USB sockets in bathrooms

[ban-all-sheds]

Never seen one, and I doubt they would be made. One of the specific features of a shaver socket is that it provides an isolated SINGLE output that is not referenced to earth - so it's not possible to have a live to earth shock. Once you have two outlets, then there's scope for a fault to earth on one making the other live. Not to mention, I wouldn't have thought that there was all that much call for USB by the bathroom sink.

https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=+usb+toothbrush+charger

 

[JohnW2]

There are plenty of USB-chargeable toothbrushes around, but I have yet to see any acceptable means of charging them in a UK bathroom, unless it were large enough for a socket to be installed >3m from bath etc. There might be USB chargers that would plug into an isolated shaver socket, but I don't recall ever having seen such an animal.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I'm sure that's all true.

I was responding to "I wouldn't have thought that there was all that much call for USB by the bathroom sink."

I'll highlight that part.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I have yet to see any acceptable means of charging them in a UK bathroom, unless it were large enough for a socket to be installed >3m from bath etc.

With the disclaimer that I don't know how many USB outlets comply with 414, the distance limit from the bath is 60cm, not 3m.

701.512.3

 

[Sandtree]

There might be USB chargers that would plug into an isolated shaver socket, but I don't recall ever having seen such an animal.

I've seen a philips 2 pin plug with USB socket that was sold as a "travel adaptor" into the UK market for a toothbrush. I cannot say for certain if it was designed for use with the shaver socket or was intended for use in Europe but it worked when plugged into a shaver socket.

 

[JohnW2]

I've seen a philips 2 pin plug with USB socket that was sold as a "travel adaptor" into the UK market for a toothbrush. I cannot say for certain if it was designed for use with the shaver socket or was intended for use in Europe but it worked when plugged into a shaver socket.

Fair enough. As I said, such things might exist, although I had never seen one.

In passing, as for the comment about distances from a bath, I was talking about all the mains-powered USB chargers I have seen, which have to be plugged into 13A sockets (which would have to be at least 3m from bath etc.). A dedicated 'USB charger' electrical accessory would probably be OK with the usual considerations about bathroom zones.

Kind Regards, John

 

[securespark]

I'm not sure if these comply, could you fit one of these?
https://www.electricalcounter.co.uk/products/Switches+&+Sockets/Nexus+Euro-Module/Euro-Modules/White+Euro-Modules/White+Euro+Module+USB+Charger+-+Dual+Port+3.1+Amp/2049920247

 

[JohnW2]

I'm not sure if these comply, could you fit one of these?

As I implied, such products might well be technically compliant. The theoretically catch could be the requirement that the manufacturer of the product should specify the product as suitable for use in the environment concerned - and I somewhat doubt that the documentation would indicate that such a product was suitable for use in a bathroom (or that they would confirm that it was suitable, if asked).

Kind Regards, John

 

[winston1]

Apple US phone chargers are a 2 pin mains plug with USB socket on the back.

https://www.uk-mobilestore.co.uk/ge...MI_478p_mj2gIVFOAbCh35eghBEAQYASABEgKf5fD_BwE

They are rated up to 240v input, but I advise using the 110v output on a shaver socket as on low load the 240v output rises to around 270v.

 

[JohnW2]

Apple US phone chargers are a 2 pin mains plug with USB socket on the back. ... They are rated up to 240v input, but I advise using the 110v output on a shaver socket as on low load the 240v output rises to around 270v.

Although they are rated up to 240V, and described as "ideal whilst travelling", are we sure that they will fit (satisfactorily) into a UK shaver socket?

Kind Regards, John

 

[winston1]

Shaver sockets usually have universal recepticals on them which take US, Euro, UK 2 pin, and sometimes Australian plugs. They certainly work satisfactory in my experience for the low loads they are designed for.

 

[ericmark]

As of USB Power Delivery Specification revision 2.0, version 1.2, the six fixed power profiles for power sources have been deprecated.[113] USB PD Power Rules replace power profiles, defining four normative voltage levels at 5 V, 9 V, 15 V, and 20 V. Instead of six fixed profiles, power supplies may support any maximum source output power from 0.5 W to 100 W.

So it would seem you could use in Zone 2,

Equipment protected by SELV or PELV at a nominal voltage not exceeding 25 V a.c. rms or 60 V ripple-
free d.c., the safety source being installed outside zones 0, 1 and 2

If it is classed as SELV or PELV, however although MK state

SELV safety isolation between input and output.

Other supplies show for example the LAP version and all it says is "BS 5733, ASTA." and BS 5733 is to do with surface boxes and blanking plates, and ASTA is the firm who do the testing, so one really has no idea if the item is SELV or not. This is a common problem, firms don't state if SELV or not, we assume they are, but it does not actually say.

So yes no real problem fitting a MK unit, but other makes it could be a problem.

 

[JohnW2]

So it would seem you could use in Zone 2, .... If it is classed as SELV or PELV

Maybe, but as you go on to quote ...

Equipment protected by SELV or PELV at a nominal voltage not exceeding 25 V a.c. rms or 60 V ripple-free d.c., the safety source being installed outside zones 0, 1 and 2

This therefore brings us back to a discussion we've had before, as to whether 'below the surface of a wall' (the surface of which is within a zone) counts as 'outside zones'. I suppose it probably does, but there may be some scope for debate!

Kind Regards, John

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I was talking about all the mains-powered USB chargers I have seen, which have to be plugged into 13A sockets

Jolly good.

The only problem there is that nobody else was.

Everybody else was talking about USB socket outlets.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Maybe, but as you go on to quote ... This therefore brings us back to a discussion we've had before, as to whether 'below the surface of a wall' (the surface of which is within a zone) counts as 'outside zones'. I suppose it probably does, but there may be some scope for debate!

All of which debate would be pointless, because as soon as you are more than 60cm from the bath or shower you are outside the zones, and there are no zones around basins, and the topic under discussion is whether there is a demand for USB sockets near basins, and regarding that it would seem that

a) yes, there is, and

b) such sockets are perfectly allowable, subject to their construction being compliant with the relevant provisions in 414.