I would imagine/assume the same - but, for whatever reason, manufacturers seem to only put toothbrush symbols on some of them!
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Earth question - Shaver socket
- Thread starter Simon2710uk
- Start date
A BS 4573 socket is rated at 200mA continuous. In excess of 100W. A toothbrush rarely takes more than 5W when charging. So I'm not sure where this myth arose.
Quite. I suppose it's not really a 'myth', since it's an undeniable truth that most manufacturers of 'shaver sockets' don't put a 'toothbrush symbol' on them, but I doubt that those symbols even existed until relatively recently.
The 'mythology', if that's what one calls it, relates to the large number of people who seem to believe that the absence of a toothbrush symbol means that its not suitable for charging a toothbrush - which, as you point out, is clearly nonsense!
The myth is what I quoted, that many shaver sockets are not rated for charging toothbrushes. They all are, either because they meet BS 4573, or because they don't have a transformer as not intended for bathrooms. Adding a picture of a toothbrush doesn't change the rating.
Tooth brushes take a long time to charge.
They are on a slow 1W induction charger.
The result is that the isolation transformer cooks away.
They are on a slow 1W induction charger.
The result is that the isolation transformer cooks away.
I think we're just playing with words. Many people seem to regard "rated for" as relating to what a manufacturer says a product is suitable for, so I suppose it's understandable that they might regard absence of a 'toothbrush symbol' as indicating that the manufacturer does not regard it as suitable for the purpose - despite the fact that, as you say, putting a picture on it (or not) does not alter the electrical capabilities of the product.
That is generally true, but ....
... do you really believe that a transformer supplying 1W into a load, even for a long period of time (and, hopefully, not desperately inefficient) will get 'cooked'?
A BS 4573 socket is rated at 200mA continuous. It will suffer no issues.
it's more the duration that they have to be plugged in for, rather than the current draw itself.
They get very hot at the back.
My personal opinion is that I'm not a fan of the heat and humming, and we have RCDs there days
They get very hot at the back.
My personal opinion is that I'm not a fan of the heat and humming, and we have RCDs there days
It's obviously a combination of the two which is relevant - but I wouldn't have thought that a 'negligible' current for a very long time would be a problem.
Do they, even when supplying just 1W, or whatever? If so, I guess that the 'hope' I voiced must have been misplaced, since it would presumably mean that the transformer was "desperately inefficient"?
It's not a myth it has been as a result of failures
EDIT: Some run very warm with no load on them
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OK. They would probably count as 'desperately inefficient', then
Does anyone have any idea (or knowledge) about what current/power these 'some' consume when not loaded?
It'll only be a Watt or three but they are enclosed.
Years ago we tried using one in some test equipment where a piece of kit had to be floating but the voltage regulation was terrible and strangely non linear, I'll try a quick look later but I doubt I still have the notes.
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