Chris2015
New Member
I rent an apartment in a pre-war building in Queens, NY. I want to replace the ceiling light fixture with a ceiling fan. Here are the problems I'm facing:
1) The only two wires that power the current light are green and white, not black and white.
2) The pancake box that houses the wires may or may not be rated to withhold a ceiling fan. The current box has a center thread and I believe a screw and nut holds the box in place at that center thread. One guy said that that's the old-school way they attached pancake boxes and it's screwed right into the building and it can take the weight and vibration of a fan. Another guy said, "Are you crazy? You have no idea how long that screw is and the whole thing could fall down."
3) I'd rather not replace the current box, because then I'd have to dig it out of the plaster that has been built up over the years. But I also don't want the edges of the current box to cause friction on the wires due to vibration and cause a fire.
One guy said I could just drill two more long screws through the current box and into the assumed joice that it's currently attached to, and I'll be fine. Can I do that? What kind of screw do I use?
I am a complete novice and I don't want to mess this up. I'd rather go without a ceiling fan than cause any damage. Attached are some pics (the center hole is impossible to see, as there are so many wires in front of it).
Final note: There are two clamp mechanisms on the side the box into which the wires enter from the ceiling.
Thanks in advance for any advice.
1) The only two wires that power the current light are green and white, not black and white.
2) The pancake box that houses the wires may or may not be rated to withhold a ceiling fan. The current box has a center thread and I believe a screw and nut holds the box in place at that center thread. One guy said that that's the old-school way they attached pancake boxes and it's screwed right into the building and it can take the weight and vibration of a fan. Another guy said, "Are you crazy? You have no idea how long that screw is and the whole thing could fall down."
3) I'd rather not replace the current box, because then I'd have to dig it out of the plaster that has been built up over the years. But I also don't want the edges of the current box to cause friction on the wires due to vibration and cause a fire.
One guy said I could just drill two more long screws through the current box and into the assumed joice that it's currently attached to, and I'll be fine. Can I do that? What kind of screw do I use?
I am a complete novice and I don't want to mess this up. I'd rather go without a ceiling fan than cause any damage. Attached are some pics (the center hole is impossible to see, as there are so many wires in front of it).
Final note: There are two clamp mechanisms on the side the box into which the wires enter from the ceiling.
Thanks in advance for any advice.