splitting
twisting
finished product
Wirenuts are cone-shaped wire connectors, color-coded for wires of specific widths. Building codes require them instead of electrician’s tape, which may peel off and expose wires, creating a fire hazard. Wirenuts connect wires securely and hold them together safely.
To attach a wirenut, first use a wire stripper to remove about an inch of the plastic coating off the wires you’re connecting. Then twist the ends of the wires neatly together with your blunt-nose pliers, trimming any extra-long wires. Twist the wirenut onto the wires and, when finished, tug both wires to ensure they are held together tightly.
x Connect the fan motor.
x Attach the blades.
If you don’t have access to your
ceiling joists, you should purchase an
extendable fan junction box to be
inserted through a hole in your ceiling.
Review the manufacturer’s instructions on the color-coding of wires and the installation process. Your fan should have a black and a white wire as well as a green ground wire. Using wirenuts (see above), connect the black wire in the fan to the black wire in the right-hand set of wires hanging from the junction box; then do the same with the white wire. The remaining green ground wire should be connected to the matching green ground wire in the box.
At this point, you may need to repeat this step to connect wires for a light in the fan.
It helps to have a friend to pass you screws and fan blades and to spot you on the ladder during this step. To avoid leaving smudges on the blades, make sure your hands are clean.
Attach the blades with screws. When you’re finished, you are ready to turn the circuit breaker back on and test your fan. If it wobbles, check to make sure the fan mount is securely attached to the junction box and that the blades are tightly fastened. If that doesn’t fix the problem, purchase fan balance clips from your hardware store and place one on the center of a fan blade, adjusting and testing to see what works.
References:
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