Confusing bathroom lights and fan wiring

[stringsonfire]

Hi

I'd like to separate my bathroom lights from the fan at the switch, but it's a mess. Can you tell from the photo what's actually been done here, and how can I safely figure out what all of these wires are for?

For full context:

• I've had IP65 downlights fitted in my bathroom, using Hue Smart Bulbs, which should be left on at the switch, but I can't do this because that would also leave the fan on
• I live in a flat with a single extraction duct for the bathroom and kitchen with an inline fan
• There is a fan isolator high in the airing cupboard (fan is located above, but access is very difficult)
• The fan can be turned on/off instantly using a fan switch in the kitchen or the light switch for the bathroom

Thanks!

 

[Pete999]

Some professional help will not go amiss, Mate

 

[SparkyChick]

Given the setup, I have to agree with @Pete999 .

The best advice is consult a local electrician.

 

[westward10]

Someone has done some rather non conventional wiring there through a double-pole switch and it is highly unlikely we can give you advice from a distance. Yes it is possible and as suggested above seek professional help.

 

[littlespark]

You've got a little problem there, mate. That is a 20A double pole switch being used as a lightswitch. There is a live conductor being switched through terminals marked as neutral. Confusing.

As my esteemed colleagues have already suggested, an electrician will be able to make sense of it within a few minutes with the correct equipment

 

[stringsonfire]

The electrician who sorted the spotlights spent a while on it, couldn't figure it out and ran out of time. Guess I'll need to find another electrician...

 

[telectrix]

if you post your location 1 of us may be close to sort it for you.

 

[westward10]

As a matter of interest does the fan carry on for a while after the switch is turned off, the wiring from what I can make out suggests it does not.

 

[Octopus]

The electrician who sorted the spotlights spent a while on it, couldn't figure it out and ran out of time. Guess I'll need to find another electrician...

Find another one has to be a good idea

 

[mhar]

It isn't that unconventional! It is just a method of wiring using an sfcu to give isolation to all 3 live fan conductors whilst not isolating the bathroom light (so that you can see what you are doing!). Avoids having a triple pole isolator and is a neat way od doing things

 

[stringsonfire]

As a matter of interest does the fan carry on for a while after the switch is turned off, the wiring from what I can make out suggests it does not.

You're right, it doesn't stay on, turns off straight away.

if you post your location 1 of us may be close to sort it for you.

Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire

It isn't that unconventional! It is just a method of wiring using an sfcu to give isolation to all 3 live fan conductors whilst not isolating the bathroom light (so that you can see what you are doing!). Avoids having a triple pole isolator and is a neat way od doing things

Good to know it's possible. Any idea how?

 

[westward10]

Looks like double-pole switch to me using the neutral terminal for the lines and which does not isolate all poles if you include the neutral so yes I would say it is unconventional.

 

[westward10]

If it turns it straight off I would suggest it was or is now incorrectly connected assuming the three core cable runs to the fan and the fan has a run over function. From here we can only recommend getting an electrician involved I am afraid but it can be done.

 

[mhar]

You have a perm live to one supply pole of the dp light switch which is also taken to the in of the sfcu, the load pole is connected to the lamp. The fused out of the sfcu returns to the other supply side of the dp switch plus goes directly to the fan.The fused out of the dp switch goes to the fan as switched live. The supply n of the sfcu is also connected to the lamp, the out goes to the fan thus giving 3A fusing on both fan line conductors and all 3 fan live conductors can be isolated via the sfcu without affecting the operation of the light

 

[telectrix]

You have a perm live to one supply pole of the dp light switch which is also taken to the in of the sfcu, the load pole is connected to the lamp. The fused out of the sfcu returns to the other supply side of the dp switch plus goes directly to the fan.The fused out of the dp switch goes to the fan as switched live. The supply n of the sfcu is also connected to the lamp, the out goes to the fan thus giving 3A fusing on both fan line conductors and all 3 fan live conductors can be isolated via the sfcu without affecting the operation of the light

but when did OP mention a SFCU?

 

[westward10]

Is it just me but from that switch I cannot work out how the fan works. Due to the amount of neutrals that is not end of line and the neutral terminal with three browns, it looks like two but is three is the loop terminal so I suspect there is a shaver socket. The other brown on its own goes to the lights, the triple core conductors assuming that is the fan are isolated at the switch from the loop in lines?

 

[stringsonfire]

Is it just me but from that switch I cannot work out how the fan works. Due to the amount of neutrals that is not end of line and the neutral with three browns, it looks like two but is three is the loop terminal so I suspect there is a shaver socket. The other brown on its own goes to the lights, the triple core conductors assuming that is the fan are isolated at the switch from the loop in lines?

Just checked, the shaver socket power disappears when I turn off the light circuit breakers

 

[westward10]

Yeah I am singing out load here because the more I look at it the more it intrigues me. If those connections are original and your electrician hasn't changed them and this won't help you but may be of interest to another electrician you need to employ. Those two wires to the left which are part of the three core cable do nothing and the fan is connected direct from the lights or, there is a secondary live to the switch which does use those two wires to switch the fan. My conclusion is someone has incorrectly connected the fan.

 

[littlespark]

What have you got there? 4 twin&earths and a 3core and earth?
Instinct says the 3 core should got to the fan isolator, then onto the fan.... but where they are connected in the switch suggests otherwise.

There are too many cables there for anyone to give an educated guess without knowing what cables are at the kitchen switch or the isolator.

 

[westward10]

I believe you have live in, live out, output to the lights and a shaver socket output. The triple-core is totally confusing by the manner in which it is connected.