Shower Extractor Fan Problem

[Jonnt]

Hi, I need help! I have an inline extractor shower fan which has stopped workinh, I have used one of those little electrical screwdrivers to make sure there is power to the fan which there si so I assumed the fan was inop so I have replaced the fan and have had exactley the same result any ideas?
Jon

 

[RexT]

Hi,

It does depend on how it is wired and what sort of fan you have.
Is this fan turned on by the operation of the light switch?
What you could have is a live that is there when the light is 'on' and as such you wouldnt see anything when the light was off.

Personally I would not rely on the 'screwdrivers that you have to touch and it lights up to say if there is a voltage' because they can be dangerous and are not normally an approved method.

You could also remove the orginal fan and check it by powering it of a small length of flex through a suitably rated fuse or protection device such as an RCD. This may show whether the fan was in fact defective or not and perhaps allow you to return the new fan if the suppliers would accept it back.

Some of the faults could be:

1. Open circuit ion one of the conductors.
2. Inoperative switch (or switching)
3. Damage to the conductors somewhere (as 1 above).
4. Mis wiring of the supply (only neutral at fan and no live).

You should consider calling in an electrician if you are experiencing problems and for safety.

Hope this helps.

Rex

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

Jonnt:
Forget the neon screwdriver test, dangerous and unreliable piece of equipment.

If you can get your hands on a multimeter, it would help you a great deal better than any neon screwdriver can, for checking voltage and continuity.
Does the fan have an overrun on it?
Is there an isolation switch?
I would start looking for loose connection, isolate and prove circuit is dead prior to doing any work on this circuit.

 

[wingcoax]

The trouble with those"screwdrivers" is that they only tell you if there is a "live" supply, they do not tell you if there is a neutral present at the fitting. Get a decent multi meter as previously stated.

 

[Jonnt]

Many thanks for your replies guys and I will now dump the screwdriver and buy a multymeter!!

On further checking on the new fan I found that the PCB had a crack in it so have now replaced it and all is good apart from a bumped head on a joist!!

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

all is good apart from a bumped head on a joist!!

You can't take them back!