Disconnecting bathroom extractor fan

[thwildfire]

Hi, this may sound simple but I aleays want to be extra safe with electrics. I want to disconnect my extractor fan from the power supply. The cable runs into the light switch and only had the red cable wired up. I've disconnected the red cable and the fan now doesn't start up - is this OK or am I missing any hidden cabling I need to sort?

 

[terryplumb]

tom this is not OK at all. this is only disconnecting the switched live.some fans have a second permanent live supply .and of course the neutral is still connected .what exactly are you trying to do ? terry.

 

[JohnD]

post photos of the connections please

fans are more often wired to the ceiling rose. The rose is always live even when the lightswitch is off.

it is safer to turn off the lighting circuit at the consumer unit.

What is the reason you want to disconnect the fan?

It is good practice to have a 3-pole fan isolating switch so they can be safely cleaned or maintained. If this is a bathroom there are rules on where to put it.

 

[thwildfire]

Hi I've added a photo. After disconnecting the red cable there is 4 other red wires left but only 3 black wires. This switch feeds both the landing light and 2 spotlights in the bathroom, one of which houses the extractor. I want to remove it as the fan no longer works (but the motor still runs) and we've added an additional window for ventilation

 

[mwatsonxx]

Your posts display a low level of electrical knowledge. I suggest you contact a local spark, shouldn't take him more than 30 mins to make safe.

 

[terryplumb]

if you intend to not replace the fan but just fit a spotlight ,the line ,neutral and earth conductors that are connected currently will be needed to connect up to the new spotlight. to safely isolate the circuit you should do this at the consumer unit or fuseboard. Do NOT try to do it at the switch. all the conductors that are connected to your switch ( red and black) are all LIVE conductors. I think the switch that turns on your landing light is a two way switch ,and you have one downstairs that can also turn landing light on/off. The cable you disconnected at the switch may well be live, have you put it back ??? the photo does not show all the connections/terminals on the back of the switch very clearly. if you intend to take out the fan/spotlight and not,replace at all then you will need to amend the wiring between the two spot lights ,do you have access above the ceiling ( possibly in the loft ) regards terry.

 

[securespark]

It sounds like you have a "showerlite", a combination fan and spotlight.

Is this right?

 

[thwildfire]

Yes that's right, it's a combination fan and spotlight. The light works fine so just wanted to disconnect the fan element of it. By the sounds of it I should just replace the whole unit with a standard spotlight, is that right? Sadly I don't have access to the loft space.

 

[terryplumb]

does the switch that you disconnected the red conductor from control both lights and the fan ?

 

[thwildfire]

Yes it does mate

 

[terryplumb]

it may well be possible to take the fitting down and safely take the fan off the circuit ( electrically seperate it from the bulb ) depends on how it has been manufactured. but that is probably a job for an electrician . it would be fairly easy to fit a new one ,with or without a fan.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I don't have access to the loft space.

That is a major problem if you want to put anything in holes in the ceiling.

Without access from above you can't have holes in the ceiling in a way which won't contravene Building Regulations or risk the roof timbers rotting.