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Expert Q Ren Molnar Q&A Archive
Top > Electrical > Community Pro

Question:

I just recently got a ceiling fan installed by an electrician. Part of the reason I hired a professional was because I wanted it relocated about six inches from where the previous light fixture, and also because the existing wiring was covered in old electrical tape and there was no ground wire (50 year old house). I just took the fan down to facilitate patching the old hole and found that all the electrician had done was relocate the old junction box, and the existing wiring (complete with a wrapping of about 3/8" of old oozing electrical tape). The old junction box is held in three screws, one of which doesn't really appear to be biting into anything substantial. The other two appear to be ataced to a pieces of wood that have somehow been attached to opposite ceiling joists. The ten or 15 lb fan is mounted via a bracket directly to this junction box. And the fan ground wire was not connected to anything.

Answer:

This fan needs to be properly installed and the wiring confirmed as 'serviceable' - if it isn't, it means installing new wire (with ground) at least to that fixture and the ground going back to something that is properly grounded.

In the interests of retaining credibility and in fairness to all, I cannot recommend prices, people nor companies for various projects. Courtesy of Ren Molnar, Construction Consultant at HomeFocus.com. I can also be reached at (613) 748-3003 and Home Focus – The Radio Show is broadcast live 8 to 10 A.M. (Ottawa, Ont. time) on Saturdays on www.cfra.com.

Remember, even if you don’t do your own work around the house have to hire someone, you put yourself at a great advantage when you can intelligently discuss a project with the various trades people.

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Answered By: Ren Molnar

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