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Topic starter
19/11/2024 6:21 am
Hi everyone,
I need some help with wiring a Vent-Axia 4-inch extractor fan with a timer. I’ve tried to set it up myself, but I’m running into a problem and could really use some advice from someone more experienced.
Here’s what I’ve done so far:
- The fan has three connections: [L, SL, N].
- My cable has three wires: [Brown, Blue, Green-Yellow].
- On the plug, the connections are marked [L, E, N].
I connected:
- Blue wire to N on both the plug and the fan.
- Brown wire to L on both the plug and the fan.
- Green-Yellow wire from E on the plug to SL on the fan.
When I plug it in, the fan blades start to move for a second and then stop completely. I’ve tried adjusting the timer knob, but it hasn’t made any difference. I’m not sure if I’ve misunderstood how the SL (switched live) works or if I’ve made a mistake with the wiring.
Does anyone know what might be going wrong? Any advice would be much appreciated!
Thanks!
19/11/2024 7:33 pm
You’ve wired it wrong. Green-yellow is earth, not switched live – never use it for SL. SL needs a proper feed from a switch, usually from the lighting circuit or a fan isolator. Disconnect the green-yellow from SL immediately; it’s unsafe and against regs. If you don’t have a switched live, the timer won’t work properly. Get a sparky if you’re unsure
rustyblade reacted
21/11/2024 1:16 pm
Alright, you’ve made a common mistake here. The green-yellow wire is earth and should never be connected to the SL (switched live). That’s where your problem is.
Here’s how it should be wired:
- Blue Wire (Neutral): This is fine – it goes to N on both the plug and the fan.
- Brown Wire (Live): Also correct – it goes to L on both the plug and the fan.
- Green-Yellow Wire (Earth): This should go to E on the plug and, if the fan has an earth terminal, it should connect there. Otherwise, cap it off safely – it does not connect to SL.
For the fan’s timer to work properly, the SL terminal needs a switched live feed, usually from a lighting circuit or a separate switch. Without this, the timer can’t activate, which is why your fan isn’t running as it should.
If you don’t have a switched live available, you’ll need to rewire the setup to include one, or the timer function won’t work. If you’re unsure about modifying the circuit, I’d recommend getting a qualified electrician to sort it safely.
