Whether it is safe depends mostly on how well the wires were protected and how much space is in the canopy. But it is not a good idea. Wires need to be protected from being disconnected and from being shorted out. Disconnecting could happen if there is too much strain on the mechanical connection through excess force.

Can you get electrocuted installing a ceiling fan?

Electrical and Fire Risks



It may seem like an obvious first step, but many people forget to first turn off the power to their home before performing any installation involving electricity. This is a fatal error that will almost certainly lead to electrocution.

What do you do with extra wires from 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.


Can you leave wires exposed in ceiling?

Yes. This is not only safe but best practice. Tuck the capped wires completely into the junction boxes to avoid accidentally snagging on passing ladders, wallboard, etc. If the room continues in general use then install blank cover plates.

How many wires do you need to hook up a ceiling fan?

four wires





Wiring a ceiling fan with four wires is the most common. However, an additional color wire might be included.

Can ceiling fans catch fire?

Wobbly & Shaky Ceiling Fans – Yes, a ceiling fan can cause a fire if it’s allowed to run at a high setting while shaking in its mount. If your fan isn’t secure, it could come loose and expose electrical wiring. Ceiling fans can quickly become a fire hazard if left unsecured.

What happens if I wire a ceiling fan wrong?

Wiring the fixture incorrectly could lead to circuit breakers tripping, lights burning out quickly, or a ceiling fan turning in the wrong direction.

Can you connect red and black wires together?

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.

Can I connect blue and black wires together?



If you only have one switch, connect the black and blue wires. The black and blue wires need to be connected. You will be able to control your fan and lights with a single switch.

Why are there two white wires and two black wires?

So, why are there two black and two white wires in your outlet box? There are two black and two white wires in an outlet box because the outlet is in the middle of a series circuit, accepting power from another source and sending it on. Two cables are hot wires, bringing the power in and carrying it onward to the next.

What is the red wire on a ceiling fan?

The red wire is the ungrounded (hot wire) conductor of one switch, while the black wire is the ungrounded (hot wire) conductor of the other switch. One switch would energize the red wire in the original installation, causing the fan to turn on. The other is responsible for the black wire to turn on the light.

What’s the blue wire on a ceiling fan for?



Look at the wires coming from your ceiling fan. The black wire from the ceiling fan is the hot wire that runs the motor and turns the fan blades. The white wire is neutral and completes the fan circuit. The blue wire is the hot wire for the ceiling fan light fixture.

What color wires go together on a ceiling fan?

Black wire is for the fan. Blue wire is for the light, if light is included with the fan. White wire is neutral. Green wire is for the ground.

Does red wire go to black or white?

Sheathed cable with a red wire always is accompanied by a black wire, a white wire and a bare wire. Very old homes may have cable that excludes the bare wire.

Is black wire hot?

Here’s a rundown of electrical wires: The black wire is the “hot” wire, it carries the electricity from the breaker panel into the switch or light source. The white wire is the “neutral” wire, it takes any unused electricity and current and sends it back to the breaker panel.

How do you wire a ceiling fan?




Quote from Youtube video: And light fixture to install connect the green and grounding wires. Together then the white wires. Together. Then connect the fans blue and black wires to the homes black and red wires.

How can you tell which wire is hot without a multimeter?

For testing the live wire without having the meter device, you can build your own tester. For example, get a socket and light bulb and attach a couple of wires to it, then touch one to the ground or neutral and another one wire to the test.

Which Colour wire is live?

Plug wiring colours

Wire Colour
Live Brown
Neutral Blue
Earth Yellow and Green


What does a red wire mean?



secondary hot wires

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. What are Green Wires? Green insulated wires are often used for grounding.

Is a red wire the same as a black wire?

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.