I would like to add a bathroom fan to the existing end line light switch. I am fine with the switch controlling both the light and fan at the same time as the light only has 14-2 running to the switch and I believe it would need 14-3 or 12-3 if I wanted each of the units to have it's own switch. Correct?? Can I add the exhaust fan onto the existing switch so the switch will turn both the fan and the light on at the same time and if it is possible, how?
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Is the fan going to be a combo fan/light to replace the existing light? Or is it separate? If so, are you able to run a wire from the light to the new fan location?– bibCommented Jul 17, 2015 at 15:15
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The fan is going to be separate from the light. The way the bathroom ceiling is done, I cannot access the light from behind and cannot run a new wire from the light to the switch. Or a new wire from the light to the fan.– JodyCommented Jul 17, 2015 at 15:17
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If you can't run a new wire from the existing light to where you want your fan to be, then how do you plan on powering the fan?– mjohnsCommented Jul 17, 2015 at 15:35
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Given the extremely low power consumption of LED bulbs, I wouldn't hesitate to switch the fan/light unit together and call it a day. Better: install a digital timer switch.– isherwoodCommented Dec 24, 2015 at 14:55
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1 Answer
The answer to your only stated question is YES. To independently switch 2 different things you need to have 2 switched hot wires, you would have to run an additional wire from the wall switch location to the ceiling location.
The statement that "the light only has 14/2 running to the switch" tells us that one of those wires is a hot lead to the switch, the other is the switched hot that runs back up to the light (unless there are other/more wires that you did not mention).
