Hampton Bay Ceiling Fan Wiring Diagram
This Hampton Bay ceiling fan wiring diagram follows the wire colors in Hampton Bay’s own guides: black for the fan, blue for the light, white for neutral and green for ground. Pick one wall switch or two.
The pull chains or remote then switch the fan and light separately.
The second hot wire may be a color other than red.
Before you wire a Hampton Bay fan
Three rules from the Pre-installation pages of Hampton Bay guides.
Power off at the breaker
Turn off the breaker or remove the fuse. The guides are clear that turning off the fan’s own switch isn’t enough.
Test the wires before you touch them.
Install a ceiling fanA fan-rated box
Use a UL Listed outlet box marked FOR FAN SUPPORT that holds at least 35 lb. Never a plastic box.
No joist above an old fixture? Add a hanger bar.
Box and bracketNo speed control
Don’t wire the fan to a solid-state fan speed control. The Glendale III guide says it will permanently damage the fan’s electronics.
Want wall control? Use a wireless kit instead.
Remotes and wall controlsHampton Bay fan wire colors
What each wire coming out of the fan does.
Black
Fan motor
Hot for the motor. Joins the house black wire.
Blue
Light kit
Hot for the light. Joins black, or a second hot for its own switch.
White
Neutral
Joins the house white wire.
Green
Ground
Two leads: one from the bracket, one from the hanger ball.
Remote fans add a receiver between the house wires and the fan. Its wiring is printed on the receiver and in the guide.
Making the connections
How the Glendale III guide wants the wires joined and tucked away.
Wire nuts
Use the plastic wire nuts that come with the fan and wrap each one with electrical tape. No bare wire should show except the ground.
Tug each wire to check it’s held.
Fan not workingTuck them in
Turn the splices upward and push them into the box, ground and white on one side, black and blue on the other.
Nothing should pinch when the canopy goes on.
Hang the fanLight kit plug
The light kit plugs into the switch housing: white to white, blue to black. Then three screws hold it on.
Turn glass shades clockwise until snug, no tighter.
Light not workingHampton Bay 3-speed fan switch wiring
Replacing a worn pull chain speed switch or capacitor is a wire-for-wire swap.
Speed switch
Photograph the old switch before you unplug anything. Move each wire to the matching terminal on the new switch, as marked on its body.
Home Depot sells 3-speed pull chain switches under other brands.
Fan partsCapacitor
Match the new capacitor’s microfarad values and wire count to the old one, then join wire to wire in the same order.
It usually sits in the switch housing on pull chain fans.
Capacitor helpSkip the wall wiring
The Hampton Bay 98139 wireless wall control runs fan speed and light dimming from the wall without new wires to the switch box.
Check its listing for what comes in the box.
Wall controlsHampton Bay fan wiring questions
What does the blue wire do on a Hampton Bay ceiling fan?
It powers the light kit. With one wall switch it joins the black wire; with separate switches it goes to the second hot wire, often red.
How do I wire a Hampton Bay fan to one switch?
Join the fan’s black and blue wires to the house black, white to white, and the green leads to the house ground. The pull chains or remote then control fan and light.
How do I wire the fan and light to separate switches?
Fan black to the first hot (black), fan blue to the second hot (often red), white to white and green to ground. The second hot may be a color other than red.
Why are there two green wires?
One grounds the mounting bracket and one comes from the hanger ball and downrod. Both join the house ground.
Can I put a Hampton Bay fan on a dimmer?
No. Hampton Bay guides warn against solid-state fan speed controls and variable speed wall controls. Use a plain switch, a remote kit or a wireless wall control.
Where can I get the wiring diagram PDF for my fan?
It’s in the fan’s Use and Care Guide. Search the model number on homedepot.com and open Info and Guides, or see Hampton Bay ceiling fan manuals.
How is a remote fan wired?
A receiver sits between the house wires and the fan’s wires, usually in the canopy. Follow the receiver’s labels and the guide; the house side still uses black, white and ground.
Should I hire an electrician?
If you’re not sure how your house is wired, or the box isn’t rated for a fan, yes. A fan hangs and moves, so the box and connections have to be right.