WC Lighting... was hoping easy-peasy?

[advisewelcome]

Hi, doing a convert of a under the stairs pantry into a WC (nightmare). Getting there with the plumbing issues but had an electrical questions.

-Had an AC mains socket in there (replaced with a connector block for now to keep the loop)
-Have a working light switch
-Have a light socket which switches light on or off

Some more of the details are here to see (link)


It looks likes there is some old wiring which I cannot replace at this time.

I need to wire in a ventilation fan which preferrable comes on with light switch. Seen this which has confused the hell out of me.

What are the options?

1. Change the light socket and wire in an electrical fan (there does not seem to be a neutral wire in the light socket?)

2. Alternatively wire in an electrical fan using the AC mains wiring with wago blocks and then fit a switch to turn it on and off (or maybe I can find a push button thing which would start it on and then the timer on the fan would switch it off?)

3 Anything else which would be easy and not involve buying some expensive PIR fan or anything?

Welcome any feedback as need to go in the right direction to get it done in the next 24 hrs (gulp)...

 

[Jurassicspark]

natively wire in an electrical fan using the AC mains wiring with wago blocks and then fit a switch to turn it on and off (or maybe I can find a push button thing which would start it on and then the timer on the fan would switch it off?)

That sounds suitable.


BTW, it's called a light switch not "light socket". Let's avoid the confusion.

 

[advisewelcome]

Thanks. I assume any connection to the light "switch" is not going to work as its old and I assume neutral, live are not clear and there is no earth?

If I wired an actual switch to the fan, it would stay on until the switch is off. So would it be possible to fit a time-lag switch like this:
https://www.screwfix.com/p/elkay-400a-pneumatic-time-delay-switch/68088 and wire it to the fan? I think these need quite large back boxes? Anyone know what amp is needed for the switch if wired to mains?

Would that work? Would I need an additional isolator switch as well? Could I connect into the connecton block I have and wrap some electric tape or would wagos be better? Anything else I would need?

 

[morqthana]

Nothing to do with electrics, but looking at the photos of the telephone bench - I don't know if that's a deliberate purchase, or just something you've always had, or have inherited, but if ever you decide to get rid of it, check out its value first (e.g. Etsy, Vinterior). Depending on make/age/condition it could easily be worth several £00.

Apologies if you already knew that.

 

[Taylortwocities]

@advisewelcome
Did you not like the replies that you got on the Screwfix forum?

https://community.screwfix.com/threads/wc-lighting-was-hoping-easy-peasy.280634/

You'll not get anything different here.

 

[blup]

Tapping into the lighting cable is the easy bit. You will need to find a route for the switch cable which is a little more hassle. Get a sparkle in.

 

[advisewelcome]

Nothing to do with electrics, but looking at the photos of the telephone bench - I don't know if that's a deliberate purchase, or just something you've always had, or have inherited, but if ever you decide to get rid of it, check out its value first (e.g. Etsy, Vinterior). Depending on make/age/condition it could easily be worth several £00.

Apologies if you already knew that.

Thanks. No didn't know that. Its been sitting there for 60/70 odd years (or maybe more). Was going to chuck it - but might have to make my way to see Fiona Bruce with it under arm.

 

[morqthana]

I wouldn't go that far, but go to Vinterior, for example, and search for telephone seats / benches / tables there, for example.

 

[advisewelcome]

I wouldn't go that far, but go to Vinterior, for example, and search for telephone seats / benches / tables there, for example.

https://www.vinterior.co/furniture/...ak-telephone-seat-hall-table-blue-sku85758206

... seriously?

 

[morqthana]

Yes - seriously. Even if the seller is taking a punt on the price it's clearly not worthless. OK - I can't tell the condition of yours, it might benefit from a bit of cleaning or light restoration, but if it's undamaged...

And any other furniture of that vintage you have knocking about the house - don't chuck that either.

 

[securespark]

You have arrows pointing to cables for lighting. They are probably going to be feed in and feed out from the switch.

If this is the case, you will have live, switched live and neutral which is what you need for a timer fan. You can take these to the fan via a triple pole isolator at ceiling level to make isolating the fan easy for cleaning.

Re the socket cabling, you don't have to get rid of it. It isn't a bathroom. You may want a shaver socket, or, depending on how big the space is, a charging point for a cordless vacuum or a supply for a burglar alarm etc....

Is that hole in the ceiling for ducting for the fan?

Edit:

Just managed to log on and watch your video.

Yes, the cables in the switch are singles. The neutral will be at the lampholder.

You might have an older junction box system of wiring where only two wires appear at each location.

But you MAY not have any earth wires in the lighting either. In this case, with a bayonet lampholder and a plastic surface mounted switch and a fan, it's not a dangerous situation, but in the rest of the circuit, it may be.

 

[advisewelcome]

You have arrows pointing to cables for lighting. They are probably going to be feed in and feed out from the switch.

If this is the case, you will have live, switched live and neutral which is what you need for a timer fan. You can take these to the fan via a triple pole isolator at ceiling level to make isolating the fan easy for cleaning.

Re the socket cabling, you don't have to get rid of it. It isn't a bathroom. You may want a shaver socket, or, depending on how big the space is, a charging point for a cordless vacuum or a supply for a burglar alarm etc....

Is that hole in the ceiling for ducting for the fan?

Edit:

Just managed to log on and watch your video.

Yes, the cables in the switch are singles. The neutral will be at the lampholder.

You might have an older junction box system of wiring where only two wires appear at each location.

Thanks. Hole in the ceiling is us drilling out a hole to see if poss to put the 15mm pipes up there. Patched it up now

Only two wires into the switch and only two into the light bulb socket (so not sure where the neutral is coming from). One of the wires disappears down a black hole and then comes back up and around to the light bulb socket I assume that is some loop thing?

Is the light olde' world wiring I am best staying away from? If its easy to do then could be up for making it activate from the light which is always ideal.

I am even a bit worried that roof material isn't any asbestos stuff - maybe lathe and plaster?

I am okay with time lag button of the mains supply into a fan. If ur going for a one'sie don't need a fan, and it two'sie can activate the thunderbirds fan whilst seated.