If you're wiring a ceiling fan with a light, a 4-wire setup is the safest and most flexible option. This method gives you the most control over the ceiling setup.

Here's how to wire the ceiling exactly with a 4-wire setup:

How to Wire a Ceiling Fan Using a 4-Wire Setup

Start by turning off the power at the breaker. Use a voltage tester to confirm that no wires are live.

1. Run a 14/3 NM-B or 12/3 NM-B cable (that's three conductors plus a ground) from the wall switch to the ceiling box. 14/3 is for 20-amp circuits, while 12/3 is for 15-amp circuits. This gives you:

• A black wire

• A red wire

• A white wire (neutral)

• A bare or green wire (ground)

2. At the wall switch:

• Connect the black hot wire (from the breaker) to the common terminal of the switch.

• Connect the black wire from the ceiling box to one of the switch terminals. This will control the fan motor.

• Connect the red wire going to the ceiling box to the other switch terminal, which will control the fan light.

• Connect the ground wire to the switch's green screw.

3. At the ceiling box:

• Connect the black wire to the fan's black wire (motor).

• Connect the red wire to the fan's blue wire (light).

• Connect the white wire to the fan's white wire (neutral).

• Connect the bare or green ground wire to the fan's ground wire and the ground screw of the ceiling box (if metal).

Secure all connections with wire nuts.

Now, your wall switch can control the fan and light separately without pull chains and remotes.

Why Use 4 Wires Instead of 2 or 3?

• First, the 4-wire setup gives you independent control of the fan and the light. You don't need to toggle a single switch to turn both on at once. With a dual-wall switch, you can run the fan with or without the light, or vice versa. This is not possible with a 2-wire setup, where one switch powers everything together.

• Second, this configuration is safer. The ground wire is required by the NEC and ensures safe operation in case of a fault. Additionally, using separate hot wires for the motor and light prevents overloading a single conductor.

• Third, it allows for easy future upgrades. If you want to add a smart fan controller or integrate your setup with a voice assistant, a 4-wire setup gives you the flexibility. These modern switches often require separate loads for the fan and light. With a 2-wire or 3-wire system, you'd need to open up the walls and fish new wires to add that functionality.

• Ultimately, it provides a cleaner and more convenient user experience. With 4 wires, everything is controlled from the wall.

What Happens If You Only Use 2 or 3 Wires?

With just two wires (hot and neutral), the fan and light must always turn on and off together. You'll need to use the pull chains to control them separately, which isn't ideal, especially for tall ceilings or modern fan designs without pull chains.

With three wires (hot, neutral, and ground), you still only get one power line to the fan. Some setups allow you to control either the fan or the light independently, but not both from a switch.

In both cases, you lose the ability to control the fan and light independently of the wall, which often leads to reliance on pull chains or remote controls. While this setup may be code-compliant if grounded properly, it limits your ability to install smart switches or automation features without rewiring later.

At Nassau National Cable, you can purchase 14/3 NM-B and 12/3 NM-B cable for a ceiling wiring setup.