Wiring a toothbrush charger to outside the bathroom...

My bathroom doesn't have a shaver socket/isolator. The bathroom cabinet light has been wired into a cupboard through the wall, can I use the same method for a toothbrush charger?

Ideally I would add a shaver socket but this will require Part P (unless I'm mistaken) but if I fix the charger to the wall, drill through into the cupboard, run the flex through and re-attach the plug, is that permitted, and more importantly, is it safe?

Thanks

 

What do the manufacturers instruction say, that came with the appliance?
The fact that it's a hand held device increases the risk of safety.
Do you have a link to the user/installation manual?
What voltage is the device, what zone could it reach within the bathroom?

 

Yes, bit naff.
How is it (to be) connected?

Am a bit confused - shaver sockets do not come with flex and plug.


Part P is a Building Regulation which states electrical work shall be done safely and so applies to ALL WORK.

If you mean, is the work is notifiable? - only if within the zones,

Any new concealed, unprotected fixed cabling will require RCD protection.

 

Thanks guys;

Its a normal toothbrush charger (Oral B or something) designed to be plugged into a shaver socket and dropped into the sink/handled with wet hands. It has no electrical contacts, the toothbrush charges through induction.

Option 1 would be remove the plug, stick the wire through the wall and reattach the plug, plug into socket which is RCD protected at the CU. In the bathroom the charger would be fixed to the wall and the cable would not be exposed.

Option 2 would be to install a shaver socket on the wall with twin and earth, and then the chargers shaver style plug would simply plug in.

The charger must be safe for bathrooms as 90% of people would plug it into the shaver socket and balance it on the edge of the sink! That'll be zone 0 I think?

And apologies, I did mean 'would it be notifiable'? I know a shaver socket installation would be, but less clear about sticking it through the wall as I can't see any safety implications if the wiring is not accessible from the bathroom. The charger is 230v but I'll bet its rated and will work from 110v from a shaver socket too. Not at home currently so can't check!

 

No, sinks don't count. More than 600mm. from edge of bath/shower is outside zones.
Just common sense and manufacturer's instructions.

This work outside the zones is not notifiable.

RCD protection is required for concealed, unprotected fixed cables.
If they are visible it's not - although would be wise.

That makes no difference.

 

EFL, thats news to me!

I thought all work in bathrooms was notifiable, but you are saying if the work is in the bathroom but outside the zones its not?

So I could add a fused spur to feed a shaver socket as long as its outside the zones, and not need to get it signed off. I do know someone who can test it but they are not Part P registered.

P.S I just mentioned the voltage as 'boyofderry' asked

 

Correct.

THE LAW
See 2(b) - list of non-notifiable work and
4 - definition of 'special location'.

Yes. It must be tested to comply with Part P of B.R.

Parts must be 'suitable for the environment'.
Don't forget RCD requirements.

 

Thanks for your help EFL, much appreciated

One last question if you don't mind...

The previous owner had four seperate PIR controlled outside lights installed, the cables run down from the loft. They are all different and don't know the difference between night and day, and I can't make them stay on if I am busy outside. I have large soffits so would like to replace them with suitably IP rated downlighters, I would need to bring the cables back into the loft space to do this. There would be more lamps in total though the total power consumption would be less as they won't be floodlights. In your opinion, would this be notifiable?

It would be nice to get them tested at the same time as the shaver socket, though as I said before the guy isn't Part P registered so can't do anything that needs to be notified without incuring extra expense.

 

At the moment 'outside lighting' IS but 'replacements' are not.
Depends what you think it is.

In April the law changes when it won't be.

 

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