Bathroom extractor fan - mains or low voltage?

aliasojo

Can't decide again. :rolleyes:

Bathroom is 2m x 2m x 2.4m so need a fan that extracts around a rate of 180 m3/h, according to the online calculators.

Existing fan was an in-line 100mm job that was useless and did nothing, but I would prefer to stick to a 100mm fan so that I didn't have to mess about with enlarging the vent hole to the outside. (I will if I have to though.)

Fan needs to be sited in the loft and vent through the bathroom ceiling somewhere above the bath/shower area (dont want one that goes through the wall).

Bathroom has an over bath shower in it and people do tend to have long hot baths so a fairly powerful fan is needed. Problem is that we're allergic to noise in this house so it needs to be as quiet as possible. Also people do shift work so need to shower when others are in bed so a noisy fan would be a nuisance.

I don't know if I should opt for a mains version or a low voltage version? Do the low voltage ones buzz because of the transformer?

Can anyone recommend particular models? I've been looking online for days and am going round in circles again.

Cost isn't too much of an issue but I'd draw the line at £150 tops I think. I saw some acoustic fans but by the time you bought the fan (which was acceptably priced by itself) and the acoustic duct & vents etc the cost soared to well over £200 which just seems OTT for a fan.

Any suggestions?

andrew-b

Have a look here:

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Ventilation_Index/4_Inch_Fans_Duct/index.html

After much research we were going to get one from the third section down there (product codes starting SL TDK. If you've already got the ducting in place they do non-kit versions of the same thing (SL TD product codes). In the end we decided not to install one at all and went the true MSEr route of opening the window! I think i chose those as they shift ALOT of air quickly but relatively quitely! We were going to go for one with timer and linked into the lighting circuit with an additional pull cord switch to turn it on independent of the lighting.

Incidentally, I wouldn't get one with a shower light - i considered these but wanted the option to have the light on but not the fan but the instructions advise you can't do that as the fan has to be on to take away heat from the light.

The electrician quoted me £60 to install the fan kit above with ducting out through the soffits and wire into the bathroom lighting circuit plus reroute the bathroom light pull to a switch outside the door with me doing any channelling out.

Andy

andrew-b

oh and to answer the mains or low voltage question... if it's an inline fan in the loft i'd go with mains voltage - no real need to add to the complexity with transformers fo Low-voltage IMHO. If it's a non-inline fan and near your shower i'd go for Low voltage (think you don't have much other choice TBH).

aliasojo

andrew-b wrote: »

After much research we were going to get one from the third section down there (product codes starting SL TDK.

Those look they fit the criteria AND they are quieter than the SILENT fan.

So what's the catch?

There MUST be one. :rolleyes:

It's me that's buying it.

andrew-b

aliasojo wrote: »

Those look they fit the criteria AND they are quieter than the SILENT fan.

So what's the catch?

There MUST be one. :rolleyes:

It's me that's buying it.

Excludes VAT? Out of stock? Or won't deliver to your neck of the woods?

I thought it was just me who was jinxed! Currently trying to claw back money from a failed online clothing purchases for OH ..she ended up driving 50 miles to Bluewater over the weekend in a rush to get alternatives! Just about everything that could go wrong with the order did..item listed out of stock after i'd ordered, another item sent was completely wrong and in wrong colour (not sure who would wear red fishnets under their wedding dress and they were aware it was for bridal wear!!) and then another item went out of stock. I think maybe they were miffed about me using online discount vouchers as well as quidco! Still all hassle we don't need right now!

Andy

aliasojo

andrew-b wrote: »

................(not sure who would wear red fishnets under their wedding dress and they were aware it was for bridal wear!!) ..................

:rotfl:

Sorry.

This is the type of thing that usually happens to me so I sympathise hugely.

It will all come together on the day so just keep breathing deeply 'till then.

andyhop

Use a expelair DX200T also has a low voltage model, Come with a 2 min start delay for trips to the loo at night without waking the dead!

Will meet your requirements for noise and air flow

aliasojo

Thanks andyh.

Going by the data tables for this model, it's not as powerful and is noisier than the one from tlc. If I'm reading the info right that is?

Sound : 50 dB on full speed compared to 25 dB for the tlc one.

Extraction rates 108 compared to 145-250 (depending on duct length).