Earth question - Shaver socket

[SUNRAY]

A BS 4573 socket is rated at 200mA continuous. It will suffer no issues.

No.

IIRC the BS specifies a maximum of 200mA

And I'm not sure is specifies continous either.

 

[SUNRAY]

20/115 = 174mA
20/230 = 87mA

 

[JohnW2]

It'll only be a Watt or three but they are enclosed.

I wouldn't really think that, even though fairly enclosed, 'a Watt or three' would result in it getting "very warm".

However, if it does, I stick with my "desperately inefficient" - since it would imply that, when loaded with 1A 1W (at 230V) the efficiency would be something between roughly 25% and 50%, a lot lower than I might have expected of 'just a transformer'.

 

[SUNRAY]

I wouldn't really think that, even though fairly enclosed, 'a Watt or three' would result in it getting "very warm".

However, if it does, I stick with my "desperately inefficient" - since it would imply that, when loaded with 1A (at 230V) the efficiency would be something between roughly 25% and 50%, a lot lower than I might have expected of 'just a transformer'.

It's not possible to get 1A from them. That's one the design requirements.

 

[JohnW2]

It's not possible to get 1A from them. That's one the design requirements.

Apologies for typo (now corrected). As I imagine you realised in the context of the discussion, I meant 1W (about 4.3 mA at 230V), not 1A !

 

[flameport]

And I'm not sure is specifies continous either.

It doesn't.
Rated 200mA, no time specified.

The only reference to 'continuous' is that:
The current-limiting device shall permit 200 mA to be carried continuously.

It also states:
These socket-outlets are not necessarily suitable for the supply to electric dry shavers containing battery charging units.

and that part can be seen in the document preview at https://knowledge.bsigroup.com/prod...in-reversible-plugs-and-shaver-socket-outlets

 

[JohnW2]

.... It also states:
These socket-outlets are not necessarily suitable for the supply to electric dry shavers containing battery charging units.

Interesting, Thanks. Does that mean that they are only 'necessarily' suitable for supplying corded shavers which contain no batteries?

 

[morqthana]

Electric toothbrushes still need to be charged.

I put 3-pin plugs on my toothbrush chargers and use them in the bedroom.

Apart from once when I left the 2-pin on to use on holiday (wife and I had 2 handles at home rather than faff about swapping heads all the time, hence 2 chargers) thinking the plug could be pushed into a French socket.

No.

Cue trip to the nearest hardware store to buy a plug, and the giving of thanks for having taken my Leatherman with me.

 

[morqthana]

I would imagine/assume the same - but, for whatever reason, manufacturers seem to only put toothbrush symbols on some of them!

Do they charge more for those variants?

 

[SUNRAY]

Apologies for typo (now corrected). As I imagine you realised in the context of the discussion, I meant 1W (about 4.3 mA at 230V), not 1A !

Ah that makes more sense

 

[AndyPRK]

Considering shavers had batteries since the 80's ? And RCD's have been required on most circuits for a while, These things really are a joke.


At least this is getting a bit more modern (with USB sockets)

230V Shaver Socket with Dual USB Type A+C Charging Curved Edge Knightsbridge | eBay UK

Gently contoured 7mm plate with rounded edges and anti-microbial properties. Minimum mounting box depth: 47mm.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[JohnW2]

Considering shavers had batteries since the 80's ?

I had a shaver with batteries in the fairly early 70s, but that was then pretty uncommon - most were just 'corded' and, I think, that remained the case for quite a while - non-rechargeable batteries only lasted five minutes in a razor and rechargeable ones were not up to much back then.

And RCD's have been required on most circuits for a while, These things really are a joke.

Are you suggesting that, in the presence of RCD protection, isolated suppliers for shavers (etc.) are no longer needed.

I suspect that one of the reasons why these products have persisted is that it is impossible to have any other sort of socket in a bathroom.

 

[ebee]

I put 3-pin plugs on my toothbrush chargers and use them in the bedroom.

BIG STAR

 

[morqthana]

I suspect that one of the reasons why these products have persisted is that it is impossible to have any other sort of socket in a bathroom.

I thought that now you were allowed, if they were far enough away from the bath or shower? It's just that "far enough away" rules out most normally sized bathrooms?

I had a friend once who lived in a flat which was one in a large Victorian house which had been divided up. And I mean a large house - the sort where developers loved to buy them up just to knock down, as the whole plot was large enough to get 4 or 5 detached houses with gardens in.

For some reason (probably access to plumbing) her bathroom was the largest room in the flat - it must have been at least 5 metres square.

 

[JohnW2]

I thought that now you were allowed, if they were far enough away from the bath or shower? It's just that "far enough away" rules out most normally sized bathrooms?

Exactly - it used to be 3m, fairly recently reduced to 2.5m (hardly worth the change!) - but, as we've both said/implied, "far enough to rule out most normal-sized bathrooms".

I had a friend once who lived in a flat which was one in a large Victorian house which had been divided up. And I mean a large house - the sort where developers loved to buy them up just to knock down, as the whole plot was large enough to get 4 or 5 detached houses with gardens in. ...For some reason (probably access to plumbing) her bathroom was the largest room in the flat - it must have been at least 5 metres square.

It happens - to some extent in my (also 'large') house. One of my bathrooms is about 3m or so by 4m+, but it would still have been a push (particularly before the reduction from 3m),, even if bath and socket were in 'opposite corners'!