Can I add recessed lights to a ceiling fan, without adding a new switch?
I currently have a ceiling fan with a light in my bedroom, that is controlled primarily by a single switch, but the light and the fan are also controlled separately by pull chains on the fan. What I want to do, if possible, is add some recessed lights to the room, that are connected to the fan switches (ie. the wall switch has to be on, but the pull chain for the fan light has to be on for the recessed lights to be on). So I want to be able to run the fan with the lights all turned off, as well as the lights with the fan off. Can I hook canned lights up to be controlled by the fan pull chains?
electrical wiring
asked Nov 10 '18 at 15:49
JeffhJeffh
82
add a comment |
I currently have a ceiling fan with a light in my bedroom, that is controlled primarily by a single switch, but the light and the fan are also controlled separately by pull chains on the fan. What I want to do, if possible, is add some recessed lights to the room, that are connected to the fan switches (ie. the wall switch has to be on, but the pull chain for the fan light has to be on for the recessed lights to be on). So I want to be able to run the fan with the lights all turned off, as well as the lights with the fan off. Can I hook canned lights up to be controlled by the fan pull chains?
electrical wiring
asked Nov 10 '18 at 15:49
JeffhJeffh
82
Any reason you can't pull a new cable between the fan and the switch while you're at this light-installation work?
– ThreePhaseEel
Nov 10 '18 at 17:06
@ThreePhaseEel he probably has an underused /3 in the wall. He wants the fan pull switch to operate other lights.
– Harper
Nov 10 '18 at 18:49
amazon.com/Basic-Wireless-Light-Switch-Kit/dp/B005B0AY0K
– Kris
Nov 10 '18 at 19:09
Can you post photos of the light and switch boxes?
– ThreePhaseEel
Nov 10 '18 at 19:17
add a comment |
I currently have a ceiling fan with a light in my bedroom, that is controlled primarily by a single switch, but the light and the fan are also controlled separately by pull chains on the fan. What I want to do, if possible, is add some recessed lights to the room, that are connected to the fan switches (ie. the wall switch has to be on, but the pull chain for the fan light has to be on for the recessed lights to be on). So I want to be able to run the fan with the lights all turned off, as well as the lights with the fan off. Can I hook canned lights up to be controlled by the fan pull chains?
electrical wiring
asked Nov 10 '18 at 15:49
JeffhJeffh
82
I currently have a ceiling fan with a light in my bedroom, that is controlled primarily by a single switch, but the light and the fan are also controlled separately by pull chains on the fan. What I want to do, if possible, is add some recessed lights to the room, that are connected to the fan switches (ie. the wall switch has to be on, but the pull chain for the fan light has to be on for the recessed lights to be on). So I want to be able to run the fan with the lights all turned off, as well as the lights with the fan off. Can I hook canned lights up to be controlled by the fan pull chains?
electrical wiring
electrical wiring
asked Nov 10 '18 at 15:49
JeffhJeffh
82
asked Nov 10 '18 at 15:49
JeffhJeffh
82
asked Nov 10 '18 at 15:49
JeffhJeffh
82
asked Nov 10 '18 at 15:49
JeffhJeffh
82
asked Nov 10 '18 at 15:49
JeffhJeffh
82
82
Any reason you can't pull a new cable between the fan and the switch while you're at this light-installation work?
– ThreePhaseEel
Nov 10 '18 at 17:06
@ThreePhaseEel he probably has an underused /3 in the wall. He wants the fan pull switch to operate other lights.
– Harper
Nov 10 '18 at 18:49
amazon.com/Basic-Wireless-Light-Switch-Kit/dp/B005B0AY0K
– Kris
Nov 10 '18 at 19:09
Can you post photos of the light and switch boxes?
– ThreePhaseEel
Nov 10 '18 at 19:17
add a comment |
Any reason you can't pull a new cable between the fan and the switch while you're at this light-installation work?
– ThreePhaseEel
Nov 10 '18 at 17:06
@ThreePhaseEel he probably has an underused /3 in the wall. He wants the fan pull switch to operate other lights.
– Harper
Nov 10 '18 at 18:49
amazon.com/Basic-Wireless-Light-Switch-Kit/dp/B005B0AY0K
– Kris
Nov 10 '18 at 19:09
Can you post photos of the light and switch boxes?
– ThreePhaseEel
Nov 10 '18 at 19:17
Any reason you can't pull a new cable between the fan and the switch while you're at this light-installation work?
– ThreePhaseEel
Nov 10 '18 at 17:06
Any reason you can't pull a new cable between the fan and the switch while you're at this light-installation work?
– ThreePhaseEel
Nov 10 '18 at 17:06
@ThreePhaseEel he probably has an underused /3 in the wall. He wants the fan pull switch to operate other lights.
– Harper
Nov 10 '18 at 18:49
@ThreePhaseEel he probably has an underused /3 in the wall. He wants the fan pull switch to operate other lights.
– Harper
Nov 10 '18 at 18:49
amazon.com/Basic-Wireless-Light-Switch-Kit/dp/B005B0AY0K
– Kris
Nov 10 '18 at 19:09
amazon.com/Basic-Wireless-Light-Switch-Kit/dp/B005B0AY0K
– Kris
Nov 10 '18 at 19:09
Can you post photos of the light and switch boxes?
– ThreePhaseEel
Nov 10 '18 at 19:17
Can you post photos of the light and switch boxes?
– ThreePhaseEel
Nov 10 '18 at 19:17
add a comment |
1 Answer
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It is theoretically possible, but there are several problems:
- The pull chain switch for the lights has a certain amperage rating and adding the cans might exceed that rating
- The fan assembly with switch is likely a UL approved device, and modifying it would likely void that approval, which may run afoul of local code
- You would need to run the hot wire for the cans into the fan unit to join it to the hot coming out of the pull chain switch. Or you would need to run a pigtail from that switch to the canopy to meet the wire for the cans. Either case requires disassembly of the fan unit and switch unit.
- You may have a space problem fitting another wire and wire connector in the area of the pull chain switch.
Probably could be done, but why not rely on a separate switch on the wall? Or a smart switch with a remote?
answered Nov 10 '18 at 16:32
bibbib
30.9k95392
add a comment |
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1 Answer
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1 Answer
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active
oldest
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oldest
votes
It is theoretically possible, but there are several problems:
- The pull chain switch for the lights has a certain amperage rating and adding the cans might exceed that rating
- The fan assembly with switch is likely a UL approved device, and modifying it would likely void that approval, which may run afoul of local code
- You would need to run the hot wire for the cans into the fan unit to join it to the hot coming out of the pull chain switch. Or you would need to run a pigtail from that switch to the canopy to meet the wire for the cans. Either case requires disassembly of the fan unit and switch unit.
- You may have a space problem fitting another wire and wire connector in the area of the pull chain switch.
Probably could be done, but why not rely on a separate switch on the wall? Or a smart switch with a remote?
answered Nov 10 '18 at 16:32
bibbib
30.9k95392
add a comment |
It is theoretically possible, but there are several problems:
- The pull chain switch for the lights has a certain amperage rating and adding the cans might exceed that rating
- The fan assembly with switch is likely a UL approved device, and modifying it would likely void that approval, which may run afoul of local code
- You would need to run the hot wire for the cans into the fan unit to join it to the hot coming out of the pull chain switch. Or you would need to run a pigtail from that switch to the canopy to meet the wire for the cans. Either case requires disassembly of the fan unit and switch unit.
- You may have a space problem fitting another wire and wire connector in the area of the pull chain switch.
Probably could be done, but why not rely on a separate switch on the wall? Or a smart switch with a remote?
answered Nov 10 '18 at 16:32
bibbib
30.9k95392
add a comment |
It is theoretically possible, but there are several problems:
- The pull chain switch for the lights has a certain amperage rating and adding the cans might exceed that rating
- The fan assembly with switch is likely a UL approved device, and modifying it would likely void that approval, which may run afoul of local code
- You would need to run the hot wire for the cans into the fan unit to join it to the hot coming out of the pull chain switch. Or you would need to run a pigtail from that switch to the canopy to meet the wire for the cans. Either case requires disassembly of the fan unit and switch unit.
- You may have a space problem fitting another wire and wire connector in the area of the pull chain switch.
Probably could be done, but why not rely on a separate switch on the wall? Or a smart switch with a remote?
answered Nov 10 '18 at 16:32
bibbib
30.9k95392
It is theoretically possible, but there are several problems:
- The pull chain switch for the lights has a certain amperage rating and adding the cans might exceed that rating
- The fan assembly with switch is likely a UL approved device, and modifying it would likely void that approval, which may run afoul of local code
- You would need to run the hot wire for the cans into the fan unit to join it to the hot coming out of the pull chain switch. Or you would need to run a pigtail from that switch to the canopy to meet the wire for the cans. Either case requires disassembly of the fan unit and switch unit.
- You may have a space problem fitting another wire and wire connector in the area of the pull chain switch.
Probably could be done, but why not rely on a separate switch on the wall? Or a smart switch with a remote?
answered Nov 10 '18 at 16:32
bibbib
30.9k95392
answered Nov 10 '18 at 16:32
bibbib
30.9k95392
answered Nov 10 '18 at 16:32
bibbib
30.9k95392
answered Nov 10 '18 at 16:32
bibbib
30.9k95392
30.9k95392
add a comment |
add a comment |
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Any reason you can't pull a new cable between the fan and the switch while you're at this light-installation work?
– ThreePhaseEel
Nov 10 '18 at 17:06
@ThreePhaseEel he probably has an underused /3 in the wall. He wants the fan pull switch to operate other lights.
– Harper
Nov 10 '18 at 18:49
amazon.com/Basic-Wireless-Light-Switch-Kit/dp/B005B0AY0K
– Kris
Nov 10 '18 at 19:09
Can you post photos of the light and switch boxes?
– ThreePhaseEel
Nov 10 '18 at 19:17