Extractor fan relay for two independent light switches

[metanet]

Thinking a 240V AC relay activated by two independent light switches could be used to switch power to a shared inline extractor fan. The fan serves two bathrooms, just needs to be activated from two different switched live lighting circuits.
I'm aware double pole light switches could be used in this scenario but the light switches didn't pass wife test.

Anyone know of a dual input relay I could use for this purpose?

Thanks
Meta

 

[mainline]

Sorry, no diagram, but here goes.
Relay coil to one light S/L, relay pulls in when that light is on.
Contact (needs to be C/O) common to fan S/L input.
Connect contact N/O to same S/L as coil.
Connect N/C contact to S/L on other light.

Switching one light on pulls in the relay, changes over the contacts, and applies live to fan control. Fan runs.
With that light off, tge fan is controlled by the other light as if the relay wasn't there.

The above assumes bith lights on same circuit. If on different circuits, relay coil S/L & N come from one circuit. The N/O contact must connect to the permanent L the fan is connected to - needs an extra cable core.

 

[mainline]

https://www.cef.co.uk/catalogue/products/32048-10a-1-gang-dp-switch

 

[oscar21]

Why don't you try "two input solid state relay", like i posted #7


View attachment 114979

Is that even a dual input relay, I'm even more confused now. Looks like 1 AC input switching 2 different loads depending if the input is high or low

 

[oscar21]

View attachment 114985

I like that, very good.

 

[suffolkspark]

Id just get another inline fan probably as cheap as relays and enclosures

 

[mainline]

Id just get another inline fan probably as cheap as relays and enclosures

Or just get a couple of switches.

 

[mainline]

Is that even a dual input relay, I'm even more confused now. Looks like 1 AC input switching 2 different loads depending if the input is high or low

I clicked on the wrong one

 

[Simon47]

Id just get another inline fan probably as cheap as relays and enclosures

You can fit a relay in a backbox - and you'll most likely have one already for an isolation/maintenance switch. And it'll cost (if you pick sensibly) less than some of the switches people have been suggesting, and definitely less than an extra fan.

 

[DefyG]

Like Simon47, Post #14 I was assuming all to be on same RCD protected circuit and maybe just a L & S/L at the switch! in an existing installation with loft access. Maybe it is being wired from scratch so is open to other options, but just re-read OP's post ........

from two different switched live lighting circuits.

TWO different circuits requires a different solution!

 

[Mikegh]

Does quinetic have a solution for that ?

 

[Simon47]

TWO different circuits requires a different solution!

The OP only says it's two different S/L circuits - I would read that as two different S/Ls, but probably still on the same MCB.
If it is split across two different circuits, that's easy to handle - as I mentioned above, you just take the N/O contact of the relay to the permanent live of the circuit the fan is on. So the relay simple switches the fan between the switched live for that circuit, and to the permanent live for the same circuit when the light on the other circuit is turned on. The relay coil is connected to the lighting circuit that the fan isn't on - and it takes care of the isolation.

 

[richardbatty]

Thinking a 240V AC relay activated by two independent light switches could be used to switch power to a shared inline extractor fan. The fan serves two bathrooms, just needs to be activated from two different switched live lighting circuits.
I'm aware double pole light switches could be used in this scenario but the light switches didn't pass wife test.

Anyone know of a dual input relay I could use for this purpose?

Thanks
Meta

When you say double pole, did you mean, double pole in each switch for the bulb a jumper from each live to the fan and fan permanent neutral. With no relays ?.

 

[mainline]

Oh yes, the relay will hum when on. It's possible to add a couple of diodes so the coil operates on DC, and it's inductance will smooth out the half wave and eliminate the hum.

It's not a good idea to drive an AC relay coil with DC.

 

[DefyG]

The OP only says it's two different S/L circuits - I would read that as two different S/Ls,

You are probably correct as OP doesn't make it clear how its installed, that was my original thinking in my post #6 which incidentally a circuit I had used before and didn't experience any humming (or perhaps drowned out by sound of fan)

 

[Simon47]

When you say double pole, did you mean, double pole in each switch for the bulb a jumper from each live to the fan and fan permanent neutral. With no relays ?.

That's it. But both lights must be on the same circuit.

It's not a good idea to drive an AC relay coil with DC.

It's quite common - some applications use a purpose designed DC coil, some use an AC coil and just feed it DC. Heatmiser do the latter in their UFH control/wiring centers.
Since it's only half wave, and relies on the coil inductance to maintain the current for over half of each cycle (so it's not smooth DC, and significantly less effective voltage than full-wave & smoothed), I doubt it's particularly bad for the coil.