Hi all. I'm trying to sort out the extractor fan situation in my bathroom, and I'm trying to figure out what is happening with the wiring. The fan comes on when the light switch is on. It goes off when the light switch is turned off. So no timer, then.
But there's a second pull switch next to the fan which turns it on/off when the light switch isn't on. Fair enough. But when the light switch is on, and therefore the fan is on, and I pull the 'fan' switch it stops for a fraction of a second then carries on going. Every time I pull the fan switch. If I then turn off the light switch the fan will either stop or carry on going, dependent upon whether I pulled the fan switch an odd or even number of times. Switching off the lighting circuit MCB in the fusebox means neither pull switch works. There is no isolator switch anywhere obvious, unless its hidden in the loft.
So, with my limited knowledge of electrics, I'm seeing the fan supplied with a switched live from the light switch which 'over-rules' a switched live from the pull cord (which itself is supplied by a straight live from the lighting circuit, probably the bathroom ceiling rose).
I understand two-way wiring as far as hall/landing lights go but I don't get why one switch would over-rule another. Bad/clever wiring? Relays, contactors, some other magic box I don't understand?
I've had a cursory look around the loft (where the wiring should be) but to get at it I'll have to move a ton of crap the last owners left. So any suggestions at what I should be looking for would be very welcome!
But there's a second pull switch next to the fan which turns it on/off when the light switch isn't on. Fair enough. But when the light switch is on, and therefore the fan is on, and I pull the 'fan' switch it stops for a fraction of a second then carries on going. Every time I pull the fan switch. If I then turn off the light switch the fan will either stop or carry on going, dependent upon whether I pulled the fan switch an odd or even number of times. Switching off the lighting circuit MCB in the fusebox means neither pull switch works. There is no isolator switch anywhere obvious, unless its hidden in the loft.
So, with my limited knowledge of electrics, I'm seeing the fan supplied with a switched live from the light switch which 'over-rules' a switched live from the pull cord (which itself is supplied by a straight live from the lighting circuit, probably the bathroom ceiling rose).
I understand two-way wiring as far as hall/landing lights go but I don't get why one switch would over-rule another. Bad/clever wiring? Relays, contactors, some other magic box I don't understand?
I've had a cursory look around the loft (where the wiring should be) but to get at it I'll have to move a ton of crap the last owners left. So any suggestions at what I should be looking for would be very welcome!