Bathroom extractor fan 14 January 2020 at 7:54PM edited 30 November -1 at 12:00AM in In my home (includes DIY) MoneySaving 16 replies 682 views

jordan99

Hi all, so a few weeks ago the extractor fan packed in. Purchased a replacement and fitted to find it doesnt work, so ive returned that one and got a different brand which was a little more expensive. ive also fitted a new light switch which again was a straight swap.

The switch on my landing gives power to the fan, the fan should come on when i turn on the bathroom light. then stay on the timer when i turn the light off.

the fan still doesnt work. if i flick the switch on the landing with the bathroom light on, nothing happens but if i turn the bathroom light off, the light will flash, with every flash the fan moves.

does anyone knows whats happening? everything was a straight swap??

my apologies if that doesnt make great sense.

Thanks all.

coffeehound

What sort of light switch? Is it something smart/clever?

jordan99

no just a bog standard 3 gang 2 way light switch

ianto11

So are you saying you're using the 3gang 2way to supply the permanent live, and the bathroom light switch to supply then switched live ?

jordan99

yes thats correct

jordan99

I havent changed any of the wiring, the two things ive done are straight swapps which is why i cant work out why its not working for me

ianto11

Have you actually checked that you have voltage on the permanent and switched lives to the fan...ignore the straight swap..and I presume you're using one of the 3gang as a one way to achieve the permanent live ?

victor2

I had a similar sort of problem and it turned out that the circuit to the bathroom light/fan was also going to an outside PIR light. I must have crossed a couple of "live" wires when installing the new fan after the original one failed. Once that was sorted, everything worked as it should. I thought I'd done a straight swap, but clearly hadn't. Double check the wiring and make sure your live and switched live wires aren't getting mixed up.

jordan99

Ive checked i have power using a mains voltage tester 'screwdriver with the light in it' as i dont have a multi meter, and yes the landing light switch is the permanent live, the bathroom light switch is the live switch & there isnt really anyway im using the incorrect wires as there only 3 there. as for getting the live and switched mixed up, ive tried both ways, both ways have the same result

ianto11

jordan99 wrote: »

Ive checked i have power using a mains voltage tester 'screwdriver with the light in it' as i dont have a multi meter, and yes the landing light switch is the permanent live, the bathroom light switch is the live switch & there isnt really anyway im using the incorrect wires as there only 3 there. as for getting the live and switched mixed up, ive tried both ways, both ways have the same result

I presume it goes through a 3pole fan isolator switch also ? As your not checking with a meter you've no idea if you have a neutral present...........neon screwdriver testers are worse than useless

ianto11

jordan99 wrote: »

Hi all, so a few weeks ago the extractor fan packed in. Purchased a replacement and fitted to find it doesnt work, so ive returned that one and got a different brand which was a little more expensive. ive also fitted a new light switch which again was a straight swap

the fan still doesnt work. if i flick the switch on the landing with the bathroom light on, nothing happens but if i turn the bathroom light off, the light will flash, with every flash the fan moves.

does anyone knows whats happening? everything was a straight swap??

my apologies if that doesnt make great sense.

Thanks all.

Is the landing "light" switch the dedicated supply to the fan ? Or is it also switching lights ?
Also, original fan packed in, 1st replacement didn't work, 2nd replacement doesn't work ? So either something is awry with the wiring which took the first fan out and the problem is still there....or the wiring is incorrect ?

Either way, you can't fault find it with a neon tester