UK New timed fan isolator and switch... but lighting circuit is via

[Christophyfryfle]

Simple replacement of an old noisy fan. Should have been rip the old one out, put the new one in. Only change is the new fan has a timer overrun which was chosen due to the old tenants leaving it in for so long it eventually went bust. The old fan didn't have a timer.

Anyway... I've got the new fan and isolator in place, went to replace the twin core with 3 core... and that is when I found the rose was replaced with Quickwire a few years ago. I've been given a few (bit Heath Robinson) solutions of sorts on one forum, which if it wasn't in a Part P location would be fine, but mmmm not sure about bathrooms. And on another electrician forum on Reddit, I only got sarcastic comments back, and one solution that would definitely fail inspection. So third time lucky.

Has anyone come up with a solution to this that would be acceptable in regards to Part P? Short summary: 3 core and earth from isolator switch to Quickwire, which is only twin core. Thanks in advance!

 

[Dartlec]

Simple replacement of an old noisy fan. Should have been rip the old one out, put the new one in. Only change is the new fan has a timer overrun which was chosen due to the old tenants leaving it in for so long it eventually went bust. The old fan didn't have a timer.

Anyway... I've got the new fan and isolator in place, went to replace the twin core with 3 core... and that is when I found the rose was replaced with Quickwire a few years ago. I've been given a few (bit Heath Robinson) solutions of sorts on one forum, which if it wasn't in a Part P location would be fine, but mmmm not sure about bathrooms. And on another electrician forum on Reddit, I only got sarcastic comments back, and one solution that would definitely fail inspection. So third time lucky.

Has anyone come up with a solution to this that would be acceptable in regards to Part P? Short summary: 3 core and earth from isolator switch to Quickwire, which is only twin core. Thanks in advance!

Keep meaning to try the Quickwire things out but not got round to it.

However, the Part P location is a slight red herring I think - there are only correct ways to do it, and incorrect ways, whatever the location.

Only way I can see of doing it would be to replace the Quickwire with a Wago or similar box in the ceiling void - or go back to using the ceiling light as a junction box if it has adequate terminals to allow that (many wouldn't).

That is if I've understood your wiring correctly. The 3 core and earth runs from the (existing quickwire) to the isolator, which then runs on to the fan, correct?

 

[timhoward]

I had this once. I'm not saying I solved it the best way, but the way I did it was to not use 3 core.
I put another Quickwire joint box (the grey one one with 4 connections all joined) in-line in the lighting loop, ran a new T+E from this as the permanent supply to the isolator, and ran a double insulated 1 core from the light fitting to the isolator as the switched live. Then 3 core from the isolator to the fan.

 

[Christophyfryfle]

Keep meaning to try the Quickwire things out but not got round to it.

However, the Part P location is a slight red herring I think - there are only correct ways to do it, and incorrect ways, whatever the location.

Only way I can see of doing it would be to replace the Quickwire with a Wago or similar box in the ceiling void - or go back to using the ceiling light as a junction box if it has adequate terminals to allow that (many wouldn't).

That is if I've understood your wiring correctly. The 3 core and earth runs from the (existing quickwire) to the isolator, which then runs on to the fan, correct?

Not quite; it goes: feed from previous luminaire ... Quickwire splitter (which has of course three exits: one to light switch, one to the bathroom light, and one to the previous shower (which had no timer, so was simply twin core through to the fan. Just to clarify there wasn't even an isolator... The original installation must go back at least thirty years so that may have been fine then, but now it wouldn't be - so I have put an isolator in.

So... From the NEW (timer overrun setting) fan going back to the Quickwire, it now goes "Fan... 3 core to fan isolator... 3 core to ... Er... What the ?!?!???!". (I am looking at my left hand that is holding 3 core, in my right hand I am holding a Quickwire splitter).

if the worst comes to the worst I'll rip out the three core and simply take the time delay shutoff out of the equation, though apparently it was doing that which contributed to the sorry state of the old fan. It was condemned before I bought this house.

But I would recommend Quickwire all day long. The time it saves... They do a starter kit - two splitters, two switch&loads, the wire stripping tool and the tool to take wires back out. Practise till you can do all four in a minute..then put it all away, get an old ceiling rose, four pieces of uncut cable, and time yourself. It is revelatory...

 

[Dartlec]

Not quite; it goes: feed from previous luminaire ... Quickwire splitter (which has of course three exits: one to light switch, one to the bathroom light, and one to the previous shower (which had no timer, so was simply twin core through to the fan. Just to clarify there wasn't even an isolator... The original installation must go back at least thirty years so that may have been fine then, but now it wouldn't be - so I have put an isolator in.

So... From the NEW (timer overrun setting) fan going back to the Quickwire, it now goes "Fan... 3 core to fan isolator... 3 core to ... Er... What the ?!?!???!". (I am looking at my left hand that is holding 3 core, in my right hand I am holding a Quickwire splitter).

if the worst comes to the worst I'll rip out the three core and simply take the time delay shutoff out of the equation, though apparently it was doing that which contributed to the sorry state of the old fan. It was condemned before I bought this house.

Any way of doing it while keeping the Quickwire is likely to be more fiddly and use more materials than just replacing it with a Wago box and suitable push fit or lever terminals. That does rely on having enough slack to draw the cables together of course. (I believe you can remove cables from a Quickwire, but I have a vague memory that you need some sort of special plastic 'tool' to do so easily?)

Only other possibly neatish way of doing it would be along the lines of timhoward's suggestion - run a double insulated single length either from the permanent live part of the switch, or from previous light, or other suitable permanent live point - then connect that into a small junction box with your 3 core and the existing feed from the quickwire (that went to the previous fan).

 

[timhoward]

Only other possibly neatish way of doing it would be along the lines of timhoward's suggestion - run a double insulated single length either from the permanent live part of the switch, or from previous light, or other suitable permanent live point - then connect that into a small junction box with your 3 core and the existing feed from the quickwire (that went to the previous fan).

It sounds like a white Quickwire, with feed in, feed out, switch wire, and light fitting.
From the above text, feed in came from previous light, and feed out went to fan (he said shower).
Switch wire must be light switch, and the switched output must be the light fitting (bathroom light).

So it's the switched live he's missing and needs the 1-core for. Not the Permanent Live.

You do need the tool to remove wires from a Quickwire, they send one with every order, and with tool it's a doddle.

 

[Dartlec]

It sounds like a white Quickwire, with feed in, feed out, switch wire, and light fitting.
From the above text, feed in came from previous light, and feed out went to fan (he said shower).
Switch wire must be light switch, and the switched output must be the light fitting (bathroom light).

So it's the switched live he's missing and needs the 1-core for. Not the Permanent Live.

You do need the tool to remove wires from a Quickwire, they send one with every order, and with tool it's a doddle.

Looks like that's right - I'd thought it had two switched outputs.

But if it's as you are describing - then the original fan would have been on permanently, not ever switched? if so no wonder it burnt out.... Or maybe it had a pull cord?

Your original suggestion is likely the only way to do it while keeping the Quickwire then. - Though the single could connect to the switched live of the 3 core cable in this case in a suitable enclosure beside the Quickwire...

I'd still probably prefer to remove it and put a Wago in this case, but it's often a case of what you get used to and are comfortable with.

 

[timhoward]

Yeah - Quickwire have their place, this is one situation where they are a bit of a pain.
Space will be the deciding factor here.
This just needs a T+E from loop out to the isolator and a 1 core for switched live.
In my install the loop out went to the next light hence the need for an extra grey multi-way quickwire...

(As a matter of academic interest I've just opened a Quickwire up with two small flatbladed screwdrivers, so it can be done without their little tool, just needs care.)

 

[Soi disant]

Quickwire emailed me a couple of weeks ago about their new T-connector.

I said to them what about a 4-terminal one, for EM lighting, interlinked smoke alarms and fans...

 

[Christophyfryfle]

Looks like that's right - I'd thought it had two switched outputs.

But if it's as you are describing - then the original fan would have been on permanently, not ever switched? if so no wonder it burnt out.... Or maybe it had a pull cord?

Your original suggestion is likely the only way to do it while keeping the Quickwire then. - Though the single could connect to the switched live of the 3 core cable in this case in a suitable enclosure beside the Quickwire...

I'd still probably prefer to remove it and put a Wago in this case, but it's often a case of what you get used to and are comfortable with.ere used to be a cord, before I bought this place. Patch on ceiling and hole where it used to be. The previous owner had a tenant who broke the cord for the fan, which left the fan on permanently, but didn't tell his landlord (the previous owner). They only found out about this when I booked my viewing and he went to the property to check it before I got there. And found the fan rattling like crazy and no way to turn it off.

 

[Christophyfryfle]

It was stuck on, previous tenant from previous owner snapped the pull cord and didn't tell the landlord. LL only found out about it when the estate agent went round for photos. The fan had been stuck on permanently and the motor was a bit whiffy, but when I moved in the cord had gone and the fan was off the wall. I was told about this prior to completion; this all happened in the last few weeks when the tenant was moving out. I got a little reduction in price out of it. Since I was going to renovate the bathroom anyway it didn't seem like that big a deal. Tak the old gubbins out, pop a new one in, bish bash bosh. Alas...

 

[Christophyfryfle]

Yeah - Quickwire have their place, this is one situation where they are a bit of a pain.
Space will be the deciding factor here.
This just needs a T+E from loop out to the isolator and a 1 core for switched live.
In my install the loop out went to the next light hence the need for an extra grey multi-way quickwire...

(As a matter of academic interest I've just opened a Quickwire up with two small flatbladed screwdrivers, so it can be done without their little tool, just needs care.)

 

[Christophyfryfle]

Simple replacement of an old noisy fan. Should have been rip the old one out, put the new one in. Only change is the new fan has a timer overrun which was chosen due to the old tenants leaving it in for so long it eventually went bust. The old fan didn't have a timer.

Anyway... I've got the new fan and isolator in place, went to replace the twin core with 3 core... and that is when I found the rose was replaced with Quickwire a few years ago. I've been given a few (bit Heath Robinson) solutions of sorts on one forum, which if it wasn't in a Part P location would be fine, but mmmm not sure about bathrooms. And on another electrician forum on Reddit, I only got sarcastic comments back, and one solution that would definitely fail inspection. So third time lucky.

Has anyone come up with a solution to this that would be acceptable in regards to Part P? Short summary: 3 core and earth from isolator switch to Quickwire, which is only twin core. Thanks in advance!

All sorted, thanks to Quickwire who provided a diagram for this exact scenario in a Part P location. If you're registered with ECA, NICEIC and/or ELECSA, this is their Approved Method.

 

[timhoward]

Interesting. Funnily enough their solution is basically the same idea.
I was advocating a 1 core + Earth from light fitting to isolator.
Their solution is using another quickwire splitter on the load side and running a 2 core T+E to isolator, then cutting the one that isn't needed, basically making it a 1-core + Earth again!

That said their solution has some benefits:
-It's probably cheaper to get the quickwire splitter and use T+E that you probably already have rather than acquiring a reel of rarely needed 1 core and earth .
-their solution has the advantage that if you can't get another cable into the light fitting the joint can be external.
-it allows more fun playing with another quickwire!

As a note to anyone else finding this thread in future, both their way and my way has an extra gotcha if the light fitting isn't the last one on the circuit. It's probably easiest to journey to wago-land then, or do it as per my original answer in this thread.

 

[Mike Johnson]

Will have to try the Quickwire's at some point, their solution looks very neat and easy to implement.