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Bathroom fan not turning off
Tony Westlake 24/07/2026 - 7.54 AM
I have just replaced a bathroom fan (Manrose 4" timer model) as a like for like replacement. The fan comes on correctly but does not go off. The timer is at minimum time. Is there something simple I have not done/done wrong, or is the new fan likely to be faulty? The wiring matches the old fan, grey neutral, black switched live, brown permanent live
Are you a tradesperson and able to answer this question?
1 Answer
Tommy
Rating: 5 out of 5
In harmonised three-core-and-earth, colours identify the core—not its function:
- brown, black and grey are all potentially line conductors;
- black should be brown-sleeved if used as a live;
- grey should be blue-sleeved if used as neutral.
Do not rely on terminal position matching the old unit. Check the moulded markings on the new Manrose carefully: permanent live is normally L, trigger is normally T, LT, or SL.
- A like-for-like physical replacement can still have a different terminal arrangement.
I don't recommend doing a very quick check under live conditions to see which core is neutral, switched live, and permanent live.
This method is to check voltage(potential difference) between the cores, if both conductors show 230v to one common conductor then the common one is neutral. Then switch off and check which conductor is dead. Moreover it's inaccurate and dangerous especially when there's a borrowed neutral.
Recommended way to do it is to identify the circuit, safe isolate the circuit, and then do end to end conductor tests to identity which one is which.
Answered24 July 2026
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