Combined Fan & Light Switch

Le_Kirk

Has anybody come across a switch like this before and knows the manufacturer's name?





The switch is mounted outside the bathroom in a 3-year old flat in Stratford (London) and unfortunately the company that took over the service contract from the original developer say they "do not know the manufacturer." They said this 20 minutes after being asked the question in an email so they obviously looked long and hard!

FreeBear

Turn the power off at the consumer unit (fuse board), then pop the cover off. There should be two screws holding the switch plate to the wall. Unscrew and have a look at the back of the switch. There should be a manufacturers name or logo on it.
Reassemble in the order that the switch was removed. If you are not sure what you are doing, call an electrician in to have a look.

Le_Kirk

Thanks for that, if I was there I would do exactly that but it is my daughter's flat and I am 3 hours drive away and unlikely to be able to get there for some weeks. We are looking into getting a 'trician. I was hoping someone would recognise it without having to do that. I have been round all my local wholesalers (which I used to use when I was a working service engineer) but unfortunately nobody has seen one like it.

Belenus

Does the manufacturer of that old switch matter?

All you need to do is source a replacement switch that performs the same function and hopefully has the same size cover plate and screw holes.

How many wires were connected to it?

Did the switch just turn both the light and fan on and off together or did it allow the fan to run on for a set time after the light was turned off?

A decent electrician should be able to sort this out for your daughter for a modest charge.

PS: It looks a lot older than three years. Has it overheated at some stage? If yes, then get an electrician to investigate why that happened.

Rodders53

Might be a Varilight Grid switch? https://www.varilight.co.uk/ranges/powergrid-range.php

But the plastic cover plate will pop off and allow access to remove the assembly for replacement by any simple on/off switch that is wanted.

It is not necessary to get an identical matching one.

Just turn of the mains at consumer unit first!

Only a couple of wires to undo and reconnect (though there may be others inside the back box).

Of course if DD and any friends/work colleagues/neighbours are unable to assist it will need an electrician in. ££s

Of course if DD is renting this is something for the Landlord to sort out. A switch breaking is normal wear and tear. (Note to self: I have one I must change in my kitchen.)

Le_Kirk

Thanks to all contributors. If I knew how many wires were connected to it, I could specify a replacement but, as I said, I cannot easily get there. It does seem to have suffered some heat damage - loose wire, leading to arcing, the usual culprit - which is why it has stopped working. It is definitely only three years old, it's a new build block. It's not rented so cannot ditch responsibility to anyone else. The arcing/black marks seem to have caused one of the pips to fall out and of course, these press on each of the two plastic pieces in the body of the switch which presumably press on the metal contacts. For this reason and because the fan does have a run-on, I believe it is a double pole switch. Again, thanks for trying.

Owain_Moneysaver

Le_Kirk wrote: »

Thanks for that, if I was there I would do exactly that but it is my daughter's flat and I am 3 hours drive away

If you can get to a postbox with a late collection you could put a screwdriver in the post to her first class and she'd get it tomorrow morning.

Or perhaps as she's now a householder she could buy her own screwdriver, and a DIY book from a charity shop

getmore4less

Look through the various grid ranges.
Not all will have screwless wall plates

Le_Kirk

getmore4less wrote: »

Look through the various grid ranges.
Not all will have screwless wall plates

Thanks for the lead, checked out Screwfix and they have loads of switches in the grid range, mainly MK (of whom I know) and will pop down on Monday.

Le_Kirk

Electrician attending this morning, will advise name of manufacturer once DD lets me know outcome.

Le_Kirk

Sorted! It was an Eaton F9023 - see link. Also picture of old one; if I'd been able to see that, it would have been easy to source one.


Thanks for those who were able to offer help. Glad I was right in that it was a single gang one-way, double pole.