Electrical – just cap the red wire from a dual switch to install a ceiling fan without a light

ceiling-fanelectricalswitchwiring

I am replacing a ceiling light with a ceiling fan NO light. There is a dual switch at the wall to accommodate a ceiling fan with a light. There are 4 wires at the ceiling ground, red, black and white. My question is, can I use the ground, black and white wires for the fan and is it safe to just cap the red wire with a nut?

Best Answer

Nope, can't do it.

Code absolutely requires a wall switch in the room that works.

There's a variance that lets you have that wall switch operate a receptacle, and then you're supposed to plug in a floor lamp and leave it switched on 24x7 at the lamp (or just remove the switch knob; that's what I do). However no, you can't have only lights which must be operated at the lamp, with a phone, what have you.

You'll either need a different fan, a light kit for this fan, a ceiling light elsewhere in the room, or the switch must operate a receptacle. (there aren't Code police who go around checking to see if you actually plug a lamp into it lol. But you will certainly have problems when you sell the house; it'll get redflagged and you'll have to fix it, right in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the property sale).