"keenbutconfused" wrote in
message ...

Hello. Have been looking on the internet for a while now and although
haven't managed to find an answer to my question do feel an enormous
sense of relief in finding a group of people who between them seem to
have an enormous body of knowledge and the willingness to help people
like me (electricity newcomer) out. I hope you can help
Have taken down existing light fitting in bathroom and have found 2
cables that seem confusing.

Electrics in bathroom are as follows. One pull switch which turns the
one light fitting on and off. When I turn on the light the fan also
comes on. There is an isolator switch whcih can be used to turn off the
fan whilst the light is still on. When the light is turned off the fan
stays on and then turns itself off after about 5 minutes. There is also
a shaver socket.

keenbutconfused

Someone has used the Earth Connecting Conductor in the cable as a secondary
neutral for the switch and permanent neutral to the extractor fan.

This is not dangerous in the fact that the cables can not take the current
rating of the loads they are connected to, but, it does make it dangerous in
not having a proper safety earth ground connection to fitting in an area
that contains large humidity factors.

Can you see if a separate earth conductor has been installed to the light
fitting or fan assembly? If not, then it might be easier to leave the
existing wiring scheme and install a single earth conductor to the light
fitting and fan points. You may be able to do this from the metal back box
of a socket or other light fitting close to the bathroom area.