Cabling through a ceiling

[Mr Gear]

Hi,

When we eventually get round to re-doing our bathroom, It'd be nice to have a sonos play:1 in there so the Mrs can listen to music in the bath. For those not aware, the play:1 is basically a humidity resistant 'wireless' speaker - http://www.sonos.com/shop/products/play1. Sonos themselves say "these Sonos players are humidity resistant and designed to withstand high-humidity, such as in a bathroom with a running shower, they are not waterproof or water resistant. ")

The problem is, the sonos is mains powered.

On other forums I read that others have done just that, and run the power cord through the ceiling to connect to the mains up the loft.

I know virtually nothing about the Regs but isn't running a flex through a ceiling (or wall) a no-no ?

If so... any other options or is it a complete non-starter for using the sonos ? I know other options other devices/options are available but right now its basically this or nothing!

The location would be about 5ft from the bath/shower area.

Thanks in advance

 

[OwainDIYer]

The problem is, the sonos is mains powered.

On other forums I read that others have done just that, and run the power cord through the ceiling to connect to the mains up the loft.

I know virtually nothing about the Regs but isn't running a flex through a ceiling (or wall) a no-no ?

It's a shoddy way of doing it. The flex should be connected into a flex outlet plate, as short as possible, so the device can't be handled or dropped in the bath. The flex outlet plate should be wired to an isolator / FCU preferably outside the bathroom and thence to a suitable socket circuit. Bathroom zones must be observed. If not all circuits in the bathroom are RCD protected then supplementary bonding will have to be used.

 

[Mr Gear]

Thanks for the reply.

I appreciate the observation of the bathroom zones but perhaps luckily in the examples I've heard about (and also as would be in my case) the sonos units were mounted on a bracket at ceiling height outside of the zones.

Good thought about using a flex outlet plate but to connect that up would probably be game over as far as I'm concerned - the loft is fully boarded (and full of stuff) so although there is mains available, its on the wrong side so to connect that up wouldn't be practical.

Not condoning it but I can see why the easy (i.e. 'shoddy') option has been taken in most cases!

 

[Mr Gear]

Further info from trawling the net...

Apparently the max current draw of the sonos play 1 is only 1A and someone says their electrician has wired it into the lighting circuit.

This would certainly be easier in my case. Assuming 'agreeable' with the Regs etc, how would it be done?
Lighting > FCU > Flex outlet > Sonos ?

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

Am I missing something here? I thought the Sonos system allows for a wireless application. So is there a need to have cables/flexes routed within the bathroom?

 

[OwainDIYer]

Further info from trawling the net...

Apparently the max current draw of the sonos play 1 is only 1A and someone says their electrician has wired it into the lighting circuit.

This would certainly be easier in my case. Assuming 'agreeable' with the Regs etc, how would it be done?
Lighting > FCU > Flex outlet > Sonos ?

Could be done that way. Again, check requirements for RCD and/or supplementary bonding for the new wiring.

 

[Mr Gear]

Am I missing something here? I thought the Sonos system allows for a wireless application. So is there a need to have cables/flexes routed within the bathroom?

Yes I'm afraid - its main powered.

 

[Mr Gear]

Further info from trawling the net...

Apparently the max current draw of the sonos play 1 is only 1A and someone says their electrician has wired it into the lighting circuit.

This would certainly be easier in my case. Assuming 'agreeable' with the Regs etc, how would it be done?
Lighting > FCU > Flex outlet > Sonos ?

Could be done that way. Again, check requirements for RCD and/or supplementary bonding for the new wiring.

Ok, thanks, it'll no doubt be done at the same time as the bathroom so guess that it'll be someone far more qualified than I who does the actual work but at least it appears 'do-able'

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

Yes I'm afraid - its main powered.

The link you offered for the play 1, has a wireless application, so why is it necessary to have mains power. They can be run via apps and a WIFI device.

 

[OwainDIYer]

Yes I'm afraid - its main powered.

The link you offered for the play 1, has a wireless application, so why is it necessary to have mains power.

To make it work. It won't work without electricity. It doesn't have batteries. Therefore it has to be connected to mains electricity to work. The specifications clearly state

Power Supply

AC 120/240V, 50-60Hz, auto-switchable

 

[JohnW2]

The problem is, the sonos is mains powered. ... On other forums I read that others have done just that, and run the power cord through the ceiling to connect to the mains up the loft. ... I know virtually nothing about the Regs but isn't running a flex through a ceiling (or wall) a no-no ?

I'm struggling a bit to understand what the fuss is all about. If this unit is ceiling mounted, with a cable going through a hole in the plasterboard (or whatever) of the ceiling to connect to some source of 'mains' power (FCU, JB, socket or whatever) on the other side of the plasterboard or whatever (accessible in roof space), then that would surely be no different from very many a ceiling-mounted light fitting ... or am I missing something?

Kind Regards, John

 

[phatboy]

Just screw a flex outlet over the small cable hole made in the ceiling to smarten it up.

If there is a socket in the loft connect it to that.

 

[JohnW2]

Just screw a flex outlet over the small cable hole made in the ceiling to smarten it up.

With ceiling light fittings, the hole is the plasterboard is usually behind/'underneath' the fitting, and therefore does not need to be 'smartened up'. The same may well be possible with the OP's device.

Kind Regards, John

 

[phatboy]

Just screw a flex outlet over the small cable hole made in the ceiling to smarten it up.

With ceiling light fittings, the hole is the plasterboard is usually behind/'underneath' the fitting, and therefore does not need to be 'smartened up'. The same may well be possible with the OP's device.

Kind Regards, John

I don't think that's the case with the Sonos stuff. The brackets I found don't seem to be like that.

 

[Mr Gear]

Well here is an unexpected twist then!

So NOT against the regs then? I thought I'd read something about it but all I can find now is the link below.... which appears to be US based and hence perhaps different regs (or 'the code' ?)

http://diy.stackexchange.com/questi...-for-plugged-ceiling-lights-through-the-attic

Cutting the plug off the cord, bodging a hole in the ceiling into the loft, and then sticking the plug back on would be back to plan 'A' but for reasons discussed I thought alternatives needed to be found...