Difficulty: 1 of 5

 

Replacing a light fixture with a ceiling fan can bring comfort and energy savings to the home.

 

Make sure that the power is off at the electrical circuit breaker before beginning this project. Closely follow the instructions and the warnings supplied by the manufacturer when installing a ceiling fan. Installing a ceiling fan on a sloped or high ceiling requires additional mounting parts. Make sure that the electrical mounting box is rated to support a ceiling fan. If you are uncertain of your ability to install a ceiling fan, hire an electrician.

Materials:

– Ceiling fan kit
– Ruler
– Screwdriver
– Voltage tester

Step 1: Shut off power to the circuit.


At the circuit breaker, shut off power to the ceiling light circuit.
Flip the switch to shut off power to the circuit.

Step 2: Remove the ceiling light cover.


Remove the existing ceiling light cover by first removing or loosening the fasteners that hold the cover in place. With the fasteners removed, remove the cover itself.
Remove the fasteners.

Step 3: Remove the lights.


Remove the lights from the fixture.
Remove all lights from the fixture.

Step 4: Remove the fixture from the ceiling electrical box.


Use a screwdriver to unscrew the nuts or screws that hold the fixture to the ceiling electrical box. Twist the fixture until the heads of the screws are over the holes in the slots, and lower the fixture from the electrical box.
Unscrew the fixture from the electrical box.

Step 5: Separate the wires and remove the fixture.


Carefully unscrew the wire nuts from each wire without touching the bare wires. Unscrew the black wire first by unscrewing the wire cap and separating the wires. Next, unscrew the wire cap on the white wires. Finally, separate the copper ground wire from the green ground wire on the fixture. Green wires always designate a ground wire. Carefully separate the wires and remove the ceiling light fixture. Do not touch the bare wires until you test them.
Unscrew the wire nut.

Step 6: Test the wires for voltage.


Before continuing, use a voltage tester to make sure the circuit is dead. Touch one probe to the black wire and one to the white. There should be no reading on the tester, indicating that there is no voltage present.
Touch one probe to the white wire and one to the black.

Step 7: Position the ceiling mounting plate into place.


Every ceiling fan is slightly different, so closely follow the directions that came with your ceiling fan. Pass the electrical wires through the center of the ceiling mounting plate and screw the plate in place. It is important that this plate is level. Place washers between the plate and the conduit box to level the mounting plate, if necessary.
Screw the mounting plate into place.

Step 8: Attach the ceiling fan motor to the mounting plate.


Slide the rubber mount of the ceiling fan motor into the ceiling mounting plate. Some brands have a hook that hooks to the plate.
Slide the rubber mount to the ceiling mounting plate.

Step 9: Attach the wires.


Attach all the green ground wires from the ceiling fan bracket and motor to the copper ground wire from the ceiling. Secure the wires together by sliding a wire cap over the two wires and twisting them together. Next, place the end of the black wire from the ceiling to the end of black wire from the motor. Using a wire cap, twist them together. Follow the same procedure to connect the white wires together.

Connect the wires together using a wire cap.

Step 10: Attach the fan blades to the blade brackets.


Following the instructions that came with your fan, attach each fan blade to the blade bracket with the supplied screws.
Screw the blade to the bracket.

Step 11: Secure the motor cover in place.


Pass the motor control wires through the motor cover and secure the motor cover to the ceiling mounting plate. Tighten the screws that secure the motor cover to the ceiling mounting plate.

Tighten the screws to secure the cover to the mounting plate.

Step 12: Attach the blade brackets to the fan motor.


Attach each blade bracket to the fan motor with the correct screws.
Screw the bracket to the motor.

Step 13: Check the level of the blades.


Use a ruler to make sure that the ceiling fan blades are level. Uneven blade height will cause the fan to wobble. The edge of each blade should be within a 1/8” from blade to blade. If any of the blades are out of alignment, follow the instructions that came with your ceiling fan to balance them.

Use a ruler to check the blade levels.

Step 14: Fasten the base plate to the bottom of the motor.


Pass the motor control wires through the base plate for the motor control unit. Use screws to fasten the base plate to the bottom of the motor.
Screw the base plate to the bottom of the motor.

Step 15: Connect the motor control plug to the ceiling fan motor plug.


Connect the plug of the motor control to the plug hanging from the bottom of the ceiling fan motor.
Connect the two plug ends together.

Step 16: Mount the motor control switch housing.


Mount the motor control switch housing to the base plate with the correct screws. Securely tighten each of the screws.
Screw the control switch housing to the base plate.

Step 17: Restore power to the circuit.


Turn the circuit back on. Your new ceiling fan is now ready to provide comfort and energy savings.
Turn the circuit breaker on.