Refitting an extraction fan

[pitpony]

Hi, I need to refit a timed extract fan, there are three connections on the fan body, clearly marked, fine with that, but the supply cable from the ceiling is one cable only, one brown and one blue, the bare earth wire was just bent out of the way. It was working fine before disconnection. There were no other cables. Ho do I reconnect this please ?
Thanks

 

[DJAndy]

[Edit: I've now re-read the OP]

 

[Paul L]

Sounds like you just have a switched live and neutral only at the fan. Did the previous fan carry on running when you turned the light off?, probably not i would imagine if you only have those two wires there.

 

[westward10]

With only two wires excluding the earth it can't have been functioning as a timed fan.

 

[Mike Johnson]

Is the supply cable from the ceiling to the fan or a switch/pull cord?

 

[westward10]

Can you show a pic of the cable and the fan connections.

 

[pitpony]

Sounds like you just have a switched live and neutral only at the fan. Did the previous fan carry on running when you turned the light off?, probably not i would imagine if you only have those two wires there.

Thanks - The previous fan DID run on when the light was turned off.... Do you have any idea what I should do next?

 

[Trufflepig]

Thanks - The previous fan DID run on when the light was turned off.... Do you have any idea what I should do next?

I would look the see where the feed is from. If it was working as a timer fan (running on after the light is turned off) it would need a permanent live, a neutral and a switched live. is it possible that they were using the CPC (earth) as a switched live (which is totally wrong and potentially dangerous)? You need to identify what the cores are being used as - what is live / or switched live on that twin & earth cable. If in doubt, call an electrician. its not worth the risk!!!

 

[JBW175]

You’re going need to run a 3 core & earth in via an isolator (probably stipulated in manufacturers instructions), if you want your new fan working properly with the over run.

 

[ipf]

Thanks - The previous fan DID run on when the light was turned off.... Do you have any idea what I should do next?

Are you sure?
You say 'refitting', is it the same fan or do you mean replacing?......as said, photos?

 

[andyb]

If as you say, the old fan ran after the lights were switched off, then it was because of one of several reasons.
Also I'm taking at face value you saying the earth conductor was tucked away and not used.

1/ You have a permenant feed and the fan was a humidistat type.
2/ You have a permanent supply and the fan had an internal pir.
3/ There is a control unit in your bathroom through which the fan is fed, this will be either a humidistat or pir type or a combination of both.

I think you should get an electrician, you may not even have the correct voltage fan if it is fed via a control unit.

 

[pitpony]

Is the supply cable from the ceiling to the fan or a switch/pull cord?

I cant see where the supply cable comes from, but I assume it to be from the pull switch.

 

[brianmoooore]

Pic. of the innards of the original fan required, or the make and type number would do.

 

[pitpony]

 

[westward10]

That fan looks brand new is that what you took down.

 

[andyb]

View attachment 63549

I'm guesing that's the new fan, as Brian asked, do you have a picture of the old one?

 

[pitpony]

this is the original fan..............

 

[andyb]

That never ran on after it was switched off, also doesn't look that old. Have you replaced that one recently?

 

[brianmoooore]

No humidistat, pull cord or PIR sensor in that model, just a 2 -30 minute timer, which cannot have worked on a two wire supply.
You don't think the cpc ................?

 

[westward10]

Looking at the terminal screws on the old fan they all appear, I say appear to all have been used.

 

[andyb]

Looking at the terminal screws on the old fan they all appear, I say appear to all have been used.

Elementary, my dear Westward.

I don't suppose we'll ever know.

 

[DPG]

Does it go into proper ducting? Hole looks jam packed with insulation.

 

[Mike Johnson]

It was letting cold air in. ?

 

[DPG]

I'm guessing this is a proper cowboy job where the earth was used for the switched live (as suggested by people above) and that there is no ducting.

OP, you could do with getting this checked out or there's not much point even fitting it.

 

[ipf]

Like the plastic tooth pick in the 'monsoon' first photo. (timer setter?)

 

[pitpony]

Are you sure?
You say 'refitting', is it the same fan or do you mean replacing?......as said, photos?