shower extractor/light blowing lights fuse

[bushbaby_de]

I have a WC without a window that has two lights, a normal hanging light and a recessed light directly above the shower. Halfway between the two in the ceiling is the extractor. There are two pull cords, one that just turns on the normal light, and one that turns on the recessed light and, if both pull cords have been pulled, also turns on the extractor (if only the recessed light cord has been pulled the extractor doesn't come on, just the recessed light). Just recently, if I pull the main light cord before the extractor cord, the 'lights' fuse for the house blows and it all goes dark. But when I flick the fuse switch all the lights come back on - there isn't a blown bulb like is normally the case. So I figured out that if I pulled the cord for the recessed light/extractor first, then turned on the regular light, the fuse didn't blow. All was good. Then yesterday, I did this, got in the shower, and a few minutes later the fuse blew. So now I have no idea what is making the fuse blow and I can't use my shower for fear of being trapped in the WC in the dark!

Can anyone advise please what I need to do to fix this? Does the recessed light need replacing, or is it the extractor, or is it something else?

Thanks

[The Builder]

I can't even begin to imagine how this has been wired up, Bushy :o(
Well, I suppose I can, but it would seem to be unnecessarily complicated.

Is it a fuse, a miniature circuit breaker, or an RCD (trip) that goes off?

Either way, it does need an electrician to look at it, and do some tracing. Perhaps one of your cords is for the shower as well?
The simplest, most common arrangement, is for one cord to operate both lights AND the fan together.
Is it an electric shower?
If so, then maybe the light and fan are wired to come on with the shower?

[bushbaby_de]

Sorry I've probably made it more complicated than it should be. One cord is just the regular light. The other cord is the type that has the little 'on' button pop down when you pull it, and that operates the recessed light and the extractor. But the extractor does not come on unless both cords have been pulled. The fuse that is going is the main fuse in the fusebox downstairs. It is labelled 'lights 2' and is for all the upstairs lights. The house is only 9 years old. The shower is gravity fed and is not electric in any way shape or form! I'm used to the main fuse going when a light bulb goes but this one is weird because none of the bulbs have gone, so I'm wondering if a failing extractor could blow the fuse? Is 9 years old for an extractor?

Thanks

[Old_Geezer]

A few minutes later ? That's weird, one would have thought it'd go immediately.

Take a battery lamp into the bathroom with you and shower in peace.

It sounds like something is up with the extractor. Maybe the steam is affecting it or maybe it is to do with it warming up. In either case get an electrician to look at it and identify the issue.

[The Builder]

Yes, I see. You can put the main light on... then can decide whether to turn on the other light plus fan.
The live feed for the light/fan is obviously taken from the switched side of the main light.
In a shower room, even minor work comes under the new regulations. You really should get someone in, Bushy.

To get back to the plot... only last week I replaced a similar fan that I had fitted only a few weeks before. I've also seen fans still working well after thirty years.
It sounds as though you have an overcurrent/short-circuit fault. Either fan of transformer (if the recessed light is 12volt)
An electrician would find it in minutes.

[The Builder]

^^^^^^^ "fan OR transformer"

[bushbaby_de]

Thanks for your advice both of you. Yes it is weird that its a few minutes later, but that would be when the steam starts reaching the extractor, which is why I have my suspicions that its the extractor unit. I've replaced an extractor unit myself before and it was very easy - am I not allowed to do this any more? What are the new regs please? Thanks

[Old_Geezer]

As far as I know you can replace if you are competent enough, it's more a concern with new stuff being installed and if it isn't checked then you may break safety rules. (And getting your work checked is probably little different costwise to getting someone else to do it in the first place.) IMO another example of how folk are bossed around by authority unnecessarily: can't do this, can't do that, government has to wrap you in cotton wool because you have no brain.

Google "part p" for more info.

[bushbaby_de]

Hopefully The Builder will come back and clarify. I don't want to do something unlawful but equally I don't want to pay out money to an electrician unnecessarily.

[The Builder]

Ok Bushy ............... I might have misled you earlier. In a room containing a shower, the restricted work applies to modifications and alterations, which I thought might be needed.
Simply replacing the fan is certainly "non-notifiable" work ........... which in plain English means you can do it yourself without the need to call a registered electrician, or notify Building Control. :o)))

[bushbaby_de]

Brilliant, thanks, really appreciate your help. I'll have a bash at the weekend and report back :)