Help me blow myself up

[wizer]

Hi Guys

I recently posted elsewhere about replacing my bathroom ventilator.

On JasonB's advice I got a new fan and it came today. But I have some problems.

The fan has never worked since I have lived here. I just pulled out the old fan to find it was not connected to the wiring or indeed screwed to anything. Just a hole and ducting behind.

I tried wiring in the new unit but no joy. I have no idea how to find out if the wires are live.

This is how it looks atm:

Outside the bathroom I have 2 fused switches which I also have no idea what they are for:

I just wondered if it might be something obvious before I spend money on an electrician


Any help appreciated

 

[jasonB]

Can you get a closer pic of the white and right hand metal switch, one of them should be a 20A double pole switch to isolate the fan though it should not need a separate fuse.

I would suggest you get a neon screwdriver and touch that on the red wire to see if its live and if one of the switches controls it.

Jason

 

[OLD]

Mains tester toolstation £0.97 page 59 looks like a screwdriver touch it on live wire with finger on the side contact and it lights up. Some fans with a timer need a permanent live and a switched live ,neutral & earth so that the fan can run after its switched off (yours may not if the pull cord switch is part of the unit)so a switch and usually a fuse is provided so it can be isolated.So look for this and check fuse and correct number of wires have been provided.
section p applies to new work in bathrooms and kitchens but not maintenance.

 

[davy_owen_88]

Mains tester toolstation £0.97 page 59 looks like a screwdriver touch it on live wire with finger on the side contact and it lights up.

Unless there is sunlight, you are standing on any form on insulator, you aren't making good contact with the wire to be tested and the metal contact part of the screwdriver or the neon has been damaged by vibration or moisture... In other word : for the love of god do not buy a neon screwdriver. :wink: They are dangerously inaccurate and to top that they are rubbish screwdrivers.

Buy a cheap multimeter instead - they are accurate, safe to use and they perform a number of useful tests (continuity being a very useful one).

 

[jasonB]

The fan does not need triggering from a light switch, it is triggered by the humidistat or pull chord and will run for the set time so just needs permanant live and neutral.

Jason

Details here if you want

 

[wizer]

Thanks guys. I actually have a multi meter but have absolutely no clue how to use it. One of those impulse buys...

Jason one fuse box has a 13amp fuse and the other has a 3.

 

[jasonB]

The 3 amp should be the one for the fan but you can not be certain, do you have an electric heater or shower pump in the bathroom as that may be what the other is for.

I assume you have had the electric turned off at the Main fuse box or at least the breaker off. You will need to set the meter to 250V AC or higher, touch the red lead to the red live and the black to black with the mains on, then get someone to turn the switches on/off until you see the reading going on & off.

Do be very careful with where you poke the meter leads and pull the two wires further apart before testing, if in any doubts get someone in.

Jason

 

[wizer]

cheers I had a go but either there is no power to the wires or I am using the meter wrong.

Looks like an electrician is needed

Anyone guess at how much this might cost me?

 

[Jake]

Have you checked the 3A fuse?

 

[TonyW]

I have two of these Icon fans (although low voltage type). As Jason pointed out the controller is a Humidistat model with a pull cord timer override.

I had loads of problems with one of my modules (mnfctr. replaced 2 faulty units eventually). Even my electrician was confused - and we replaced transformers etc before finding out it was the module.

The fan should turn itself on when power is first applied and will run for the preset factory time - 20 mins I think. You may need to experiment with the humidity settings to get the fan to switch on at the correct levels etc.

Be careful when adjusting the settings - my guy broke the timer button off!!

Cheers
Tony

 

[wizer]

cheers Tony, but I have no power at all.

 

[TonyW]

I have just reread your original post. Looks like it is possible that somebody started to install and did not complete if you have no power.

Just a thought - You could be in breach of regulations in attempting to install a unit (rather than just replace) yourself in a bathroom due to this being considered a special location.

I decided while the job was not too difficult to do that I should employ a Part P qualified electrician.

Tony