Electrical Code Question (Canada)

Posted by Justin West on January 28, 2006, 4:49 pm

Been reviewing electrical code in Canada, and can't find a definitive
answer to my question.
I have a ceiling combination fan/light fixture in my upstairs lobby
area. I want to know if I can split the hot in two and use 1 neutral?
My intent is to use the 1 circuit, branch to 2 light switches (fan /
light). The setup is already there and am wondering if I can just pull
an addittional hot.
Regards, JW

Posted by Yenc-Post 2002 on January 29, 2006, 4:18 am

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You have electricity?

Posted by Justin West on January 29, 2006, 10:07 pm

We needed another challenge after mastering writing our names in snow.
(that's the white cold stuff).

Posted by DT on January 29, 2006, 10:26 am

westj@rogers.com says...
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That's the way it is usually done (in the US at least). Fan manufacturers make
double switches for just this purpose. We usually pull 3 conductor with ground
for the circuit. Another, simpler option is to put in a wireless remote. The
receiver goes in the fan itself and just needs one hot. The remote selects the
fan on/off, speeds, light, etc. No need for another hot to be pulled.
Dennis

Posted by Calvin Henry-Cotnam on January 30, 2006, 8:45 am

Justin West (westj@rogers.com) said...
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Yes, but...
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Is there conduit between the light fixture box and the switch? If so, there
is likely plenty of room to pull another conductor.
I have done this once. It was in a highrise apartment, so conduit was in
place. The run to the switch was a "switch loop", which means no neutral
ran to the switch: just a live hot to the switch and a switched hot back
to the light. Replacing the light with a fan/light, an additional switched
hot was pulled and provided the switched power for the fan. The switch
was replaced with a double switch that fits in a single location.
If you don't have conduit to pull through, you can't just pull a conductor
on its own. If it is possible to pull a new Romex cable, then you can pull
a 14/3 cable to replace the existing 14/2. The three conductors in the
14/3 all become hot: one is always live, one is light switched, and the
other is fan switched. The white should be marked somehow (I usually use
a black or blue permanent marker to colour an inch or two at the end).
--
Calvin Henry-Cotnam
"Never ascribe to malice what can equally be explained by incompetence."
- Napoleon
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