Marley Showerlite exploding

[wildyoungdirgy]

Hi,
Anyone else had this experience over the extreme Arctic conditions?
Bought a B+Q (Manrose/Marley) basic Showerlite (illuminated extractor kit) and fitted it above my shower with the fan in the loft above, venting to outside.
Been fine for the couple of weeks before the cold spell, then it went bang.
Checked it out and found both motor and connection compartment running with condensation.
Amazed to find it's only IP44 and not IP67... could have burned my roof down!
Not only did the fan burn out but the arcing took out the electronic transformer that powered the integral shower light too!
I feel this kit is not 'fit for purpose'.
YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.......
....any comments gratefully received
Thanks
Dave

 

[electronicsuk]

I doubt you'll find any IP67 bathroom fans. Presumably this is a kit with a centrifugal fan mounted in the loft? I wouldn't have thought that the moisture from the ducting should have been able to make it into the terminal compartment under normal circumstances.

Penny to a pound that you've arranged the fan in such a way that moisture condensing in the duct is being allowed to drip back down and pool in the fan. In such cold conditions this is especially likely to happen if you haven't used insulated ducting, as the walls of the duct will be extremely cold in comparison to the moisture laden air from the bathroom.

 

[riveralt]

Hi,
Anyone else had this experience over the extreme Arctic conditions?
Bought a B+Q (Manrose/Marley) basic Showerlite (illuminated extractor kit) and fitted it above my shower with the fan in the loft above, venting to outside.

If the fan tubing vented vertically anywhere along its run to the outside then you would have needed to fit a condensation trap.

 

[bernardgreen]

I wouldn't have thought that the moisture from the ducting should have been able to make it into the terminal compartment under normal circumstances.

You are right, condensation in the air duct should not be able to reach the terminals.

Maybe this moisture in the terminal compartment was condensation from warm moist air getting into the loft from the house and condensing on anything cold. The motor could be very cold as a result of sub zero air coming along the duct reaching the motor.

 

[wildyoungdirgy]

I wouldn't have thought that the moisture from the ducting should have been able to make it into the terminal compartment under normal circumstances.

Wrong.....
There is a 6mm hole between the connection compartment and the air duct where the 2 thin wires pass to the motor.
Even though the unit was mounted with this compartment at the top, water ran out as I removed the lid.
The thing is that it's the motor that has gone o/c which when I disconnected the flexible pipes was also dripping with condensation.
The motor is just open frame with no real water shielding which considering is has mains voltage is pretty dangerous!
A fan specified for the removal of steamy air whilst fitted in cold loft should be better insulated!
Dave

 

[bernardgreen]

The motor is just open frame with no real water shielding which considering is has mains voltage is pretty dangerous!

There should be NO mains voltage anywhere near this type of fan, where did you mount the transformer ? the remote safety isolating transformer.

From the Manrose website

http://www.manrose.com/specifications/showerliterange.pdf

"" The Showerlite can be used within the splash area of the
shower or bath and is powered by a S.E.L.V. remote safety
isolating transformer. ""

 

[electronicsuk]

The motor is just open frame with no real water shielding which considering is has mains voltage is pretty dangerous!

There should be NO mains voltage anywhere near this type of fan, where did you mount the transformer ? the remote safety isolating transformer.

From the Manrose website

http://www.manrose.com/specifications/showerliterange.pdf

"" The Showerlite can be used within the splash area of the
shower or bath and is powered by a S.E.L.V. remote safety
isolating transformer. ""

I think you're confusing the light and the fan. The fan will always be sited remotely as it's a centrifugal in-line fan that sits between two sections of ducting above the room to be ventilated.

 

[JohnnyG]

If it's this type http://www.screwfix.com/prods/25652...Manrose-Shower-Light-Extractor-Fan-Kit-100mm# it's a good idea to install the fan on its side to prevent moisture running down the ducting and in to the electrical compartment. This isn't mentioned in the manufacturers instructions last time I read one though...

 

[wildyoungdirgy]

There should be NO mains voltage anywhere near this type of fan, where did you mount the transformer ? the remote safety isolating transformer.

Well there is Mains directly on this one.
The label on the connection compartment says:-
Manrose Manufacturing Ltd.
Fan Type DF100BLK
220-240V ~
50Hz
20W
Like I said I feel this extractor kit is a death trap!
Trouble is now I have all the ceiling and outside wall 100mm ducting and fascias in place, what reasonably priced fan can I replace it with?
A LV transfromer isolated one sounds ideal, where can I get one.
Dave

 

[bernardgreen]

I think you're confusing the light and the fan. The fan will always be sited remotely as it's a centrifugal in-line fan that sits between two sections of ducting above the room to be ventilated.

Having re-read the Manrose page I see I did make an error. My excuse is I have seen a similar fan and lamp as a single unit with fan and lamp fed from 12 volt.

 

[electronicsuk]

Just replace it with a better quality mixed flow centrifugal fan. Either you have a problem with moisture sitting in the fan, which is an installation fault rather than being due to the fan itself, or it's a poor quality product. Either way, it being mains voltage should not be any problem whatsoever, especially when you consider that it's mounted well out of reach rather than in the bathroom itself.

I gather that the high pressure kits sold here by TLC are supposed to be quite good quality. A friend of mine has had one fitted for over a year now with no problems, and it's a very humid bathroom with the temperature he tends to shower at.

 

[wildyoungdirgy]

Either you have a problem with moisture sitting in the fan, which is an installation fault rather than being due to the fan itself.

Well, I situated the fan with the connection box uppermost, and at the highest point in the ducting run. ie the duct came from the ceiling up to the fan, and then dropped away again to the grille in the wall.
I did this specifically to prevent and condensation traps.
However steamy air was bound to condense in the pipework and fan housing, and on the bare metal components of the motor. Because there is a large hole from the duct into the connection compartment steam was forced through by the fan, condensing on the mains wiring too.
As this product was sold for the specific purpose of extracting directly above a shower it is patently not fit for the job!
Also it is made by MANROSE... the same company your link suggests I spend more money with..I think NOT!
Dave

 

[bernardgreen]

The MF150S from Manrose appears to be a well made unit. One of them has been running in our blown air heating system without any problems after the previous fan had to be replaced ( 25 years old ).

Air Conditioning Supplies in Milton Keynes. 01 908 618484 were very helpful in sourcing the unit. ( not an advert but a recommendation of good service )

 

[RF Lighting]

Sounds like the fan was fine, just installed with the wrong type ducting.

 

[electronicsuk]

Also it is made by MANROSE... the same company your link suggests I spend more money with..I think NOT!
Dave

Scroll down to the high pressure fan kits...

P.S. The fans are also sold separately further down the page, which may be better as you already have the rest of the gear.