Light indicator for extractor fan

[TNDU]

Hang something near the fan so it moves when fan is on. So can see that move rather than hear the fan. Ribbon with press stud into ceiling, would not need to be big.

yeah, i tried this out with a small length of bin liner but the static made the bin liner get sucked in by the fan even when it isn't on

i may try a string instead.

 

[TNDU]

How old is the fan?
My downstairs loo fan is built into the ceiling of an extension. I fitted it when the extension had its flat roof was replaced. So my fan is 20 years old and I might as well replace it when the roof is replaced, to save much more work if not.

Basically, isn’t it easier to replace with a fan & light, than fit a lamp to an old fan?

i am looking at new fans now but i need 4 inch fan without a timer and a long enough pull chord that has a light. any suggestion?

 

[TNDU]

You would just need a short length of surface mounted trunking down to a surface mounted switch, no redecoration required. Then switch on at the pull cord and cut it off so it can't be switched by it but just the new wall switch.

but that would mean a surface mounted switch with box. ugly.

 

[TNDU]

Just what I was thinking.

this looks to be a good solution but i haven't come across this before so don't know how to connect it.

 

[TNDU]

Remove the fan front plate to see how much space there is inside.

Go to CPC Farnell/RS Components/Rapid Electronics/Conrad/eBay/AliExpress, and from the choice of literally thousands of panel indicator lights available, pick an appropriate one.

Drill a small hole in the fan front plate, mount indicator light, connect it across the motor.

unfortunately i haven't come across these before so don't know how to connect them. looked for a youtube video but not found one.

 

[BS3036]

Do you have a friend with a soldering iron? And does FIL live far away?

 

[TNDU]

Do you have a friend with a soldering iron? And does FIL live far away?

i can get a soldering iron. he lives down the road from me, so i could certainly go there and solder anything in if i can understand what i am supposed to solder!

i am going to try out the string method and see if it sucks the string in when it is on later this afternoon to see if that works as the bin liner trick didn't work because of static. my FIL said he didn't like the idea of the bin liner strip dangling down from the ceiling but the string may not be so bad.

 

[ericmark]

I have looked at heat recovery units, but humidity at moment between 50 and 60 so not really anything to worry about.

 

[BS3036]

i can get a soldering iron. he lives down the road from me, so i could certainly go there and solder anything in if i can understand what i am supposed to solder!

The indicator (assuming it's one such as has been linked) will have two wires coming from it. These, as said above, need to connect across the motor in the fan. This should also have two connections and which way round does not matter. Easiest way to do this is post a photo of the fan with top removed and try to show the wiring. If your friend has a soldering iron he will probably also be able to guide you on what to do.

 

[morqthana]

There's a good chance of screw connections being available, so no soldering required.

 

[BS3036]

There's a good chance of screw connections being available, so no soldering required.

Also possible. Picture would help.