Fitting new extractor hood

[Halloween Jack]

Hi folks,

Our old extractor, fitted by the guys who did our kitchen, broke due to water leak from above.

I've now fixed the leak and want to replace the hood but I think it may have been wired wrongly in the first place.





The wire coming out of the wall there was wired to the fan. The switch in the cupboard seems to be connected to it.

Here's what I don't understand:

While the old fan was connected its light still worked. If I turned off power to the sockets and kitchen it still worked. But if I turned of power to the light circuit it didn't work.

If I turned the switch in the cupboard off it would trip the breaker. Either light circuit or whole house. I would have to turn the switch in cupboard back on to be able to switch breaker back on.

Makes me think that wire in the wall is connected to the light circuit. That's not right is it?

Also connectly wrongly as turning it off trips the breaker.

I'm thinking I should get a qualified electrician in but just wanted to check with you guys to see if any of this makes sense.

Also I'd like to cut down the work the electrician would have to do, like mount the new fan on the wall etc. Is there anything I can do to cut down his time?

Thanks.

 

[terryplumb]

Engage an electrician . The switched fused connection unit ,or whatever is connected to it has a fault . The extractor connected to a lighting circuit is not necessarily a problem.

 

[JohnD]

if I turned of power to the light circuit it didn't work.

If I turned the switch in the cupboard off it would trip the breaker. Either light circuit or whole house. I would have to turn the switch in cupboard back on to be able to switch breaker back on.

There is a (very) common mistake when wiring to the lighting circuit in a ceiling rose that shorts out the circuit when turned on.

it is OK to connect an extractor to a lighting circuit.

The error can be puzzled out by turning off the power at the main switch, opening the ceiling rose and your switch, and examining and testing the wires you find. If you are not confident in this a qualified electrician can do it, probably with ease. As you have had a leak it's also possible that wet dirt in the switch is causing the problem, but this will be found during the examination.

If searching for a qualified local electrician, use one of the "competent person" sites such as NICEIC.

There are websites where traders pay to be listed (advertising sites) and can remove unfavourable reviews. These are not Recommendation or Rated sources, even though they may pretend to be.

It's possible there is a conection hidden in the floor above, or a nail in the wall puncturing a cable, these are less common but would be extra work.

 

[Halloween Jack]

That's great. I thought as much.

Thanks for the tips I'm going to get an electrician.

Would an electrician be happy to check and fix the circuit and leave me to mount and connect the fan do you think?

Or would he want or have to do the whole thing?

Thanks

 

[terryplumb]

That depends on the electrician ,you would have to ask him /her.