How to Rewire a Light Switch to Control a Ceiling Fan (Power Source Enters at the Light Switch)
If you have a light switch that controls an outlet – and the power source enters at the light switch – here’s how to rewire the light switch so that the outlet is always on and the light switch can instead control a ceiling fan/overhead light.
I recently installed two new ceiling fans in our house in rooms that didn’t have any existing overhead light. Instead, these rooms both had a light switch that controlled a nearby power outlet. I wanted to rewire this setup so that the power outlet would always be on (no longer controlled by the light switch), and alternatively use the light switch to control the new ceiling fan I would be installing.
The main factor that determines how to handle the electrical rewiring is where the power source enters the circuit – does power enter at the light switch or at the outlet? As luck would have it, I encountered both of these situations when installing the two ceiling fans. In this post I explain how to rewire a light switch that controls an outlet to instead control a ceiling fan/overhead light, where the power source enters at the light switch. If you need rewiring for the case where the power source enters at the outlet, I have instructions for that here.
Review of the existing wiring: the light switch controls an outlet (power source enters at the light switch)
Before I explain how to rewire this setup, I think it’s important to summarize how the existing electrical wiring works. That way you’ll understand what needs to change, and most importantly why it needs to change!
I’ve created the following diagram for switched outlet wiring:
The important electrical connections (indicated by blue numbers in the diagram) are:
- Black wire from the power source (in the light switch electrical box) is connected to the light switch.
- This provides current to the circuit.
- Black wire from the outlet (also in the light switch electrical box) is connected to the light switch.
- This provides current to the outlet, and since the outlet is connected to the light switch then current to the outlet is now controlled by the light switch.
- Both white wires in the light switch electrical box (one from the power source and the other from the outlet) are connected together with a wire nut.
- Connecting these two white wires together provides a return path for the current when the light switch is turned on.
- Both ground wires in the light switch electrical box (one from the power source and the other from the outlet) are wire nutted together and attached to the light switch green/ground screw with a pigtail.
The new wiring: the outlet is independent of the light switch, and the light switch controls a ceiling fan/overhead light (power source enters at the light switch)
The following diagram explains how to take the existing setup and rewire it so that the light switch can now control a ceiling fan/overhead light:
- Black wires from the power source and the outlet (both in the light switch electrical box) are wire nutted together and pigtailed to the light switch.
- The pigtail to the light switch provides current to the light switch, and connecting the power source and outlet together (but not attaching the outlet directly to the light switch) provides continual current to the outlet that’s independent of the light switch being on or off.
- Black wire from the ceiling fan (new Romex cable that’s been run into the light switch electrical box) is connected to the light switch.
- This provides current to the ceiling fan, and since the ceiling fan is now connected to the light switch then current to the ceiling fan is now controlled by the light switch.
- All three white wires in the light switch electrical box (one from the power source, one from the outlet, and one from the ceiling fan) are connected together with a wire nut.
- Connecting these three white wires together provides return paths for the current in the circuit: the current from the outlet needs a continual return path, and the current from the ceiling fan now has a return path when the light switch is turned on.
- All three ground wires in the light switch electrical box (one from the power source, one from the outlet, and one from the ceiling fan) are wire nutted together and attached to the light switch green/ground screw with a pigtail.
Congratulations! You’ve successfully rewired a light switch that once controlled an outlet to instead control a new ceiling fan/overhead light!
Note
Only perform electrical work if you are comfortable and qualified to do so, otherwise consult an electrician. And always turn off power to the light switch and outlet at the main electrical panel before doing any rewiring!
Did this guide help you rewire a light switch that controls an outlet to instead control a ceiling fan? Have any other electrical wiring questions? Let me know in the comments below!
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