Bathroom mirror light issue

RandomQ

My niece has moved into a flat and has one of those strip lights with bathroom sockets above mirror.

My query is whether this has been wired properly because the power sockets (110v and 220v) only work when the light is switched on, the light also gets very very hot.

I used to have one of these type of lights and never had to have it on to use sockets, if you have an electric toothbrush it means you have to have light on to charge it, seems nuts to me.

I am quite handy so thinking of taking it apart to see if there is anything obvious inside.

Any ideas of what I need to do to fix this?

Rodders53

It's quite normal on the (?40 Watt?) incandescent striplight version for the socket to only be on when the light is on. It's a very crude design. So what you describe is correct. {Basically it saves a second switch. or allowing the isolating transformer to the socket being on continuously.}

It's also normal for it to get very hot (40 Watts of energy producing not much light = most is heat).

More elegant light fittings have an extra switch that operates when the shaver plug is inserted to power up the isolating transformer, as well as a switch for the lamp.

You can, I believe, get led striplamps to replace the incandescent version which would save energy and run much cooler.

RandomQ

Thanks, I might consider getting her one of those.

Do you know any way I can change the circuit inside to make it work without the light, I am handy with a soldering iron.

Maybe I could put in a second switch, cheap as chips on eBay.

Otherwise I guess the only option is to remove the bulb but that will probably not go down well.

Seems like a really dumb design, wastes energy and completely impractical as people want to leave their toothbrush charging without having the light on.

Would it really have cost them so much more to put a slider switch for off, light only, light & socket, socket only?

coffeehound

She could use one of those adaptors to plug the toothbrush into a normal socket. They're only a £ to buy.

Ectophile

RandomQ wrote: »

Would it really have cost them so much more to put a slider switch for off, light only, light & socket, socket only?

It would have cost a few pence. Which would have come out of the manufacturer's profit margin on every unit sold.

And the manufacturer doesn't care about your electricity bill.

coffeehound

To be fair to whoever designed it, probably back in the 1950s, there weren't any rechargeable toothbrushes or cordless shavers then. You only needed the light and power for a few minutes, then both off.

RandomQ

coffeehound wrote: »

She could use one of those adaptors to plug the toothbrush into a normal socket. They're only a £ to buy.

Normal sockets are not allowed within 3 meters so there are not any.

Just the shaver sockets in the bathroom strip light.

She will not want her toothbrush to charge in another room

Thanks anyway.

RandomQ

Ectophile wrote: »

It would have cost a few pence. Which would have come out of the manufacturer's profit margin on every unit sold.

And the manufacturer doesn't care about your electricity bill.

Yes I get that, but gives consumers a reason to not buy their goods, share details online in consumer forums and then they lose business or if they include the switch they get people raving,

kerri_gt

RandomQ wrote: »

Normal sockets are not allowed within 3 meters so there are not any.

Just the shaver sockets in the bathroom strip light.

She will not want her toothbrush to charge in another room

Thanks anyway.

She could charge the toothbrush in her bedroom or the like though.

Our bathroom cabinet has the same design, we just leave it on overnight if a toothbrush needs charging, also helpful if you need the loo in the night to have it on a as a nigtlight.

RandomQ

coffeehound wrote: »

To be fair to whoever designed it, probably back in the 1950s, there weren't any rechargeable toothbrushes or cordless shavers then. You only needed the light and power for a few minutes, then both off.

Just a guess but I imagine it has to comply with regulations that do not go back to the 50's

I had an electric toothbrush way back into last century so no excuse.

As stated above just foolish false economic design.

I was thinking I might build a circuit with a switch, will be a project and cheap to do.

KeithP

RandomQ wrote: »

I was thinking I might build a circuit with a switch, will be a project and cheap to do.

Then make sure in complies with all current bathroom/electricity regulations, won't you?