Mains bathroom cabinet connection - no void behind cabinet

[SJRSJR]

Hello

Have just taken delivery of an IP44 rated bathroom cabinet with LED/demister. The back is completely flat, no void, and as you can see from the spec diagram, the cable comes out of the top. The electrician is going to run a power cable to the area but I'm scratching my head as to how the two will be connected. All I can think of is a flex outlet plate directly above the cabinet which is going to look unsightly. (It's a black cable too and of course the wall is going to be white.) Any ideas?!

 

[ETAF]

whats inside - is there a cover for the power side ????
maybe the cable could come in from the back and connect inside
i know a hole will stop the IP44 rating - but some silicon will sort that out

we have LED lights and the transformer is on the cabinet top with the LED lights dropped through the bridging shelf

 

[pete01]

I've got a similar one in my bathroom, I put a single back box in the right place and the mirror covered the hole similar to a blank plate would I suppose.

They are a rubbish design.

Edit, oh your wire comes from the top that's even worse, I'd make it back entry and blank off the original hole.

 

[Scally-Ho]

We need several photos to form an opinion. That exposed cable IMO is not compliant for bathrooms etc.

 

[Mottie]

Our one originally came out of the top. All the connections are in a concealed section at the top of the cabinet. When I worked out it's position, I drilled a hole in the back near the top, chased the wall out and run a 1mm t&e cable from the loft, connected it up inside at the cabinet end and into the lighting circuit at the other end. Probably wrong as there’s no separate isolator to it, you’d have to turn the upstairs light circuit off if you were ever working on it (I left a note inside saying so) but it’s been fine for the best part of 20 years.

 

[EFLImpudence]

Probably wrong as there’s no separate isolator to it,

Nope. The regulations do not require local isolation for any appliance.

you’d have to turn the upstairs light circuit off if you were ever working on it

Just like you would to work on the lights.

 

[SJRSJR]

whats inside - is there a cover for the power side ????

The electrics are in the top part of the cabinet - can see the screws so probably accessible.

We need several photos to form an opinion. That exposed cable IMO is not compliant for bathrooms etc.

I only have retailer photos right now. I didn't see this before I bought it! It's got a cable entry grommet

I've got a similar one in my bathroom, I'd make it back entry and blank off the original hole.

I drilled a hole in the back near the top, chased the wall out and run a 1mm t&e cable...

Thanks for everyone's input. I guess I need to prove it really isn't IP44, in which case I would argue to return it.

I think the plan was to just run a permanent live to it from the light but the renovation isn't done yet. If it needs to be isolated it may be possible to run the T&E into it and put the switch outside the bathroom. Drilling the back will obviously void the guarantee but might be the only solution.

 

[SJRSJR]

Nope. The regulations do not require local isolation for any appliance.

Ah ok, that'll be less of a job then

 

[Taylortwocities]

I guess I need to prove it really isn't IP44, in which case I would argue to return it.

Why do think it needs to be IP44?

 

[SJRSJR]

Why do think it needs to be IP44?

It was in the context of the comment about it not being compliant because of the exposed cable/cable entry.
It will go in a small ensuite and the left side of the cabinet could be within 60cm of an extended shower head (but not when in its cradle). Wouldn't that make it Zone 2?

 

[Taylortwocities]

Within 60cm yes zone 2. That’s why I asked the question as no room layout/dimensions had been revealed.
But, it’s not a big deal, as @ETAF has said:

i know a hole will stop the IP44 rating - but some silicon will sort that out

 

[morqthana]

We need several photos to form an opinion. That exposed cable IMO is not compliant for bathrooms etc.

?

 

[morqthana]

Find a small polished s/s box, discard the lid, drill one side to take the cable, fix it to the top of the mirror so that it covers the cable and the flex outlet?