What do you do with an unused red wire in a ceiling fan?

What do I do with the unused wire for ceiling fan installation?

  1. Use one switch on the wall to turn on/off the light.
  2. Use the other switch on the wall to turn on/off the fan.





How do you cap a red wire?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: For this job you will need some wire nuts and electrical tape so here's a standard electrical box this sits in between two studs.

Do I need the red wire for ceiling fan?

Wiring a Fan With a Switch for Light and Pull Chain for Fan



In order for the light to be controlled by its own switch, the wiring between the switch and the fan unit needs a fourth wire, a red wire, to carry power to the light kit.

What do you do with the red wire?

The exact purpose of a red wire for a light fixture can vary. Except in rare cases, it is a hot wire or a switched hot wire. Check the wire with a non-contact voltage tester with the power and switch turned on. If the tester indicates the wire is hot, turn the switch off and retest.

Can you combine red and black wires?





These wires are typically used for switch wiring as well as the interconnection between smoke detectors hard-wired into the power system. You can link two red wires together, or you can link a red wire to a black wire. Since red wires conduct current, they are considered hot.

What do you do with a red wire on a light switch?

Red wires are usually used as secondary hot wires. Red wires are also hot and should be clearly marked to avoid the dangers of electrocution. Red wires are commonly used when installing ceiling fans, where the light switch maybe.

Will a ceiling fan work without a ground wire?

So if you wire your fan without the ground wire, it will still work properly. However, the added safety of the ground wire will not be present. If you decide to wire your fan without the ground proceed to the next step.

Why do I have two red wires in my light switch?

When a light is controlled from two locations, you need a switch called a 3-way. A basic 3-way switch has a black wire or connector, called a common, and two traveler wires, usually black, red or blue. The two travelers may be the same color or different colors, but the switch itself will usually be marked.

Can I connect red wire to white?



In the US, the answer would be no, even though I am reluctant to answer this. White is not aggressive. White is neutral, black is 120, green is ground, and red is the other phase of the mains into your house.

Can I combine the red and black wires on a ceiling fan?

The ceiling fan I purchased only has 2 wires to be hooked up. Can I combine the red & black wires from ceiling to black wire to remote receiver? How do you want the wall switches to work? Yes.

Where does the red wire go on a ceiling fan with remote?

Connect the red wire from the ceiling to the black wire in the fan. Cap off the black and white wire from the output side of the remote receiver module.



  1. So the white wire on the receiver is capped? …
  2. @user38908 The blue (or black depending on how you want it) coming out if the remote module would be capped.

Is red and black wire the same?



Black wires are hot wires that run to the electrical outlet from the switch. Red wires are hot wires common in a 240-volt outlet or when a wall switch controls the outlet. Blue and yellow wires are hot wires for ceiling fans and three- or four-way switches. White or gray electrical wires are neutral wires.

Is the red wire live?

In situations where both wiring systems are present, remember that: The earth wire will be green and yellow (or sometimes bare in old systems). The live wire is brown in new systems and red in old systems. The neutral wire is blue in new systems and black in old systems.

Does red wire go to black or white?

Attach the black wire to the outlet you want to always be on (usually the top one) and the red wire to the switched outlet. Connect the white wire to either of the chrome screws (remember, they are still joined) and the ground wire to the green ground screw.

What happens when red and black wires touch?

In the US or Canada, you will probably find 240 volts between the red and black wires, but 120 volts from either one to the white (neutral) wire. DO NOT TOUCH AC POWER WIRES WITH YOUR HANDS!!

What is the red wire when installing a ceiling fan?



A red wire up in the ceiling fan junction box usually indicates that the wiring has been installed which provides separate switch for the light and a separate switch for the fan motor. If your ceiling fan does not have a light fixture, then simply cap off the red wire and attach the fan motor to the black wire.

Can you cut a live wire without getting shocked?

Wrap the open ends of the cut live wire with electrical tape to ensure you do not accidentally electrocute yourself.