modifying a bathroom extraction fan to have a separate pull cord.
 

I have a bathroom extractor fan that is activated when the bathroom
light is turned on and eventually times out when the light is turned
off. This is a rubbish solution in my opinion since:

(1)To get the fan to run when showering, the light needs to be turned on
even when it is daylight.

(2)When I want to turn the light on to use the bathroom but not have a
shower, the fan turns on. This is especially annoying when you have just
got your 2 year old son too sleep who then wakes up because of the noise
of the fan.

(3) There is no way of quickly turning off the fan before a fully
fledged (2) develops.


The best solution to me seems to remove the fan from the light switch
and give it, it's own separate pull cord switch with a neon indicator so
that you can tell if the fan is actually on or in time out.

Any reasons why I can't do this or is it just a bad idea?

modifying a bathroom extraction fan to have a separate pull cord.
 

On 10 Aug, 14:40, Rob Horton wrote:

Any reasons why I can't do this or is it just a bad idea?

Humidistat?

My pull-switch makes more of a "Twang! Clunk!" than the fan does.

modifying a bathroom extraction fan to have a separate pull cord.
 

Owain wrote:
On 10 Aug, 14:40, Rob Horton wrote:
I have a bathroom extractor fan that is activated when the bathroom
light is turned on and eventually times out when the light is turned
off.
The best solution to me seems to remove the fan from the light switch
and give it, it's own separate pull cord switch with a neon indicator so
that you can tell if the fan is actually on or in time out.
Any reasons why I can't do this or is it just a bad idea?

You may be required under Building Regs to have a fan linked to the
light especially if the bathroom has no natural ventilation.

The bathroom has a window. Anyway, I want to be able to use the light
without turning the fan on and use the fan without turning the light on.

You should have a 3-pole isolator switch for the fan, typically
mounted near the ceiling outside the bathroom door, for maintenance
and cleaning. That would turn the fan off.


Sadly, there is no isolator switch. This wouldn't solve the problem
since to use the fan, the light would have to be turned on. A pointless
waste of electricity during daylight hours.

Or you could refit it so it doesn't make so much noise. Fans shouldn't
be noisy enough to waken somebody.

It's not that noisy. But my sons room is right next to the bathroom and
surprising things can wake him up.
Owain

modifying a bathroom extraction fan to have a separate pull cord.
 

Andy Dingley wrote:

My pull-switch makes more of a "Twang! Clunk!" than the fan does.

Any recommendations for low-force, quiet ceiling pull switches?

(Previous applicants, Screwfix and TLC, need not re-apply.)


--
Ian White

modifying a bathroom extraction fan to have a separate pull cord.
 

On Aug 10, 4:35*pm, Ian White wrote:
Andy Dingley wrote:

My pull-switch makes more of a "Twang! Clunk!" than the fan does.

Any recommendations for low-force, quiet ceiling pull switches?

(Previous applicants, Screwfix and TLC, need not re-apply.)

--
Ian White

How is the fan wired to the switch?

modifying a bathroom extraction fan to have a separate pull cord.
 

"Rob Horton" wrote in message
...
I have a bathroom extractor fan that is activated when the bathroom light
is turned on and eventually times out when the light is turned off. This is
a rubbish solution in my opinion since:

(1)To get the fan to run when showering, the light needs to be turned on
even when it is daylight.

(2)When I want to turn the light on to use the bathroom but not have a
shower, the fan turns on. This is especially annoying when you have just
got your 2 year old son too sleep who then wakes up because of the noise
of the fan.

(3) There is no way of quickly turning off the fan before a fully fledged
(2) develops.


The best solution to me seems to remove the fan from the light switch and
give it, it's own separate pull cord switch with a neon indicator so that
you can tell if the fan is actually on or in time out.

Any reasons why I can't do this or is it just a bad idea?

No problems at all. It sounds like a good idea.

Strictly speaking there should be a fan isolator but I will leave that up to
you.


Adam

modifying a bathroom extraction fan to have a separate pull cord.
 

Rob Horton wrote:

The best solution to me seems to remove the fan from the light switch
and give it, it's own separate pull cord switch with a neon indicator so
that you can tell if the fan is actually on or in time out.

Any reasons why I can't do this or is it just a bad idea?

How about?:

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/BGREMHM.html

It will control the fan based on humidity, and you can always override
it with a quick (silent) twist of the knob. You ought to have an
isolator somewhere else for the fan as well, but since this is not for
day to day use, it can be a clunky ceiling switch type.

--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/

modifying a bathroom extraction fan to have a separate pull cord.
 

Owain wrote:
On 10 Aug, 16:35, Ian White wrote:
My pull-switch makes more of a "Twang! Clunk!" than the fan does.
Any recommendations for low-force, quiet ceiling pull switches?
(Previous applicants, Screwfix and TLC, need not re-apply.)

Try "Dimpull", it's a dimmer not an on-off switch.

Thanks, I'll keep that in mind although the present bathroom lights are
not dimmable.


--
Ian White

modifying a bathroom extraction fan to have a separate pull cord.
 

Lee Nowell wrote:
On Aug 10, 4:35*pm, Ian White wrote:
Andy Dingley wrote:

My pull-switch makes more of a "Twang! Clunk!" than the fan does.

Any recommendations for low-force, quiet ceiling pull switches?

(Previous applicants, Screwfix and TLC, need not re-apply.)

--
Ian White

How is the fan wired to the switch?

I wasn't the one who asked that question.


--
Ian White

modifying a bathroom extraction fan to have a separate pull cord.
 

Rob Horton wrote:

The best solution to me seems to remove the fan from the light switch
and give it, it's own separate pull cord switch with a neon indicator so
that you can tell if the fan is actually on or in time out.

I have the same problem (with a fussy relative), and solved it with a
pull switch series wired before the fan isolator switch. This switch
(inside the bathroom but away from unsafe zones) has a neon indicator
that neatly shows whether the fan is powered for timeout use, or
disabled for nuisance control.

--
Adrian C

modifying a bathroom extraction fan to have a separate pull cord.
 

"Ian White" wrote in message
...
Andy Dingley wrote:

My pull-switch makes more of a "Twang! Clunk!" than the fan does.

Any recommendations for low-force, quiet ceiling pull switches?

(Previous applicants, Screwfix and TLC, need not re-apply.)


--
Ian White

http://www.lightingstyles.co.uk/Dimp..._dimmer(1).htm

TLC Also sell them.

modifying a bathroom extraction fan to have a separate pull cord.
 

On Aug 11, 2:02*pm, "Toby" wrote:
"Ian White" wrote in message

...

Andy Dingley wrote:

My pull-switch makes more of a "Twang! Clunk!" than the fan does.

Any recommendations for low-force, quiet ceiling pull switches?

(Previous applicants, Screwfix and TLC, need not re-apply.)

--
Ian White

http://www.lightingstyles.co.uk/Dimp..._cord_dimmer(1...

TLC Also sell them.

Funnily enough I've been having problems with a noisy extractor fan
( also in parallel with my bathroom light switch) - problems are due
to the cowboy installer not the fan itself. Versions with proximity or
humidity sensors are also available, the manufacturer is Manrose -
customer service is excellent, email answered within a couple of
hours, new part sent to me for free; the likes of TLC stock them.

modifying a bathroom extraction fan to have a separate pull cord.
 

On 11 Aug, 00:23, Adrian C wrote:
Rob Horton wrote:
The best solution to me seems to remove the fan from the light switch
and give it, it's own separate pull cord switch with a neon indicator so
that you can tell if the fan is actually on or in time out.

I have the same problem (with a fussy relative), and solved it with a
pull switch series wired before the fan isolator switch. This switch
(inside the bathroom but away from unsafe zones) has a neon indicator
that neatly shows whether the fan is powered for timeout use, or
disabled for nuisance control.

--
Adrian C

I think I've scanned through the posts enough to be sure I'm not
repeating something someone has said.

Replace the fan with one that has a humidistat and a pull cord. I
abandoned the light switched variety many years ago for all the
reasons you have given - and am possibly in defiance of the rules as
the bathroom has a non-opening window.

Have a look at these people

http://www.rdlproducts.com/contents.htm

Sometimes the required item appears on Ebay.

Rob

modifying a bathroom extraction fan to have a separate pull cord.
 

On Aug 10, 2:40*pm, Rob Horton wrote:
I have a bathroom extractor fan that is activated when the bathroom
light is turned on and eventually times out when the light is turned
off. This is a rubbish solution in my opinion since:

(1)To get the fan to run when showering, the light needs to be turned on
even when it is daylight.

(2)When I want to turn the light on to use the bathroom but not have a
shower, the fan turns on. This is especially annoying when you have just
got your 2 year old son too sleep who then wakes up because of the noise
of the fan.

(3) There is no way of quickly turning off the fan before a fully
fledged (2) develops.

The best solution to me seems to remove the fan from the light switch
and give it, it's own separate pull cord switch with a neon indicator so
that you can tell if the fan is actually on or in time out.

Any reasons why I can't do this or is it just a bad idea?


Perfectly good plan.

You can choose either an on/off swtch or you could use a momentary
switch, the latter will start the fan for the 20 minutes or whatever
when pressed, and won't keep it running indeifinitely. You could also,
if you prefer, get a momentary switch that will fit a half inch hole
drilled in the fan casing.

I'd also consider unscrewing the fan and remounting it using added cut
down rubber tap washers plus metal washers on each side of the fan
case. I always fit them this way, and for an extra minute's work you
get a much quieter fan in most cases.
Ie wall - rubber washer - fan case - rubber washer - metal washer -
screw head.
When using this method, just tighten the mounting screws till there's
no slack, dont go too tight or the noise reducing effect will be
greatly reduced.

mo
http://wiki.diyfaq.org.uk/index.php?...oise_reduction


NT