Fart fan wiring prob

[Foster s]

I'm replacing a single pole switch for a fan in my bathroom. There is only a 2 wire switch leg coming from the fan. I'm wanting to install a levelton button timer.. it wants hot(black) switch( red) and a neutral( white) not to mention a ground(green). The house was built in the 20' s, there is no neutral or ground. Help please

 

[Lucien Nunes]

This is a common problem, where electronic devices are being retrofitted in place of traditional switches. There is no ready solution to installing the timer you have, other than to upgrade the wiring to bring the neutral and ground to the timer location. Leviton and others do offer some products that don't require a neutral, although they are more fussy about what kinds of loads they can control because the power required to operate the timer has to be obtained via the controlled load and switched hot output. Whether any of these are designed to be safe without a ground is a separate issue.

A US-based poster might have a clearer idea of what products are available where you are (I'm in the UK, we have the same problem but the product selection is different.)

 

[littlespark]

I’d like to know what a fart fan does?

 

[catdog1121]

I’d like to know what a fart fan does?

I wondered that... Does it take the fart smell away or does it spread it round a room to maximise the effectiveness...?

 

[Foster s]

This is a common problem, where electronic devices are being retrofitted in place of traditional switches. There is no ready solution to installing the timer you have, other than to upgrade the wiring to bring the neutral and ground to the timer location. Leviton and others do offer some products that don't require a neutral, although they are more fussy about what kinds of loads they can control because the power required to operate the timer has to be obtained via the controlled load and switched hot output. Whether any of these are designed to be safe without a ground is a separate issue.

A US-based poster might have a clearer idea of what products are available where you are (I'm in the UK, we have the same problem but the product

 

[Foster s]

Thanks Lucien,
Ground will eventually be fixed, but as ground and neutral are on the same bus on the panel, can I (safely) wire the neutral and return (Red)on the timer to the return of the switch leg?

 

[Lucien Nunes]

No, that won't work. When the timer is idle it would see neutral via the switch return and fan, but the moment it switches on that wire becomes hot, the timer no longer has 120V to power it and it will switch off. Possibly in a mad frenzy of oscillation. Only timers that are designed to work without a neutral can draw their power via the switch leg.

 

[Foster s]

No, that won't work. When the timer is idle it would see neutral via the switch return and fan, but the moment it switches on that wire becomes hot, the timer no longer has 120V to power it and it will switch off. Possibly in a mad frenzy of oscillation. Only timers that are designed to work without a neutral can draw their power via the switch leg.

Thank you Sir,
I reinstalled the dumb switch.... for now

 

[telectrix]

I’d like to know what a fart fan does?

a fart fan claps and cheers when the farter produces a long, loud, smelly fart worthy of appreciation.

 

[UNG]

I’d like to know what a fart fan does?

Air Quality Sensor | Vent-Axia

www.vent-axia.com

 

[Megawatt]

I'm replacing a single pole switch for a fan in my bathroom. There is only a 2 wire switch leg coming from the fan. I'm wanting to install a levelton button timer.. it wants hot(black) switch( red) and a neutral( white) not to mention a ground(green). The house was built in the 20' s, there is no neutral or ground. Help please

The wires you have at your switch is both carrying voltage. As @Lucien stated you will need an extra wire to make the timer work. Hire an electrician to pull you another cable with 3 wires and a ground.