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-   -   Adding a light kit to ceiling fan w/ light & dimmer switch (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=246886)

  • Aug 8, 2008, 04:30 PM
    Schufly
    Adding a light kit to ceiling fan w/ light & dimmer switch
    I would like to add a light kit to a ceiling fan(cannot find a name on it) that is currently hooked and working up in our family room - since we moved in 6 years ago (house was built in 1991).

    I would like this to operate like our bedroom ceiling fan (which already has a light attached) and both rooms have the same type of light switch. On the left is a regular light switch (this operates the light on the fan for our bedroom & in the family room it operates anything plugged into the lower oulets in the room.) To the right of the light switch is a round dimmer switch that operates the fan speed in both rooms - it clicks around to adjust the speed.

    I am not taking down the ceiling fan (unless I have to because it's a battle at 5'3"!), but rather attaching the light kit to it. I have tried several attachments and cannot seem to get the light to turn on using the light switch; it only turns on with the fan using the dimmer switch.

    The light kit has the basic white and black wires to be attached. The fan on the other hand has one of each of the following colors: black, blue, white, brown, orange & red.

    Like I said above, I would like the fan to continue to run off the dimmer, but the light to turn on using the switch.

    Please help me! :) And if possible, please keep explanations basic in their terms rather than technical - my knowledge is strictly that of a lay person (trial & error/educated guesses.) Thank you in advance for some speedy help :)
  • Aug 8, 2008, 05:56 PM
    ceilingfanrepair
    You can't do this without taking down the fan, and running extra wires from the fan to the switch (or the outlets).
  • Aug 8, 2008, 06:00 PM
    Schufly
    Is it possible that the wiring for this already exists? If I take down the ceiling fan, is there a way to tell whether the wiring is already set up this way? (the same way it is upstairs in the bedroom).
  • Aug 8, 2008, 06:05 PM
    ceilingfanrepair
    I would bet it's not there, because the switch controls the outlets, as opposed to controlling nothing (indicating an unused wire in the fan box).

    But if you take the fan down, note how many wires are in the box above it.

    Ceiling fan wiring - Ceiling Fans N More

    Oh, BTW, at the bottom of the fan, there should be a pair of wires not connected to anything. White and blue?
  • Aug 8, 2008, 06:15 PM
    Schufly
    Because there was no light attached to the fan before, none of the six wires are attached to anything... black, blue, white, brown, orange & red.
  • Aug 8, 2008, 07:12 PM
    ceilingfanrepair
    A light only takes two wires. Only two wires should be free. The rest should all be connected to something.

    Send a picture.
  • Aug 7, 2012, 07:03 AM
    Nathaniel B
    How can I convert a new ceiling fan to use a dimmer switch please?

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