Tag: Fan-Rated Box

Dear Mr. Electrician:  How do I install a side-mount ceiling fan box to replace a plastic side-mount electrical box? Answer:  A side-mount ceiling fan box can be easily installed after removing the existing plastic box. NOTE: Some links below go to applicable products on Amazon.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.  Using my links helps to keep this website FREE. REMOVE THE EXISTING CEILING BOX Turn the power off.  An existing plastic ceiling electrical box must be removed carefully to not damage the wires inside or outside the box.  Do not cut any wires. Separate the wires and straighten them.  Tape the ends with electrical tape.  If there are multiple wires in the box, label them with numbers or colors so that you know how to reconnect them together.  Take a picture before taking anything apart. Try to cut out the internal cable clamps on the plastic ceiling box to make it easier to remove the wires.  Some plastic boxes break apart more easily than others. I have found that the brown-colored plastic boxes break apart easily when pliers or Channellocks are applied. The blue plastic boxes take more time to remove because the PVC plastic doesn't snap apart; it must be cut.  I use my Knipex high-leverage diagonal pliers for this. I can also use my Knipex diagonals to cut the nails that fasten the existing ceiling box to the side of the ceiling joist.  I also have small pry bars and large screwdrivers to pry electrical boxes away from their mounting surface. Once the old ceiling electrical box is out, I check the slack on the existing electrical cable.  Most of the time, the cable is not very long.  However, I can usually gain a few extra inches by removing the nearest cable staple inside the ceiling. Knipex diagonal pliers work well for staple removal by grabbing the edge of the staple and leveraging it out.  Cutting the staple is also an option, but you must be careful not to nick the cable. INSTALLING A SIDE MOUNT FAN BOX When the old plastic ceiling electrical box is out of the ceiling, a new side-mount fan box can be installed. The Westinghouse model 01240 side mount fan box consists of two pieces.  One is a bracket that gets attached to the side of the joist.  The other is the fan-rated electrical box that attaches to the bracket using some included anti-vibration nuts. The bracket is installed first after separation from the box in the factory packaging.  I put the bracket in the ceiling and marked the holes with a pencil.  Then I use my awl to start the holes for the screws at the best angle for screwing from below the ceiling. In some older homes with old-growth wood construction, I have had to drill tiny pilot holes for the screws after using my awl. An impact driver or a drill, with a hex or Philips bit and a bit extension holder, is used to drive the screws into the wood joist.  The screws are too long to be driven in by...

Dear Mr. Electrician: How do I install a ceiling fan using existing wiring to replace a light fixture in a house built in the 1970s?  The fan would be mounted onto an existing ceiling light fixture box on the first floor. Answer: To install a ceiling fan using existing wiring, removing the old ceiling light electrical box will most likely be necessary as it is not approved for ceiling fan support. NOTE: Some text links below go to applicable products on Amazon.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.  Using my links helps to keep this website FREE. Read my article if you want to convert a switched outlet to control a ceiling fan. Before working on the existing old wiring, shut off the circuit breaker for this particular lighting circuit. Start the removal process by disconnecting and separating the wires and identifying them with colored electrical tape or numbers.  This will help when you put them back together. My Ceiling Fan Wiring Diagrams blog post will be helpful for you when trying to decipher the existing wiring. REMOVE OLD ELECTRICAL BOX FOR CEILING FAN Loosen the screw for the wire clamp or unscrew the locknut on the cable connector.  Remove the center screw(s) that holds the box to the support brace and carefully pull the box down while removing the wire from the box.  Do not cut or damage the wires. Removing the old ceiling box support bracket inside the ceiling can be difficult.  I use my 24" bolt cutters to cut it in half.  Then, I swing the cut pieces forth and back to see if they loosen from the ceiling.  Most of the time, they are nailed in, and the longer the nail, the more difficulty there is in removing the bracket. I have some mini pry bars for just such an occasion.  I can get a short pry bar up in the ceiling, reach over, get it behind the nailed-in bracket, and give it a few tugs to get it loose enough for removal.  Persistence is the key.  If you get frustrated with the old box removal, take a short break and get right back at it. CLICK HERE to See all of the Ceiling Fans That Amazon Sells  Top Of Page Once the old box and support have been removed, you are free to install a new ceiling fan brace and fan-rated box as per article 314.27(2)(C) in the National Electrical Code (NFPA 70).  Also, read article 422.18. The new ceiling fan braces are relatively easy to install.  The brace's ends are made to position the box at the correct height as they rest on top of the drywall ceiling. Just line the brace up with the center of the hole and tighten it according to the manufacturer's instructions.  The fan brace will expand as you turn it and bite into the joists.  The brace should be straight and level as it goes from joist to joist and centered on the existing hole in the ceiling.  If it's not straight and level, loosen and reposition the brace. Confirm that...