Extractor fan - Do I have to fit a fuse?

OK, I give in! I'll fit the fuse, and the isolator.

There is a part of me however, that thinks that if a fuse is so important, then why didn't the manufacturer fit one in the fan in the first place?

So the wiring goes like this:

Feed from CU -------- fused spur -------- junction box ------------- isolator -------- fan

-------------lights

-------------switch

OK, I'll fit a fuse, and an isolator.

If a fuse is so critical, why isn't it built into the fan?

You could ask the same question about immersion heaters or electric kettles or vacuum cleaners or central heating boilers - some have a fuse in the FCU and others have a fuse in the plug top.

The answer is that the fuse is a standard type, is located in a standard place with a straightforward method of access and it's therefore easy to check that the right fuse is fitted and easy to change a fuse without dismantling the appliance.

HTH

Greenwood Airvac state in their installation instuctions "when supplied from a 5 amp lighting circuit no local fuse is needed" And that does include 6A MCBs

Adam

Hmmm, news to me!

However my bathroom extractor fan failed a few years ago. When I took it apart there clearly had been a little fire. I chased the supliers for a while as I considered this serious and felt it warranted some attention. But I was stone-walled and ignored at every stage. I assumed my case was a one off and so I let it slip.

I am rather preeved now, to discover this is rather common.

I suspect that it was not the fan that caught fire but the timer circuit that controls the fans run on. Every one of these I have looked at has a badly discoloured PCB showing signs of major overheating.

These circuits are *ALL* OBVIOUSLY badly designed... which seems odd.

I wouldn't ask the same question, because my immersion heater is not fused, and kettles and other portable appliances are for other reasons.

The fuse may be of a standard "type", but it is not a standard rating, quite unlike a plug. It is not located in a standard place (where might that be). If it were located in an easily accessible obvious position on a fan it would be standard. I have been taking note of neighbours extractor fans due to my new found interest. So far 11 fans, 4 isolators, no fuses that I can find.

What other reasons?

Ah, you misunderstand my point. Sorry for the ambiguity on my part. I am suggesting that "The answer is that the fuse *(in an FCU or a plug top)* is a standard type, is located in a standard place", etc".