I have a light switch that controls a wall outlet, but want the wall socket to have power all the time. I would like to make the light switch power the ceiling fan. Location - USA

Here is the set up in the box on the wall.

1 3 wire ROMEX

Red - connected to light switch
Black - connected to light switch, also connected to other black wires in box
White - connected to other white in box

2 2 wire Romex

Black - connected to other black
White - connected to other white


I do not have access to the attic. IF the power for the fan comes from the connection in the box, is there a configuration to make the light switch control the fan instead of the light switch controling the wall outlet.

Hard to say from that, but there are some things that make me wonder.

Usually when there are red wires in the loom, you're often looking at a 3 way switch (More than one switch to control the same thing.) This generally will have 3 wires connected to the switch. There will be a master and a slave switch. The master will have full-time live connected to it, and (typically) a black and a red which goes to the slave switch. The slave switch will have those two, and then one which goes to the fixture (or outlet) which is switched.

If the power to the ceiling fan goes through any of those boxes, then it's possible to wire the outlet to full-time power, and the fan to be switched, but if not, then you'll need access to the wiring, probably in the ceiling.

If it is in fact a 3 way switch then be careful. The color standards for wiring these things aren't always followed. To make it even more interesting the new designer switches use a slightly diffent configuratiion (connection on switch, not the wires themselves). Don't sweat it though, there are a lot of great tutorials online.

Just one switch

the red wire goes from the switch to the wall outlet.

one of the black wires from the 2 strand -W/B - Romex goes to the fan.

I was think on switching the black wire to the fan to the place in the light switch where the red wire is; but something tells me that might not be right.

The wall outlet has two black wires two white and the red on the back side of it....maybe I should just take pictures...

Yeah, work out what goes where.

If all the wiring goes through the junction box, and it's tied together with marettes, then switching ought to be easy enough.

Leave the white wires alone. Those are the neutrals, and can be left alone.

There will be one "live" hot which would be connected to one pole of the switch, and also to the ceiling box. This SHOULD be the one on the opposite side of the switch from the black, but you really ought to test to be sure.

SWITCH OFF THE BREAKER.

Then you can change the red wire for the other black wire on the switch, and connect the red wire to the live. The result ought to be what you're aiming for.