in each zone.

But essentially - the OP needs to notify building control and will (AFAIK) need to get it inspected.
 
MeEsH BaKkA said:
Pics would be good. To connect the switch just connect the red from the switch cable with the 2 other reds together separate from the fan. Then connect the black from the switch to the live connector the reds were originally connected to.

(depending on how old your house is the colours may be brown/blue for L/N)

As for hiding stuff in the ceiling you can just come out of connector blocks in single cable tape up the blocks and push up into the ceiling void, although a junction box is the prefered method it is a bit awkward without lifting the floor/punching holes in the ceiling.
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Perfect, thank you. Yes, there is space inside the fan base for this I think.

I'm curious where people who are talking about electrical safety draw the line? Is it safe to change a light bulb? A fuse? A plug? I wouldn't think twice about anyone doing any of these, and a ceiling light is not much more complex than a plug frankly.
 
Linkex said:
Perfect, thank you. Yes, there is space inside the fan base for this I think.

I'm curious where people who are talking about electrical safety draw the line? Is it safe to change a light bulb? A fuse? A plug? I wouldn't think twice about anyone doing any of these, and a ceiling light is not much more complex than a plug frankly.
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Messing around with fixed wiring usually, although depending on the person even a light switch can be too much. There are many rules as Dowie says that most people don't know about such as the 2 zones in bathrooms (17th ed change) and cables only being allowed to be run within 150mm of corners of the Walls in horizontal or vertical planes, only exception being to an accessory I.e light or switch, and again only horizontal or vertical to an from.
 
RobRX-7 said:
Firstly, there shouldn't be 3 wires from the switch unless you mean the red, black and earth?
Secondly, Chock block connectors are what you're after. These can be sliced individually into smaller blocks and pushed back into the hole in the ceiling if you wanted.

From me experience, i don't push the chock block connectors back into the ceiling if i can help it because if ever the wires come out, its a pain to get the block back out again.

Is there not enough room inside the fan base to stuff the connectors?
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If you are pushing the connectors back into the ceiling I must advise that they are properly contained in a junction box otherwise they can hit other stuff.

Also black and red aren't 17th ed so you should really sleeve them the proper colours.
 
joemo13 said:
If you are pushing the connectors back into the ceiling I must advise that they are properly contained in a junction box otherwise they can hit other stuff.

Also black and red aren't 17th ed so you should really sleeve them the proper colours.
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Top bit, Not if they are taped up properly as I said a JB is prefered but not always practical.

Bottom bit, yep you are right but if we are sticking to the regs he should also be competent and get a minor works done as well but I'm sure he won't ;)
Keep it simple to avoid confusion.
 
I forsee this thread turning into:-

spec me a treatment for 3rd degree electrical burns :D

I thought if you were re-doing wiring you needed to get it inspected or use a qualified person as the days of do it yourself electrics were over ?
 
wildman said:
I forsee this thread turning into:-

spec me a treatment for 3rd degree electrical burns :D

I thought if you were re-doing wiring you needed to get it inspected or use a qualified person as the days of do it yourself electrics were over ?
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Yo do, but most people tend not to bother. But if his house goes up in flames without him getting the wiring checked, this thread will backfire on him:)
 
You need to look at Part P of the Building Regs, Electrical work is notifiable depending on what you are doing. Changing a light fitting does not fall into this category.

I would always advise getting a qualified electrician to carry out the work, someone who is NIC approved and is qualified to carry out part P work.
 
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Wicksta said:
He's installing a ceiling fan, not doing a rewire. Calm yourself down.
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Directed at me?
So a badly installed ceiling fan is not a fire risk/covered by insurance/pose a shock hazard.

I have given the bloke the advice he needed to sort his fan, but have mentioned before that there is usually a load of rubbish/dangerous advice given on this forum, as there was a month or 2 ago in a thread on how to put up a light.
 
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