No power sockets in bathroom - does it annoy anyone else?

Jackmydad

keith969 wrote: »

No, they can be plugged into a shaver point.

A shaver socket has an insulated transformer to completely isolate its output from mains live. It's safe by design, unlike an ordinary socket.

It's an "isolating transformer" it effectively means that neither leg on the output is connected to earth, (normally neutral is at earth potential). So the voltage on the output side of the tranny is "floating" If you earth one side by touching it, it will be at the same potential as you, minimising any shock.
You can still get a shock live to neutral though.

The whole point of all these rules is to protect the vulnerable or unwary from sources of danger.

Personally I wouldn't have a socket in a bathroom. It feels "wrong".

martinsurrey

benjus wrote: »

Then who buys these? https://www.walmart.com/search/?query=kettle&cat_id=4044_90548_90546_1115307_2211902

I think it's got more to do with the fact that they don't drink much tea.

combined with the fact that Americans, and most 120v countries, cant handle the UK's super powerful appliances.

UK has 32amp rings @240V which gives most ring mains 7.7kw of max power, most UK kettles are 3KV

first kettle I saw

Most US general radials are limited to 20a @120V (or lower 15a in some places), which places a hard cap on the TOTAL of appliances of 2.4kw on each radial.

So while the US might allow sockets in the bathroom, they also place hard caps on any appliance of 2.4kw, put practically lower than that as it would trip on start up.

So looking at just one element of the electrical code for a country gives a very biased view of safety.

Aylesbury_Duck

benjus wrote: »

I'm not trying to force anyone to have a power socket in their bathroom... but I'd like the freedom to have one installed.

You have it, along with the responsibility for its safety. Seems a fair situation to me.

keith969

r2015 wrote: »

Except that when an electric toothbrush is plugged into it it hums all the time.

Only if your transformer is no good. I had to change one a few years ago for that reason, as I leave mine plugged in all the time.

Ganga

martinsurrey wrote: »

they did

Truely heartbreaking for any person to witness,can do without sockets for this reason alone.:(

societys_child

It's to stop !!!!wits electrocuting themselves, but some will always find a way around it .

Mrs_Imp

DominicH wrote: »

UK electrics are a bit of an outlier in general.

Yes they are - our plug sockets are considered some of the safest in the world (https://www.fatallyflawed.org.UK).

I see no need for a socket in the bathroom. UK bathrooms are so small on the whole that you wouldn't want to try and find room to dry your hair.

benjus

Mrs_Imp wrote: »

I see no need for a socket in the bathroom. UK bathrooms are so small on the whole that you wouldn't want to try and find room to dry your hair.

Fair enough, you're entitled to an opinion. But there's a big difference between "no need" and "a need to prohibit".

benjus

Aylesbury_Duck wrote: »

You have it, along with the responsibility for its safety. Seems a fair situation to me.

I suppose so, but I don't know how I'd find an electrician willing to install it, and would have to remove it if I sold the place, so not really good enough.

Risteard

Jackmydad wrote: »

It's an "isolating transformer" it effectively means that neither leg on the output is connected to earth, (normally neutral is at earth potential).

Correct - his assertion was nonsense. It is an electrically separated supply (i.e. separated from Earth). That said, there is no neutral on the secondary as there is no Earth reference. Both conductors are phase (line) conductors.