ceiling switch for extractor and lights

[popsicle]

I'd like to check i'm doing the right thing with the right stuff! I'm replacing the pull cord switch in the bathroom which switches two lights and a fan.
I reckon i need a double pole ceiling switch and put the lights' lives into one live terminal and the fan separate with a bridging wire to the switched live, am i about to blow up my flat or am i on the right track?

 

[breezer]

you cant have plate switches in a bathroom ( you said replacing your pull cord switch)

you can how ever put them outside

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Breezer - you've had too many namesakes - where did popsicle say he wanted to use a plateswitch?

Popsicle - you almost certainly do not need a DP switch - check the existing one first, to see what it is, as the fan supply may well be taken from the ceiling rose.

 

[breezer]

ahhh, i'll get my coat

(i must have read post too fast)

 

[popsicle]

umm.... the old one was trashed and we chucked it out
i know that was dim, but it's done now, how do i find out what it should be if it's not a dp?

 

[popsicle]

we have three cables each with live neutral and earth, but one does one light, the other does the other light and the third does nothing on uits ow, however when you put the third live through as switched live the fan works.....

confused? i sure am!

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Are you sure that's what you have at the switch?

When you say "live neutral and earth", do you mean red, black and earth? It's uncommon to have neutral cores at a light switch - see the For Reference topic - usually a cable takes permanent live to the switch with the red core, and takes the switched live back to the light with the black core. Which is supposed to be marked with red sleeving, but rarely is.

With all 3 cables disconnected, which cores are live?

Not sure what's confusing you about the fan - why do you not think it's right that it shouldn't work until you give it a switched live?

 

[desmitch]

The fan should have two lives..one via the outside (or pull) switch and a seperate live to keep the fan running (for a short time) after switching of

 

[ban-all-sheds]

How do you know that, desmitch?

 

[desmitch]

test

 

[ban-all-sheds]

You didn't pass it - the thread is nearly 4 years old...