Mend > Switches and Sockets

How to fix my extractor that's stopped working?

I have a ceiling mounted extractor fan in my bathroom which up until about a few weeks ago was working fine. I have two pull cord switches - 1 controls the light and the other controls the fan. When the fan is turned off it takes about 15 mins to stop. However it now does nothing. I have opened both pull switches and noted that the light only has 1 pair (1 black and 1 red) going to it, whereas the fan switch has 2 pairs in it (2 black & 2 red).

In order to fix it can i just replace the switch and/or fan? All the wiring between the two is above the ceiling along with the extractor tube. If this is possible can i just get a standard extractor fan? If i can just replace the switch do i need a particular Amp size?

I don't know if it's relevant but outside the bathroom on the wall there is a single switch with a neon light. Could this be for the fan? We also have a shaver socket in the bathroom - could it be for this? (our shower has a seperate switch)

Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated and we have just had a new suite put in and i want to try and fix this problem as soon as possible.

thanks

Rob H
November 2008

D.I.Y, Switches and Sockets Working Ago Fine

Rob
Probably the fan. Take a note of the make and model if possible and pop along to your local DIY store and see what theyve got.
Now the two pairs of wires. One is a switch supply to start the fan and run it when you are in the bathroom and have the switch on. this pair probably has a red and black passing through the switch which would need to be what we call double pole i.e. it switches live and neutral. the other is the permanent feed and may loop from the live side of the switch and this powers the run-on timer in other words the 15 minute delay.
With a bit of luck your fan is at the end of the duct at the grill you see when you look up in your bathroom it should just screw out after youve disconnected the power at the fuseboard, don't forget one of these is live all the time - possibly fed from your neon lit switch outside but dont chance it without a proper test meter - the new fan should fit the tubung as its pretty standard, just check with the guys at the store before you buy or measure your tube to be certain. the wiring diagram will tell you where to put everything and how to set the run on time. check how the old one was wired to identify the two cable pairs at the fan end.

Kenny F
December 2008