Bathroom extractor stopped working

[22s]

Merry Christmas all!

Very boring topic - I have this extractor in my bathroom which has suddenly stopped working:

Xpelair C4TS 4"/100mm Simply Silent Contour Extractor Fan Timer Delay https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00MCLJJHK/ref=cm_sw_r...

It has its own isolator switch which is permanently set to on, then when the main bathroom light is switched on it turns on, then it runs for a set amount of time after the main bathroom light is switched off.

It did briefly come back to life last week (for one on-off cycle), and now has died again.

I have taken the cover off. The fan spins freely, though it is a little dusty (see pic below):




Is there something obvious that might be causing the issue? Otherwise I’ll just be shelling out the £40 and replacing it.

Thank you!

[Mave]

It looks like something had got hot around the resistor. You could clean up the fan and try swapping the resistor for another one of the same value and rating and see if it works.

[OMITN]

Different make here. I’m on the third in 4 years. Fan motor stops working with no obvious cause.

My conclusion is that these things are just rubbish.

[woodypup59]

I had the same. The timer circuit had gone u s. I removed the circuit board and rewired it using the switched power from the ceiling switch. So now its on or off with no timer.

[dmsims]

Just buy a Helios

[thebraketester]

It's not really worth diagnosing it to be honest. Just replace.

We have one of these but with the down light built in. We are on our second unit in 3 years. Crap quality.

[Belle427]

Just replace it, the quality is crap these days.

[Teddy Lop]

Dunno what you people are doing to your fans but I've fitted hundreds in daily use and rarely have an issue, expect them to last 10 years. Like anything electronic a few will pack up.

[LooneyTunes]

Is your ducting insulated and/or fitted with proper condensate traps/drains?

If not then you could get enough condensation forming and running back down, killing the electronics.

Seeing as how it’s dead, rather than replace like for like, use the opportunity to buy an inline fan instead and benefit from higher and quieter extraction…

[scottyp123]

Remove the two thin black wires in the two way terminal block and connect them to the black and grey wires in the 3 way terminal block, doesn't matter which way round. I'm assuming that the brown wire is the permanent live, black is switched live and grey is neutral.

If the motor works it should come on and off with the light but there won't be an over run anymore. Those resistors on the timer board do run quite hot and I think they dry out the capacitors on them, when these fans struggle to start its usually faulty capacitors that do it.

[Andeh1]

scottyp123 said:

Remove the two thin black wires in the two way terminal block and connect them to the black and grey wires in the 3 way terminal block, doesn't matter which way round. I'm assuming that the brown wire is the permanent live, black is switched live and grey is neutral.

If the motor works it should come on and off with the light but there won't be an over run anymore. Those resistors on the timer board do run quite hot and I think they dry out the capacitors on them, when these fans struggle to start its usually faulty capacitors that do it.

Interesting to know! Thanks

[Busterwebb]

In case anyone is still struggling with fan failure on the Xpelair silentvents, I found the problem to be a failed 220uF capacitor which is mounted too close to the fan speed resistor. Easy to get another and solder it in.