Terminating Wires in a Junction Box for a Receptacle and Thermostat that Controls a Fan

Phil Dijoseph Says:
Help? I have a attic fan with a thermostat and a receptical with a on/off switch and a lite on it in my hall way. The lite would come on when thermostat turned the fan on, or I could turn the fan on with the on/off switch to turn the fan on, well the lite stopped working so i took all the wires appart in the attic and a cant figure out how to put them back the same way. I have 8 wires in the attic, black and white(power), b&w fan, b&w from receptical in hall way, b&b from thermostat, I bought a new receptical because I think the lite blew out, any help would be apprciated thanks phil

Wayne Gilchrist Says:
I’m a little confused by your explanation. You reference a light in your problem, but you did not reference it in the attic junction box. At any rate, based on the information that you’ve provided me, I’ve created a wiring diagram that will work. However, if you learn that the wires are different than what you’ve described, please reply to this post with updated information and I can create another wiring diagram.

Before you begin reconnecting the wires in your attic, be sure to turn off the power to this circuit and verify that the power is off at the junction box. Once you’ve completed the terminations, fold the wires back into the junction box and be sure to place a blank cover over the junction box. This is a National Electrical Code® (NEC®) requirement to help prevent an electrical fire.

Wiring Tip:
Phil, this is not just directed towards you, I receive emails and questions like this one all of the time. Before disconnecting any wires mark them, take pictures or use a note pad to make drawings and take notes. This will help you when it comes time to reconnect your wires; I do it all of the time. We all get distracted and can easily forget what wire goes where.

There are several ways to mark your wires. You can buy some number books at your local home improvement store, use different colored electrical tape, wrap the wires with tape and write on the tape, etc….

Taking pictures is always very helpful. Most of us carry cell phones with cameras in them or we have digital cameras. This will help you when it comes time to put the wires back together or it can help me if you get stuck and need my assistance.

I hope that using a notepad is pretty self explanatory.

Click image to enlarge

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