Bathroom Extractor Fan Randomly Revs Up At Night

[dtombs]

Hi Everyone, I've been experiencing some weird things in my bathroom recently. I have an extractor fan that's hooked up to the lighting circuit being operated via a standard pull cord switch. At random times during the day and night the fan revs up as though it has been turned on and then off again very rapidly. The strange thing is that my weighing scales (salter brand) turn on as well in sync. I've noticed my PC speakers picking up some random radio transmissions even when the PC is off (but power to the speakers is turned on). I don't know whether I should replace the extractor fan for a similar model or if its something else. My neighbour has a large 2-3m aerial that turns on a axis pinned to his roof very close to the extractor fan. Could the fan be inducing current from the radio waves?? Any advise would be much appreciated. Thanks, Dan.

 

[Darkwood]

Im going to patiently wait to see the weird replies to this thread should be interesting lol

Poltergeist!!!! ...... you been on your Ouija Board

Has this just started recently or is it been going on for a long time.... have you had any recent storms passing by?

 

[Marvo]

My neighbour has a large 2-3m aerial that turns on a axis pinned to his roof very close to the extractor fan. Could the fan be inducing current from the radio waves??

I would say this is a long shot but post a picture of the antenna anyway if you can.

More likely voltage instability or even a change in wind speed or direction with a domestic bathroom fan can cause it to rev higher or lower. Might be easiest to put a voltage logger on the circuit to start with. Before you start looking for a common cause you need to be absolutely certain that the other events with the scale and the speaker are connected.

 

[Farmelectrics]

Or call the ghost busters lol

 

[GLENNSPARK]

time for some help:

Poltergeist (1982) - Original Trailer - YouTube

 

[chrish_1977]

Or a priest

 

[Darkwood]

 

[Brightspark2]

Id try Derek Acorah....


Check him out here

[video=youtube;I8H_v8cM9CQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8H_v8cM9CQ[/video]




I know this is isnt helpful to you OP but we just cant help ourselves!!

 

[telectrix]

dynamo - magician impossible.

 

[Tridentsystems]

If the aerial is inducing then move the cu closer and disconnect from meter. Free power !!

 

[Tridentsystems]

Fan isn't humidistat as well as triggered is it ? I have been plagued with xpelair faults for last month due to heat and humidity. No idea on scales? Aren't they battery ?? And speakers are probably picking up a wireless polling signal from a device, quite possibly rf from neighbour

 

[dtombs]

I'll try and get a photo of the aerial. In the mean time I'll get the EMI detector and holy water ready!

 

[Darkwood]

Trident makes a good point due to the high humidity you may have a humidistat controlling your fan and the speakers could just be picking up RF interference from the fan motor ... as for the scales thats just you getting paranoid because of the other events.... your wife isn't Yvette Fielding by any chance cos she does my ---- in ....

 

[mitchellC]

Hi Everyone, I've been experiencing some weird things in my bathroom recently. I have an extractor fan that's hooked up to the lighting circuit being operated via a standard pull cord switch. At random times during the day and night the fan revs up as though it has been turned on and then off again very rapidly. The strange thing is that my weighing scales (salter brand) turn on as well in sync. I've noticed my PC speakers picking up some random radio transmissions even when the PC is off (but power to the speakers is turned on). I don't know whether I should replace the extractor fan for a similar model or if its something else. My neighbour has a large 2-3m aerial that turns on a axis pinned to his roof very close to the extractor fan. Could the fan be inducing current from the radio waves?? Any advise would be much appreciated. Thanks, Dan.

I have experienced this issue (fan randomly coming on in the night) and believe I have found both the cause and the solution and would like to share it with you.

Firstly this is to do with an inline fan system where the fan draws air out of a shower light assembly and then pushes it out through an external vent.

The problem is moisture getting into fan timer electronics which causes the circuit to switch the fan on, sometimes with irregular pulsating speed. The solution will be to remove the timer circuit board and dry it out. However, you will need to make sure it doesn't happen all over again. There are two things I did in an attempt to make sure the problem didn't reoccur:

1. The wires from the fan (the fan is in the moist air flowing along the pipe) connect to the timer circuit through a channel in the fan housing. Air can also travel along the wire channel bringing moist air with it where it condenses. Use a sealant to block the channel before replacing the timer circuit board.

2. The air will be forced down the wire channel if the outside vent becomes blocked - it will try every route to escape. Keep the outside vent clear. In my case it was blocked with lint and fluff.

Hope this helps