Kitchen fan

[danek]

I`m stuck with kitchen fan connection wiring. The fan is connected allready but is working 24/7 - switch on the wall is only for speed changing. Question is that is possible for example to switch it to on/off and no speed selection . What cable color must be changed ? I add some pictures to show how it looks at the moment.

 

[ProDave]

I don't like what I am seeing there.

To me that looks like the CPC (earth) conductor, is being used as a switched live, coming out of the switch to the fan.

I suggest you call an electrician. It needs rewiring with the correct cable, and exactly how it's connected will need the manufacturers instructions to work it out.

do you have the make and model number of the fan?

---------- Post Auto-Merged at 19:37 ---------- Previous post was made at 19:36 ----------

That also looks to me like a two gang switch (I can only see the back) so what does the other switch do if one only changes the speed?

 

[danek]

Yes - its two gang switch and both of them do the same - change speed .

Fan model is HELIOS ELS-V 100/60/35

Helios UltraSilence ELS Bathroom Fan - ELS V 100 60 35

 

[ProDave]

I need more pictures.

At the fan end, I see a Black, a Green / Yellow, a Brown and a Grey.

At the Switch end I see a Blue, a Green / Yellow, a Brown and the other is too dark to see.

So they are not tallying up so at the moment it's impossible to tell how it's wired and advise an how to change it.

 

[danek]

On the switch is - brown , blue on first gang and yellow/green on second gang - bottom where the brown is in first gang is connected with second gang using short black cable.

On the fan side - from left - black , yellow/green , brown , grey.

 

[ProDave]

However, in the absence of further information, Terminal 1 is the one that makes it run at trickle speed, so disconnect the black wire from terminal 1 and just park it in a choc block connector.

However that fan is designed to give a continuous low level trickle ventilation so is in fact working as it should.

As this is the DIY section, do make sure you turn off the supply before making alterations. If in ANY doubt, turn off the supply to the whole house and make sure the fan is not running at all before touching it.

---------- Post Auto-Merged at 20:05 ---------- Previous post was made at 20:02 ----------

On the switch is - brown , blue on first gang and yellow/green on second gang - bottom where the brown is in first gang is connected with second gang using short black cable.On the fan side - from left - black , yellow/green , brown , grey.

Yes as I say, it's not tallying up. One of your switched lives coming out from the switch is the blue. But there is no blue at the fan.

As I said before, very poor wiring. Using green / yellow as a switched live is a no no. Using blue would be okay IF it was sleeved with brown sleeving. So somewhat of a cowboy job by whoever wired it.

Try as my previous post, just removing the black wire from terminal 1 of the fan. That may achieve what you want.

 

[danek]

And true this fan should work all the time but one thing - my kitchen is open to living room and sometimes at the evening fan is making too much noise to watch any movie etc. If i can switch it off will be very nice sometimes

 

[SLIPSHOD & SLAPDASH]

The L terminal has no cable in it ?

Has it got a humidistat fitted, that would keep the fan running.

 

[danek]

The L terminal is without any cable and fan is without humidistat.

 

[ProDave]

The L terminal has no cable in it ?Has it got a humidistat fitted, that would keep the fan running.

Look at the wiring diagram he linked to.

That version of the fan has no connection to the L terminal, just a live feed to terminals 1, 2 or 3 to set different speeds.

 

[SLIPSHOD & SLAPDASH]

The L terminal has no cable in it ?Has it got a humidistat fitted, that would keep the fan running.

Just looked at the wiring and its none of the these thats the problem. Maybe its because its a bathroom fan thats been fitted in a kitchen :run

 

[Sharpend]

Is there a separate fan isolator between switch and fan? Might explain the change of colours.

 

[Doc Hudson]

Due to the miss use of colours it would be wise to get this all fully checked out by a competent person with a suitable test meter, to verify exactly what voltages are present on each conductor for each switch position.

Doc H.

 

[binky]

the cable looks like a flex - cpc doesn't look sleeved from the pictures, so although bad practice, using it as live conductor is less of an issue as it is properly insulated and not a sleeved bare CPC as per FTE cable.

 

[danek]

OK - the solution told by ProDave works perfect - just unplug the black cable !!! THANKS !!!

Fan have 3 speeds - at the moment i have only one but i can put it on/off. New building , new flat and big mess witch cables - everything must be cheap and fast these days....

THANKS AGAIN TO ProDave !!!

 

[ProDave]

OK - the solution told by ProDave works perfect - just unplug the black cable !!! THANKS !!!Fan have 3 speeds - at the moment i have only one but i can put it on/off. New building , new flat and big mess witch cables - everything must be cheap and fast these days....

THANKS AGAIN TO ProDave !!!

If it really is a brand new build, then you should get the builder back to sort it out properly.

Even if removing the black cable has stopped the trickle vent function, you should still have two speeds available, but you say you only have 1 speed working.

Tell whoever the builder sends HOW you want it to work, and point out to them the wrong colours used.

I wonder what other electrical horrors are lurking in that flat if this is an example of their work?

You might want to consider paying a local electrician to do an EICR (Electrical Installation Condition report) so you have some evidence or electrical faults to give to the builder.

 

[danek]

I talk with my neighbours and they have the same problem ..... we pay to electrician to make a report about builders work .

 

[Sharpend]

Are these constant velocity fans which should run continuously?

 

[Doc Hudson]

the cable looks like a flex - cpc doesn't look sleeved from the pictures, so although bad practice, using it as live conductor is less of an issue as it is properly insulated and not a sleeved bare CPC as per FTE cable.

It still shows a total disregard for BS7671 by whoever wired it, where it states Green/Yellow shall only be used for CPC and no other purpose. If they ignore an easy regulation like that what other omissions cut corners, potential hazards have they left? Everything cheap and fast is a poor ethic to adopt. Especially as It takes no longer to use the correct colours than it does to use the wrong colours, (same number of terminations) and you save no money using wrong colours. Correctly designed and installed can be cheap, fast and safe. You do not have to use it as an excuse to accept poor workmanship.

Doc H.

 

[Steve3948]

Totally agree, CPC conductor should never be used as anything other than an earth conductor.

Some years ago plumber used Green/Yellow on 3 Core Flex as switch-live on cylinder stat.

However in wiring centre it was connected as an earth connection.

Due to loss of main earth I am told it ended with a fatality.