How To Install a Hampton Bay Ceiling Fan Light Kit?
In this post we will look at the problem of How to Install a Hampton Bay Ceiling Fan light kit. If you are anyone like me, a complete newbie at this, then it’s going to be a fun way to learn. I must admit I am no expert, but after a lot of research I have put together what I feel is a complete guide along with some of the more common questions you may need answers to, and it is well worth the effort adding a light kit as it will provide plenty of overhead lighting.
The simple answer to installing a Hampton Bay light kit is to consult the manual if you have one. However, I am assuming you don’t have access to one, or the manual you do have has not explained the procedure. So, here is a quick overview before we delve more deeply into the procedure.
- Turn off power to the ceiling fan
- Remove base plate from the fan
- Strip about two centimetres of the insulation from the end of the white wire in the light fixture.
- Attach the white wire from the light fixture to the white wire in the ceiling fan housing
- Strip about two centimetres of insulation from the hot wire in the light fixture (This wire may be blue, red or black)
- Connect hot wire to the appropriate wire in the fan
- Secure the light fixture to the fan where the ceiling fan base plate originally was fixed.
- Install light bulbs into the light fixture.
- Turn the power back on and check the operation of the lights and ceiling fan
That’s the simple and quick guide to the installation process. Just remember that some of the Hampton Bay ceiling fans will come with a light kit while others you may have to purchase separately. In the case of buying a new light kit make sure your ceiling fan has the right base to fix your light kit to it.
Lets now do the more complex long version of the procedure along with a few helpful pictures.
How Do You Wire A Ceiling Fan Light Kit?
- Always turn off the power to the ceiling fan by switching off the electricity at the fuse box. I’m a little paranoid when it comes to electricity so I turn off the power at my homes power box just to make sure. Whatever method you use double-check that there is no power reaching the ceiling fan by trying to turn the fan on.
- Make sure that you check that your ceiling fan has an assembly housing unit in the centre. It usually is covered by a fancy or embellished cover that can easily be removed. If you don’t have the assembly housing unit you will not be able to add the light kit.
- If you are well co-ordinated install the light kit by standing on a ladder. Otherwise, remove the ceiling fan and place on a tabletop to install the light kit.
- Carefully remove the screws from the decorative cover ensuring you keep track of all the items by placing them in a safe spot. You probably won’t be needing the decorative cover but you may need the screws. Once the decorative cover is removed then remove the plate so that the wiring is exposed.
- You will need to locate two wires: a white (neutral) wire and a black (power) wire. These should correspond with the wires on your light assembly kit.
- You will need to feed the light assembly kit wires through the centre plate and line them up with the corresponding fan wire: Black to black and white to white. Use a wire nut to screw on each set. You light fixture is now wired.
- Proceed to screw the light fixture onto the centre plate, making sure it is secured firmly in place.
- Screw and reattach the centre plate to the body of the ceiling fan.
- Install the pull chains, shades and light bulbs.
- Reinstall the fan unit to the ceiling if you removed it to work on a tabletop. Then turn the power back on to the fan to check your work.
How Do You Install A Hampton Bay Rothley Ceiling Fan?
This is a very technical question and requires a detailed step by step approach. The Rothley ceiling fan can be installed with or without the down rod and with or without the light kit.
Are Light Kits for Ceiling Fans Universal?
Well, that’s a good question and I had to do a little research to find the answer. Apparently, if your ceiling fan is still under warranty you may have to buy a kit that matches your fan if you don’t want to void the warranty. However, if your fan is a little older and no longer under warranty then you have a few more options.
The term “Universal” can be misleading as a particular “Universal” light kit may only be “Universal” to that particular manufacturer. This is true of the Casablanca and Hunter “Universal” light kits. However, “universal” for all other manufacturers are pretty much “universal”.
Some fan finishes will also mix and match with many other fan finishes from different fan manufacturers to extend the range of styles and finishes possible. You will need to do a little research on your particular fan as many manufacturers won’t tell you which ones as they want you to buy more of their product.
That leads me to the next question.
How Do You Remove The Light Kit From A Hampton Bay Ceiling Fan?
This is pretty much the reverse of installing a light kit as explained above, but for your convenience, I will go through this process step by step as well.
- Make sure you turn off all power to the fan, including at the fuse box or main power box.
- Unscrew and remove the light kit housing from the ceiling fan to expose the wires.
- Locate the white wires and unscrew the wire nut connecting them. Once removed and the two wires parted screw the wire nut onto the white wire from the ceiling fan only and secure it with electrical tape.
- Locate the black wires connecting the fan to the light kit and unscrew the wire nut holding them together. Once the wires have been parted, screw the wire nut onto the black wire fixed permanently to the fan. Secure it with electrical tape.
- Remove the light kit cap from the light kit housing using some pliers. The cap will then be used to cover the wires from the ceiling fan that are now exposed.
- Attach the light kit cap to the ceiling fan.
- Turn the power back on and test the ceiling fan.
What Wires Go Together on a Ceiling Fan?
If you are new to wiring a ceiling fan then you will find some of the wiring colours a little confusing as I did. But I assure you once you know what colours go together is not that hard. Always ensure you have switched off all power from your main breaker circuit to your ceiling fan before proceeding.
First, take a look at the wires coming from your electrical box. The hot wire is coloured black and will lead back to the wall switch. The neutral wire which completes the electrical circuit is coloured white. The ground wire is the bare copper wire. An additional red wire inside the box will mean that you have a toggle switch on the wall so that the light and the ceiling fan can be operated separately.
Now take a look at the wires in your ceiling fan. The wire that turns the blades and runs the motor is coloured black and is called the hot wire. Again, the neutral wire is white which completes the electrical circuit. There should also be a blue wire which is the ceiling fan light hot wire. There is no ground wire for the ceiling fan motor.
On the ceiling fan bracket used for hanging the fan, there should be a green wire or a green screw. The bare copper wire from the electrical box is attached to this green wire or screw.
The white wire from the electrical box attaches to the white wire from the ceiling fan.
The black wire from the electrical box attaches to the black wire from the ceiling fan. If there is no toggle switch on the wall for operating the light and ceiling fan separately then place the blue and black wires from the ceiling fan and electrical box together.
If you have the toggle switch to operate the ceiling fan and light separately then match up the red wire and blue wire together.
That should complete the wiring colours and which ones go together on your ceiling fan.
Why Does My Ceiling Fan Work But Not The Lights?
This is a common problem with many different reasons, so we need to approach it logically looking at all the possible reasons.
For this, you will need a noncontact voltage meter. It’s the easiest and safest way to check for electrical current.
The first thing to do is to check for possible damage to the ceiling fan light sockets. Here is the step by step process for doing this.
- Make sure the electrical supply to the fan is switched off at the mains.
- Carefully remove the existing light bulb from the ceiling fan and check that the filaments in the bulb are still intact and none are broken.
- Place the noncontact voltage meter inside the exposed light socket. If there is current the voltage meter will light up. If it does light up ensure all power to the fan is switched off and try again until you are sure that there is no current.
- Use a light bulb socket cleaning brush to gently clean any corrosion that may be present. Lightly wipe with a soft clean cloth.
- Carefully insert a small flat screwdriver under the tab that is inside the light socket and pull it up slightly. This will ensure that it will have contact with the lightbulb when it is reinserted.
- Replace the light bulb back into the socket and turn the power back on again to see if this has fixed the problem.
If the problem is still not resolved then the next stage will be to check the wall switch wiring for the ceiling fan. To do this follow these easy steps below:
- If your ceiling fan has two switches that controls the ceiling fan and light separately then ensure the switch to the light is switched on.
- Hold the noncontact voltage meter against the light switch. It (the noncontact meter) lights up if any power is present. If the tester does not light up then make sure all power to the ceiling fan is switched off at the mains.
- Carefully remove all of the screws that fix the switch cover to the ceiling fan and light switches. Pull the switch from the box.
- Locate two black wires that are fixed to the side of the light-switch. Make sure these wires are firmly secured underneath the screws. If it has come loose then replace it beneath the screw and tighten the screw with a screwdriver.
- Trace the black wires back to the main electrical box and look for wire connectors. Tighten any loose wire connectors.
- Carefully replace the covers and switch in the electrical box and turn on power to the fan.
If you still have no lights working then the next step is to check the wire connections for the ceiling fan.
- Turn off all power to the ceiling fan at the mains.
- Remove the screws that hold the ceiling fan canopy to the ceiling to expose the wires. Test each wire in the electrical box by holding a noncontact meter again them. If all power to the ceiling fan is disconnected then the light on the noncontact meter should not light up.
- Ensure all connectors that hold wires from the electrical box to the ceiling fan are tight. Tighten any that may have come loose.
- Screw the canopy back in place and turn on power to the ceiling fan
Finally, you will need to check the wire connections for the light kit.
- Turn off all power to the ceiling fan from the mains.
- Remove the light kit from the ceiling fan by unscrewing the screws. The screws are found directly under the ceiling fan blades.
- Check all of the wire connections that are inside the ceiling fan housing and tighten any that may have come loose.
- Turn the power back on to the fan and check to see if the light is working.
If you are still having problems than another possible suggestion would be to replace the pull chain that turns the light on. Check online or your manual to see how to do this.
Can You Install a Ceiling Fan In Any Light Fixture?
The simple answer to this question is ‘Yes, you can install a ceiling fan in any light fixture’ since the wiring is already in place.
However please be mindful that the existing electrical box will not be strong enough to support the additional weight of a ceiling fan. You will need to either use a rated hanger and box to fix the ceiling fan securely between joists. The other option is to screw a simple fan-rated “pancake” to a ceiling joist.
Can You Add A Light Kit To Any Ceiling Fan?
After doing some research on this question I found that the simple is answer is no you cannot add a light kit to any ceiling fan. The reason is pretty straightforward. If your ceiling fan has no housing assembly to take a light kit then you will NOT be able to add a light kit.
Can You Install A Ceiling Fan Without Wiring?
No, you will need to ensure you either have an existing light fixture or fan in place. If you do not, then you will need to run some cables to an existing power source which would require the services of a qualified electrician.
After doing some more research I found that the cost of installing wiring works out at around about $6 to $8 per foot. I am assuming this is the cost without an electrician. If anyone knows the real cost value with an electrician then please comment below and let us know.
The same process is true for installing a ceiling light without any wiring. You would need to run cables to an existing power source (box) and a qualified electrician would be required for this.
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