Wiring a Ceiling Fan and Light for Home Automation GA S REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Smart & Connected Life > Smart Home

Wiring a Ceiling Fan and Light for Home Automation

Control ceiling fan blades and lights independently

By Ron Fritz Ron Fritz Writer Ron Fritz is former Lifewire writer and a computer technology writer with over 15 years of experience with information technology and home automation products. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on October 18, 2019 Tweet Share Email Spaces Images / Getty Images Tweet Share Email Smart Home Your Best Year Ever: College Tech Tips Amazon Appliances & Lighting Google The easy way to wire a ceiling fan is to use a single switch for both the fan and the lights. The switch then controls the fan and lights, and if independent control is desired, it is achieved through pull chains. This configuration limits home automation control of the fan and lights. By providing separate switch controls, the lights can be dimmed, and the fan can be started and stopped based on room temperature. When they are controlled by a single switch, everything is either on or off.

How Ceiling Fans Work

Ceiling fans with lights typically have four wires: black (fan hot), blue (light hot), white (neutral), and green (ground). When connecting both the fan and the light to a single switch, the black and blue wires from the fan are connected to the black wire from the switch using a twist-on wire connector. The white neutral wire is then connected to the white wire on the switch. When connecting the fan and the light to separate switches, connect the black “fan” wire to the black wire on one switch and the blue “light” wire to the black wire on the other switch. Because most electrical ceiling cable has three conductors, the blue “light” wire can be electrically connected to the switch through the red conductor in the ceiling cable. The last step is to connect the white neutral wire on the fan to the white wire in the ceiling cable and then to the white wires on each switch. Always turn off circuit power at the breaker before attempting any electrical wiring.

Home Automation Control of Ceiling Fans

Using two separate switches makes home automation control of the fan and light possible. Fan ceiling lights often use multiple bulbs, which are bright at full power. Configuring the light to work on its own switch allows you to use a home automation dimmer switch to vary the light intensity. Never place a fan on a dimmer switch, though, as this may cause the fan to hum. Configuring the fan to work on an on/off non-dimming switch allows home automation control of the fan. Wiring for independent control of the fan has many useful applications including programming the fan to turn on and off based on room temperature.​

Using Your Fan to Save Money

Ceiling fans increase air conditioning system efficiency by circulating the room air, thereby reducing how hard the air conditioning has to work. Turning the fan on when the temperature rises cuts down on your air conditioning bill. Turning the fan off when the temperature is low, saves on unnecessary electrical consumption. Many ceiling fans have four or five light bulbs, which make the room too bright for most uses, and power consumption will be high and expensive. Using a dimmer switch to reduce power consumption to 50 percent can reduce your electricity consumption while still providing adequate light in the room. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire Headlights Not Working? Try These Fixes How to Get Started With Home Automation How to Make Alexa the Center of Your Smart Home How to Identify Aftermarket Car Stereo Wire Colors How to Control the CPU Fan on Windows 10 The 7 Best Desk Lamps of 2022 How to Use Night Light in Windows 10 How to Identify OEM Car Stereo Wires What to Do When Your Car Interior Lights Stop Working How to Fix a Broken Charger How to Use Night Mode for Samsung Phones How to Splice Wires for Speakers and Home Theater Systems Motherboard Fan Connectors: What They Are and How They Work How to Control Lights With Alexa The Best Picture Settings for Samsung 4K TV The 6 Best Ring Lights for Cameras in 2022 Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies