The blue wire on a ceiling fan powers the light or lights.
If you’re adding a light kit to a fan without lights, you should find the blue wire inside the fan. It might or might not have a wire nut on it.
What are the other ceiling fan wire colors?
The other wires in most ceiling fans are black (powers the motor), white (neutral) and green or bare copper (ground).
Depending on the wiring configuration, the lights might be powered with a blue wire to red wire connection or blue wire to black wire connection.
How To Wire A Ceiling Fan With Blue Wire
Wiring a ceiling fan with a blue wire for the lights is very straightforward. There are a couple of options.
On this page, scenarios covered are those with:
No switch ceiling fan wiring
One switch ceiling fan wiring
Dual switch ceiling fan wiring
Here are clear explanations of each blue wire ceiling fan wiring.
1. No Switch Ceiling Fan Wiring
When your ceiling fan does not have a wall switch, then the lights and motor are most commonly controlled with pull chains.
The wiring is simple. It is most commonly used when the wiring to the fan and switch is 12/2 wiring. The first number is the gauge of the wire (thicker than 14/2). The “2” means there are hot and neutral wires plus a ground wire – so three wires in all. The reason for mentioning this will be clear shortly.
Step-by-step instructions for no switch ceiling fan wiring:
All wires should be prepared by stripping ¾” of insulation to provide bare wire for connections.
And all connections should be secured with a wire nut.
1. Hot: Connect both the blue and black fan wires to the black power supply wire.
2. Neutral: Connect the white fan wire to the white power supply wire.
3. Ground: Connect the green (or bare copper) fan wire to the bare power supply wire. If the box contains a grounding screw, connect a short piece of wire (preferably bare, but it doesn’t matter) to it and to the other ground wires (see diagram).
4. Test: Secure the fan to the ceiling box. Turn the power back on at the electrical panel. And test the fan! Pull each chain separately to ensure the lights and fan work independently.
Can a remote be used?
Yes. You can also install a remote control receiver in the fan whether or not there is a wall switch. The wiring for a remote receiver is fairly easy, and it gives you the option of using a remote or the pull chains.
2. Single Switch Ceiling Fan Wiring
Wiring a ceiling fan with one switch allows you to power the fan with the switch and control the functions using the chains.
There are two common scenarios. Here are clear instructions for how to wire a ceiling fan with a blue wire for lights plus additional wires.
2.1 Wiring a Fan With a Switch for Light and Pull Chain for Fan
This scenario often occurs when a standard light fixture is replaced with a ceiling fan. There’s only one switch.
Step-by-step ceiling fan wiring – wiring a fan with switch for lights and using the pull chain for the fan.
1. Lights: Connect the blue fan wire to the black wire going to the switch.
2. Fan: You’ve already used the black wire to the switch to control the light. So, you’ll have to use the white wire to the switch to control the fan. This will make it hot. So, standard practice is to wrap a piece of electrical tape around the ends of the wire at the ceiling box and the switch.
Connect the black fan wire to the white/taped wire to the switch and the black power supply wire.
3. Neutral: Connect the white fan wire to the white power supply wire.
4. Ground: Connect green fan wire to the bare ground supply and switch wires. Run a short jumper to the box ground screw. Secure the 4 ground wires – a larger wire nut might be needed.
5. Test: Secure the fan. Turn on the power, and test the switch and the pull chain to control lights and fan.
2.2 Wiring Ceiling Fan and Light Operated With One Switch
In this ceiling fan wiring scenario, a single switch is used to energize both lights and the fan motor. And the pull chains are employed to control their functions.
Where is power coming from – the fan to the switch or the switch to the fan?
Power from the fan side:
Here are instructions for wiring a ceiling fan and light with one switch when power is from the fan:
1. Wire the switch. At the switch box:
Put electrical tape on the white wire.
Connect it to the top terminal.
Connect the black wire to the bottom terminal.
Attach the bare copper ground wire to the ground screw.
2. Wire the fan and power supply. At the ceiling box:
Join the taped white wire going to the switch to the black power supply wire.
Connect the white fan wire to the white (not taped) power supply wire.
Connect the black and blue fan wires to the black wire going to the switch.
Connect the green fan wire to the switch and supply bare ground wires. Add a jumper to the ground screw in the box (a larger wire nut might be needed to secure all 4 wires).
Power from the switch:
1. Wire the switch. At the switch box:
Connect a jumper from the switch ground screw to the bare ground wires from the power supply and running to the fan.
Connect the power supply wire to the lower terminal on the switch.
Connect the power wire going to the fan to the top switch terminal.
Connect the white power supply wire and white wire going to the fan.
2. Wire the fan. At the ceiling box:
Connect the white fan wire to the white wire going to the switch.
Connect the green ground wire to the bare ground wire going to the switch. Add a jumper to the ground screw in the box, if it has one.
Connect the black and blue fan wires to the black wire to the switch.
In both scenarios, secure the fan, turn on the power, and test the fan’s functions using the switch and pull chains.
3. Dual Switch Ceiling Fan Wiring
If you want easy, independent control of ceiling fan lights and fan, you’ll need two switches.
3.1 Two Lines – Separate wiring for the fan and light. Two switches.
The white wires from both switches are going to be used as hot wires. So, wrap electrical tape around each end of both wires, as shown in the diagram.
Power: Connect the taped wires to the top terminals of the switches and the black power supply.
Fan: Connect the black fan switch wire to the bottom fan switch terminal and to the black fan wire.
Lights: Connect the black light switch wire to the blue fan wire.
Neutral: Connect the white fan wire to the white power supply wire.
Ground: Connect the green (or bare) fan wire to the three other bare ground wires. Use a larger wire nut if needed. Attach the ground wires to the ground screw on each switch.
3.2 12/3 Line – One set of wires for both – Requires 12/3 wire – three functional wires plus a ground wire.
White is hot: The white wire from the fan switch to the fan will be hot, so wrap electrical tape near each end.
Fan:
Attach the taped white wire to the top terminal on the fan switch. In the ceiling box, connect it to the black fan wire.
Attach the black wire to the bottom terminal of the fan switch. In the box, connect it to the black power supply wire (the diagram shows it continuous, but there will be a wire nut connection in the box).
Lights:
Attach the red wire to the top terminal of the light switch. In the ceiling box, make the blue wire to red wire connection.
Run a jumper between the bottom terminals of each switch.
Run a ground wire jumper between ground screws of each switch.
Neutral: Connect the white fan wire to the white power supply wire.
Ground:
Attach the bare ground wire from the fan to the ground screw on the fan switch.
Connect the switches:
Attach a jumper wire to the bottom terminals on each switch.
Attach a jumper wire to the ground screws on each switch.
Alternate Blue Wire to Red Wire Wiring Diagram – 12/3 Wire and Jumpers
Why There’s No Blue Wire On My Ceiling Fan
There isn’t typically a blue wire in the ceiling fan box in the ceiling.
The wiring to the fan is typically 12/2 wire with white, black and bare copper ground or 12/3 wire with the addition of a red wire.
12/2 wire: Connect the black power supply wire to both the black and blue wires in the fan.
In this case, you can control the fan and lights separately using the pull chains. Or you can install a remote receiver in the fan and control it with a remote control.
12/3 wire: Connect the black power supply wire to the black fan wire to control the fan. Connect the red power supply wire to the blue fan wire – the blue wire to red wire connection controls the lights.
If your fan doesn’t have a blue wire, both the fan and lights are powered by the single black/power wire. Or, it might not have lights.
When there’s no blue wire on the ceiling fan, it is likely quite old. You might want to replace it.
What Can I Do If I Want To Control The Light On The Ceiling Fan Separately
You have several options.
1. Easy: Use the pull chains to control the light on the fan separately. Turn the fan switch on to do this, then turn the light on or off by pulling the light chain. Ditto for the fan.
2. Moderately difficult: Install a remote inside the fan (preferred) or hidden in the wall behind the switch. This allows you to control the light on the ceiling fan separately from the fan.
3. Most difficult: Install separate wall switches for each function. This is a good choice in new construction before drywall is put up. It’s more challenging later on.
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