Bathroom extractor fan

[NewhouseOldhouse]

Hi

I have an inline extractor fan installed in a bathroom off the light so when light is switched on fan comes on and when light is switched off fan goes off.

Fan has the capability to set a timer but because my light is old wiring (red/black) I can't use the timer function on the fan.

I know I need to get a electrician in but how would a changed to have the fan work with timer?

Thanks

 

[EFLImpudence]

No fan would work without a Neutral.

I think you mean it has no Permanent Line(live) for which you would need another wire from the light or the switch (depending on how it is wired) to the fan

 

[NewhouseOldhouse]

No fan would work without a Neutral.

I think you mean it has no Permanent Line(live) for which you would need another wire from the light or the switch (depending on how it is wired) to the fan

Yeah realised that and changed post a bit apologies.

So the live coming from light can it be split and used as permanent live?

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Fan has rhe capability to set a timer but because my light is old wiring (no neutral) I can't use the timer function on the fan.

I know I need to get a electrician in but how would a neutral be got for the fan to work with timer?

The neutral will be there, it's the permanent live, which is missing and needed. What you have at the fan at the moment, is a neutral, and a switched live.

To have the timer work, you need permanent live. Depending upon when your home was last rewired - you might find it was wired using joint boxes. In which case there will be a permanent live, available in the joint box. So all it needs, is just an extra wire from the joint box, to the fan.

 

[EFLImpudence]

So the live coming from light can it be split and used as permanent live?

Well yes, sort of, but -

you will need an additional wire to the fan from the light or the switch.

 

[NewhouseOldhouse]

The neutral will be there, it's the permanent live, which is missing and needed. What you have at the fan at the moment, is a neutral, and a switched live.

To have the timer work, you need permanent live. Depending upon when your home was last rewired - you might find it was wired using joint boxes. In which case there will be a permanent live, available in the joint box. So all it needs, is just an extra wire from the joint box, to the fan.

Not that I will do anything so if I had a voltage meter and used it on the live from the light it would only read once switched on??

 

[NewhouseOldhouse]

Well yes, sort of, but -

you will need an additional wire to the fan from the light or the switch.

But if the live from the light was a switched live timer will not work?

 

[EFLImpudence]

But if the live from the light was a switched live timer will not work?

That's right but you need both Switched Live and Permanent Live for a timer.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Not that I will do anything so if I had a voltage meter and used it on the live from the light it would only read once switched on??

The switched live at both the light, and the fan - is switched on and off by the switch.

 

[NewhouseOldhouse]

So the light is on a pull cord switch - I take it the wiring to the pull cord switch has a permanent live which in turn switches live to the light when the cord is pulled?

If this is the case can the permanent live going to the pull cord switch be split with a permanent live then going to the fan?

 

[NewhouseOldhouse]

The switched live at both the light, and the fan - is switched on and off by the switch.

Just what I was getting at last post.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

If this is the case can the permanent live going to the pull cord switch be split with a permanent live then going to the fan?

Yes! That would be a reasonable solution, unless the fan, has a separate means of isolating it, in which case, the live would also need to be wired via that isolator too.