How to Remove a Wiring Nut From a Ceiling Fan
To complete an electrical circuit, the connection between each wire of the electrical system must be securely connected. Electrical connectors vary, but wire nuts are a staple for the residential electrical system. A wire nut has an inner threaded metal cone surrounded by insulating plastic.
When wires are slid into the wire nut, the nut is turned and the wires twisted together and secured. Removing a wire nut connecting a ceiling fan to your house wiring should be an easy task, but often an older wire nut will require more effort to release it from the fan wiring.
Things You Will Need
- Stepladder
- Phillips screwdriver
- Needle-nose pliers
Warning
Do not rely on the wall switch to turn off the power to your ceiling fan, as the switch could easily be turned on, creating an electrical hazard.
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Turn off the breaker in the breaker box supplying power to the ceiling fan. If the breaker is not marked, turn on the fan and then switch the breakers on and off until the fan stops spinning or the light on the fan turns off.
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Set the stepladder up near the fan. Make sure you have easy access to the area the fan mounts to the ceiling.
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Remove the screws from the trim ring mounted to the ceiling fan with the Phillips screwdriver and slide the trim ring down onto the mounting shaft of the ceiling fan. The wire nuts are within the mounting base of the fan.
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Remove any electrical tape surrounding the wire nuts with your hands.
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Turn the wire nut counterclockwise to loosen it. If the wire nut does not turn by hand, turn it counterclockwise with the needle-nose pliers.
The Drip Cap
- To complete an electrical circuit, the connection between each wire of the electrical system must be securely connected.
- Remove the screws from the trim ring mounted to the ceiling fan with the Phillips screwdriver and slide the trim ring down onto the mounting shaft of the ceiling fan.
- Remove any electrical tape surrounding the wire nuts with your hands.
Photo Credits
- wire nuts image by Paul Moore from Fotolia.com
- wire nuts image by Paul Moore from Fotolia.com
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