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You could replace the vent fan with a new one that has an on/off switch operated by a pull-cord. You will still need to have the light switched on to be able to run the fan but you would be able to switch off the fan whenever you don't need it running. <><><> To be able to switch them separately you would need to add a separate hot wire and switch. There is probably not one already in place. If the fan has a wire running directly to the switch box, and the light has a wire running directly to the same switch box, then it may be easy to install two switches instead of one. If the wire runs from the switch box to the light and then loops to the fan, then new additional wiring would be needed to obtain a separate switch control for the fan. In certain localities, like New York City the housing code requires the fan to come on with the light in apartment buildings. SAFETY ADVICE

Before you do any work yourself,

on household electricity supplies, equipment or appliances,

always turn off the power

at the breaker box/fuse panel BEFORE you attempt to do any work AND

always use an electrician's test meter having metal-tipped probes

(not a simple proximity voltage indicator)

to ensure the circuit is, in fact, de-energized. IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY SURE YOU CAN DO THIS JOB

SAFELY AND COMPETENTLY

REFER THIS WORK TO QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS. === ===

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15y ago
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3w ago

To split a fan light switch into two switches with a 4-wire Romex, you'll need to use a double gang box and separate each switch's wiring. Connect the neutrals (white) together with a wire nut, and then connect the hot wires (black) to each switch. Connect the grounds and cap the red wire with a wire nut if it's not needed for this setup. Be sure to follow proper safety precautions and consult a professional if needed.

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12y ago

If the 4 wire is coming into the switch box, what is running to the light/fan? If the 4 wire is coming into the box, the black and red should be hot with the white being a common ground. White to both the light and fan, black to the light and red to the fan. Black is the primary hot with red the secondary. Check to make sure both the black and red are hot.

<<>>

When discussing a romex or loomex cable don't count the ground wire as a current carrying conductor. Your four wire should read three wire.

If the existing switch box is a single gang box you will have to obtain a duplex switch. The wiring from this box to the fixture outlet will have to be a three wire. A #14 3C is the most practical to use. This cable will have to be fished up the wall and across the rafters to join the two junction boxes together. These two boxes will be the switch box and the fixture junction box. The existing "hot" wire feeder will have two pigtailed 6" wires connected to it in the switch box. These two pigtails connect to one side of the individual switches on the duplex switch. The red and black wires of the three wire cable connect to the other side of the switches. The white wire of the incoming "hot" cable connects to the white wire of the three wire cable. This installation will give you two individual switched circuits at the fixture box. This allows either the light or the fans to be on without the other device being on.

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12y ago

Answer for USA, Canada and countries running a 60 Hz supply service.

If the existing switch box is a single gang box you will have to obtain a duplex switch. The wiring from this box to the fixture outlet will have to be a three wire. A #14 3C is the most practical to use. This cable will have to be fished up the wall and across the rafters to join the two boxes together. The existing "hot" wire feeder will have two pigtailed 6" wires connected to it. These two pigtails connect to one side of the individual switches on the duplex switch. The red and black wires of the three wire cable connect to the other side of the switches. The white wire of the incoming "hot" cable connects to the white wire of the three wire cable. This installation will give you two individual switched circuits at the fixture box. This allows either the light or the fans to be on without the other device being on.

As always, if you are in doubt about what to do, the best advice anyone should give you is to call a licensed electrician to advise what work is needed.

Before you do any work yourself,

on electrical circuits, equipment or appliances

always use a test meter to ensure the circuit is, in fact, de-energized.

IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY SURE YOU CAN DO THIS JOB

SAFELY AND COMPETENTLY

REFER THIS WORK TO QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS.

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14y ago

You use two 3-way switches. You can find the wiring diagram using Google and look for 3-way switch wiring.

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Q: How do you split up a fan light switch into two switches with a 4 wire red white black ground romex coming into the switch box?
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How do you connect two way electrical switch?

The two way switches work in pairs. We find most of them in our houses where the light bulb can be operated by two switches each at the far end to the other. Each switch consists of three terminals two of which are connected. When one switch is open and the other is closed then the bulb glows and viceversa


If you have a switch wired red and black and a fan that calls for black and white where does the red wire go?

The red wire in this case would typically be connected to the black wire from the fan. This is because the red wire is used as the hot wire for the switch and needs to be connected to the black wire of the fan for proper operation.


Can you run two sets of 3 way switches with one 14-3 wire?

Yes, you can run two sets of 3-way switches with one 14-3 wire. The black wire would be the common wire for one set of switches, and the red wire would be the common wire for the other set. The white wire is the neutral wire, and the bare copper wire is the ground wire.


How do you use a 14-3 wire for Switch and Power?

A 14-3 wire can be used to connect a switch and power source by assigning the red wire as a traveller wire between two switches, the black wire as the hot wire, the white wire as the neutral wire, and the ground wire as the grounding wire. This configuration allows for a two-way switch setup.


How many positions in a three way switch?

If a light or set of lights is able to be switched 'on' and 'off' by more than one switch then those switches are 3-way switches. 3-way switches will have 3 screws on the sides for terminating wires as opposed to 2 screws on a regular single pole switch. 3-ways will typically have 2 brass screws and one black screw called the 'common'.

Related questions

How do you correctly wire a switch to a bathroom fan light combo you have 1 w b g coming from your breaker box you also have 2 w b g wires one that controls the fan and one that controls the light?

Tie all White wires together. Tie the Grounds together and connect them to the ground screw on two switches. Create a pigtail with TWO black wires coming out. Connect a black wire to each of the two switches. (you pick which screw, but be consistent. Connect the black wire from the light to the remaining screw on one of the switches. Connect the black wire from the fan to the remaining screw on the OTHER switch.


How do you wire a two way switch one controls the outlet the other the outdoor light with a pigtail?

To wire a two-way switch with one controlling an outlet and the other controlling an outdoor light using a pigtail, connect the live wire to the common terminal of the first switch. Then, use the pigtail to connect the load wires to the respective switch terminals. Finally, connect the switch terminals to the outlet and outdoor light accordingly. Make sure to follow proper wiring regulations and turn off the power before starting the installation.


How many positions in a three way switch?

If a light or set of lights is able to be switched 'on' and 'off' by more than one switch then those switches are 3-way switches. 3-way switches will have 3 screws on the sides for terminating wires as opposed to 2 screws on a regular single pole switch. 3-ways will typically have 2 brass screws and one black screw called the 'common'.


How do you connect two way electrical switch?

The two way switches work in pairs. We find most of them in our houses where the light bulb can be operated by two switches each at the far end to the other. Each switch consists of three terminals two of which are connected. When one switch is open and the other is closed then the bulb glows and viceversa


How do you wire 3 lights with 3 individual swithes from one junction box?

Power coming into the box powering all 3 switches. A 12/2 or 14/2 wire going to each light from each switch depending on the size power wire you are using. They must be the same size wire. All the whites tied together and pushed back in the box. All the grounds tied together with a long jumper wire going to the ground screw of each switch. The black power wire connected to all three switches (bottom screw) with a long jumper wire. The black wires from each light connected to the 3 individual switches (top screw).


If you have a switch wired red and black and a fan that calls for black and white where does the red wire go?

The red wire in this case would typically be connected to the black wire from the fan. This is because the red wire is used as the hot wire for the switch and needs to be connected to the black wire of the fan for proper operation.


How do you hook up two ways switch to three ways?

Your 2 switches will have 3 terminals each. One will be copper colored and two black. You will require a 12-3 WG wire between the switches. The Travelers: The black terminals will be connected together one from switch a to switch b and the other from switch a to switch b, it does not matter which black terms you choose to go from switch a to b The brass terminals one will go to the light switch a and the other to a power source switch b.


How many power switches are there on call of duty black ops zombies?

There is one main power switch on each map.


How do you hook up a switch leg?

Describe what kind of switch leg you want and I'll send you a diagram. Do you want 3-way (light and two switches)? If so, is the power at the one of the switches or at the light? Do you want a single switch? If so is the power at the switch or at the light? Do you want 4-way (or more)? Light and 3 or more switches? Again, is the power at the light or one of the switches. Drop me an e-mail at a_d_kirkwood@excite.com describing what you want, and I'll send you a diagram. THE ARE TWO WAYS TO HOOK UP A ELECTRIC SWITCH LEG. 1. RUN THE SOURCE OR HOT WIRES TO THE WALL SWITCH BOX. RUN TWO WIRE WITH GROUND TO LIGHT FIXTURE; CUT, STRIP, TWIST WHITE WIRES TOGETHER AND PLACE IN REAR OF BOX; TWIST AND PIGTAIL BARE GROUND WIRES TO HOOK TO THE GREEN GROUND SCREW ON SWITCH. THIS LEAVES TWO BLACK WIRES, ONE HOT AND ONE SWITCH LEG TO LIGHT. PUT WIRES ON S/P SWITCH. 2. HOT WIRES FEED THROUGH CEILING BOX. RUN 2 WIRE WITH GROUND DOWN TO WALL SWITHCH BOX. STRIP AND TWIST TOGETHER THE TWO WHITE WIRES FEEDING THROUGH THE CEILING BOX, BUT NOT THE WHITE WIRE GOING DOWN TO THE WALL BOX. TIE THE HOT SOURCE BLACK WIRE TO THE WHITE WIRE FEEDING DOWN TO THE WALL BOX.(PUT BLACK TAPE ON THE WHITE WIRE TO SHOW THAT IT IS HOT). IF THERE IS ANOTHER HOT WIRE FEEDING ON THROUGH THE CEILING BOX TO ANOTHER BOX, TIE BOTH BLACK WIRES TO THE WHITE WIRE GOING DOWN TO THE SWITCH. HANG YOUR LIGHT USING THE WHITE WIRES TO WHITE ON THE FIXTURE AND THE BLACK WIRE OF THE TWO WIRE GOING DOWN TO THE WALL SWITCH. IN THE SWITCH BOX JUST PUT THE WIRES ON THE SWITCH. (PUT BLACK TAPE ON THE WHITE WIRE IN SWITCH BOX TO SHOW IT IS HOT)


How do you wire a garbage disposal between the disposal and the GFI?

White and the ground go to the disposal, black goes through a switch and then to the disposal. All three go through the switch box, the white and ground just pass through on the way to the disposal. Break the black with the switch.


What color wires on the drivers side window switch should have power going through them?

the hot wire going to the d/s master switches is brown. the ground is black. if all windows are not working you have broken wire(s) that go from the door into the cabin. open door and pull boot back leading to the inside. you will prob. find the black ground and or other wires broken in there


How do you use a 14-3 wire for Switch and Power?

A 14-3 wire can be used to connect a switch and power source by assigning the red wire as a traveller wire between two switches, the black wire as the hot wire, the white wire as the neutral wire, and the ground wire as the grounding wire. This configuration allows for a two-way switch setup.