u/CalicoCatRobot

Why do extractor fan manufacturers insist on making their products so that they can only be fitted one way (without often telling you even on their own site where the cable entry point is).

I expect the dirt cheap ones to be so for a reason, but even the more expensive ones have major issues.

I needed one for a job this week, and found it impossible to determine where the cable entry point was for a vent axia fan, even from browsing their site.

Then when I bought it and it wasn't on the side I wanted (of course), I couldn't even install it upside down, because their cover will only fit one way due to their branding.

I've even bought round ones before, that would make perfect sense to be fittable in any orientation, only to find that the cover determines that they must go one way only.

Not to mention the "back draft shutters" made out of a plastic bag.

I tend to go inline by preference now to avoid many of the issues, and use the Envirovent Silent 100T as a standard when I have time to order one in for wall mounted jobs, but sometimes you need one quickly.

Anyone aware of a good quality wall mounted fan that has:

1. Entry point options on either side (or can be orientated any direction without the branding being at an angle)

2. Back draft shutters that are made of something more robust.

Tried the D-line stag clips (round) for some 1mm flex on Saturday and really not impressed.

They don't seem to clip together properly, so kept popping apart when being installed, and even then didn't really hold the cable tightly once pushed fully home, even though it was the correct o/d spec. (6-8mm)

There was one of the ones for twin and earth (or double flex) in the packet randomly, and that seemed to have a proper latch mechanism on the clip, so that it stayed closed, but these didn't. They weren't cheap either.

Fortunately it was just to hold cable in external chasing while it was rendered

Are the Linian ones any better for future reference?

You pesky gods of gravity, you have no power over my earth sleeving now!

Seriously, I won't go back now for downlights and similar work. The only slight downside is that the ratchet strippers don't strip the earth at the same time, and my knipex cutters don't have a 1mm hole.

Also discovered that the Aurora 981s have been slightly rebranded and now have lever terminals rather than the push ones - I think they are actually better, though they've made the terminal box slightly shorter than I'd like, as usual.