Old shaver socket?

binft

I've got this shaver socket in my flat but I'm not sure if it's old or what. I've tried connecting the toothbrush plug all types of ways but it doesn't get power.

Is this socket outdated or something? All the other ones I've seen online the two middle pin slots are close enough together to plug the shaver/toothbrush plug into, but on my one they are really far apart and you can only plug them into one side or the other? (picture attached with toothbrush plug for size reference)

Norman_Castle

binft said:

 on my one they are really far apart and you can only plug them into one side or the other?

115v on the left, 230v on the right. Look for a switch or fused switch outside the bathroom.

binft

Norman_Castle said:

binft said:

 on my one they are really far apart and you can only plug them into one side or the other?

115v on the left, 230v on the right. Look for a switch or fused switch outside the bathroom.

Hmm yeah I did wonder, I tried both sides multiple ways but didn't give me any power. I'll have a look around for a switch.

Section62

binft said:

Norman_Castle said:

binft said:

 on my one they are really far apart and you can only plug them into one side or the other?

115v on the left, 230v on the right. Look for a switch or fused switch outside the bathroom.

Hmm yeah I did wonder, I tried both sides multiple ways but didn't give me any power. I'll have a look around for a switch.

Proper shaver sockets like this one have an isolating transformer (which also enables the 115/230v options) and should only be used with shavers - hence the socket is usually designed to be shuttered and/or de-energised unless exactly the right type of plug is inserted.  Various other plugs look similar to a UK shaver plug, but aren't quite the same, so by design shouldn't work in a shaver socket. The pins on your plug look the wrong proportions to be a shaver plug - they look a bit shorter and fatter than they should be.

I'd say it is unlikely there will be a separate switch - the usual arrangement was that the socket either only energizes when the right kind of plug is inserted (hence don't need switching off), or they are wired up using the bathroom lighting circuit, so are only energized when the lights are on.

If you can get the plug to go in and stay in (not wobbling around excessively) then have you tried it with the lights switched on?

If it still doesn't work then it is either the wrong kind of plug, or the unit has failed.  I personally wouldn't suggest any attempt at DIY repair of the socket as their design and construction is very specific to minimise the risk of electric shock. So either use a different socket in the house, or get an electrician to change the shaver socket for a new one.

binft

Section62 said:

binft said:

Norman_Castle said:

binft said:

 on my one they are really far apart and you can only plug them into one side or the other?

115v on the left, 230v on the right. Look for a switch or fused switch outside the bathroom.

Hmm yeah I did wonder, I tried both sides multiple ways but didn't give me any power. I'll have a look around for a switch.

Proper shaver sockets like this one have an isolating transformer (which also enables the 115/230v options) and should only be used with shavers - hence the socket is usually designed to be shuttered and/or de-energised unless exactly the right type of plug is inserted.  Various other plugs look similar to a UK shaver plug, but aren't quite the same, so by design shouldn't work in a shaver socket. The pins on your plug look the wrong proportions to be a shaver plug - they look a bit shorter and fatter than they should be.

I'd say it is unlikely there will be a separate switch - the usual arrangement was that the socket either only energizes when the right kind of plug is inserted (hence don't need switching off), or they are wired up using the bathroom lighting circuit, so are only energized when the lights are on.

If you can get the plug to go in and stay in (not wobbling around excessively) then have you tried it with the lights switched on?

If it still doesn't work then it is either the wrong kind of plug, or the unit has failed.  I personally wouldn't suggest any attempt at DIY repair of the socket as their design and construction is very specific to minimise the risk of electric shock. So either use a different socket in the house, or get an electrician to change the shaver socket for a new one.

Thanks I will give it a try with the lights on when I am back home later. I should have mentioned the plug in the picture is from my toothbrush but I assumed it's the same as a shaver plug as my shaved uses a normal plug socket so haven't actually tried.

grumbler

I have two devices with similar plugs (c.5mm diameter), both can be plugged into the right socket and work fine. The left hole is smaller.

Yes, the socket is energised only with a plug in it, and I do remember that the internal switch was playing up some time ago.

You can buy a replacement socket for about £15.

nick74

Section62 said:

binft said:

Norman_Castle said:

binft said:

 on my one they are really far apart and you can only plug them into one side or the other?

115v on the left, 230v on the right. Look for a switch or fused switch outside the bathroom.

Hmm yeah I did wonder, I tried both sides multiple ways but didn't give me any power. I'll have a look around for a switch.

Proper shaver sockets like this one have an isolating transformer (which also enables the 115/230v options) and should only be used with shavers - hence the socket is usually designed to be shuttered and/or de-energised unless exactly the right type of plug is inserted.  Various other plugs look similar to a UK shaver plug, but aren't quite the same, so by design shouldn't work in a shaver socket. The pins on your plug look the wrong proportions to be a shaver plug - they look a bit shorter and fatter than they should be.

I'd say it is unlikely there will be a separate switch - the usual arrangement was that the socket either only energizes when the right kind of plug is inserted (hence don't need switching off), or they are wired up using the bathroom lighting circuit, so are only energized when the lights are on.

If you can get the plug to go in and stay in (not wobbling around excessively) then have you tried it with the lights switched on?

If it still doesn't work then it is either the wrong kind of plug, or the unit has failed.  I personally wouldn't suggest any attempt at DIY repair of the socket as their design and construction is very specific to minimise the risk of electric shock. So either use a different socket in the house, or get an electrician to change the shaver socket for a new one.

It's perhaps just the way the picture was taken. I have a few Braun toothbrush chargers with that exact same plug on them. They are definitely shaver plugs and work fine in bathroom shaver sockets.

Section62

nick74 said:

It's perhaps just the way the picture was taken. I have a few Braun toothbrush chargers with that exact same plug on them. They are definitely shaver plugs and work fine in bathroom shaver sockets.

Possibly, it is never easy to tell just from a picture.  The only way to be sure it is a UK shaver plug is to use a digital micrometer/caliper to measure the pin dimensions and compare those to the standard.  Even if the plug is marked BS4573 there's no guarantee these days that it actually conforms to BS4573.  A couple of tenths of a millimeter out could make the difference between it working in the OP's socket or not.

coffeehound

If the toothbrush is 230 volt then you can get an inexpensive adaptor to plug into an ordinary wall socket

https://www.toolstation.com/3-pin-plug-adaptor/p60290