A fan’s electric wires are usually short as a ceiling fan is usually connected to an electrical junction box that is inside the ceiling. By extending the electric wires, they can be pulled through the ceiling to where a junction box is located, which is the way to attach a ceiling fan to any location on the ceiling. Depending on the length of the extension wire that is going to be used, there are two methods for you to use to accomplish this. You will need some supplies from the electrical and hardware store; here are the steps on how to do it.
You will need:
- Wire strippers.
- Wire nuts.
- Compression sleeves.
- Ruler.
- Wire cutters.
- 16-gauge electrical wire.
- Crimping tool or pliers.
Ceiling Fan
Steps:
- First, use the wire strippers to strip about 1 inch of insulation from the end of one of the electric wires connected to the ceiling fan. Use between your fingers to twist the exposed end of the wire to form a rod. Cut about ¼ inch off the ends of the rod using the wire cutters. Over the exposed end of the wire, place a wire nut.
- Continue to do the cutting and twisting of wire with one of the wires from the extension wire. Twist the rod from the extension electric wire around the rod from the wire attached to the ceiling fan. Screw the wire nut onto the two rods until it is tight. Repeat the entire process with the other wire from the extension electric wire and the other wire from the ceiling fan.
- For the compression sleeve wiring, use a wire stripper to strip 1 inch of the insulation from the end of one of the electric wires connected to the ceiling fan. Twist the exposed end of the wire using your fingers to form a rod. Cut with a wire cutter a ½ inch off the ends of the rod. Repeat the cutting and twist a wire with one of the wires from the extension electric wire.
- Then, place the compression sleeve over the wire attached to the ceiling fan. Twist the rod from the ceiling fan and from the electric wire around each other. Screw the sleeve onto the two rods clockwise. Keep screwing the compression sleeve until it is tight. Use the crimping tool or the jaws of pliers to crimp the compression sleeve.
- Repeat the entire process with the other wire from the extension electric wire and with the other wire from the ceiling fan.
- For reminder, do not pull any electric wires through a ceiling as it violates the state building or wiring codes and local ordinances, as this procedure can only be done by a professional and certified electrician. Use a wire gauge to help you to determine the size of the wire nut, which is needed to use with the electric wires of the fan.
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Additional Reading:
A Length of Wire and Other Stories
A priori Wire Length Estimates for Digital Design
