Wiring a Three-Way Switch and Fixture

• If you are installing a fan as a cost-effective alternative to running an air conditioner, make sure the fan is properly sized for the room. The diameter of a fan is directly proportional to the volume of air it can circulate. For example, a 36-inch fan can effectively cool a 96-square-foot room while a 12 foot by 12 foot room requires at least a 48-inch fan. Also, make sure the circuit can handle the extra power draw of a fan.
  Begin by cutting the holes for the switches and the fan hardware. Use the switch boxes as templates for the cuts you will make in the drywall. Cut the ceiling hole as directed by the fan manufacturer. Cut two small notches above the switches where the wall and ceiling come together. This makes threading the cable much easier. Thread the cable before attaching any hardware. Use three-wire non-metallic sheathed cable and run one set of wires from the ceiling hole to each switch hole. At the ceiling hole you will have four pairs of wires: black, white, red and green or bare ground wire. Switch One (the names are arbitrary) will have one ground wire, one white neutral wire and two hot wires, black and red. Switch Two will also have the black and white wires from the circuit you are tapping into.
  At Switch One you will be using all three wires to supply electricity, so this white wire will not be neutral. You will need to label it for future reference by wrapping a piece of black electrical tape near its end. Ground the green or copper wire to the box and connect the marked white wire and the red wire to the top terminals on the switch. The black wire is connected to the common terminal--the bottom brass screw on the switch.
  Moving to the ceiling junction box, wrap a piece of electrical tape around the other end of the white wire leading to Switch One. Attach this marked wire to the black wire coming from Switch Two. Connect both red wires together and connect all of the ground wires.
  The connections at Switch Two are similar to those at Switch One, but you will also be adding in the power supply wires. Attach the incoming power supply black wire to the common terminal on the switch. Connect the two white wires together and connect the black and red wire to the top terminals. Fasten the switches to their boxes.
  Attach the remaining white and black wires to the ceiling fan according to the manufacturer's instructions. If the fan also has a light, it will have three wires, white, black, and red. The two colored lines attach to the black wire in the ceiling.