Seeking oppinion on wiring bathroom lit/heated cabinet

[Puk]

Good evening all

My mrs has purchased a mirror cabinet for the bathroom. It has a light that operates via IR sensor, has a switched demister pad and a shaver socket inside. According to the info it’s ip44 rated and uses 15W.

I’ve almost finished my bathroom renovation so feel it’s time to fit it. I was considering getting a sparkie in as have other things needing attending but they’re not really ready yet so thought I’d consider doing it myself.

My bathroom has a wire coming down a wall in conduit from the attic to where the cabinet shall fit, this previously operated a small over mirror switched lamp. This is connected to the lighting circuit and not switched via the bathroom switch. So it’s rather handy. The cabinet will be fitted into an area outside of zones. My consumer unit has rcd protection that is regularly tested by me.

So I thought I’d chase the wire up the conduit/wall to the point where it will sit above the cabinet. Install a back box and a fused spur switch with flex output, take the roof wiring into that, earth the backbox, and then connect the cabinet power supply via the flex hole.

As this is outside of zones I think this is the correct method but I’d be happy for someone to agree with me? I've included some photos below:

The wall with existing wire that use to be a over mirror lamp.

IMG_3480.jpg (149.83 KiB) Viewed 1665 times

The top of the cabinet and it's wiring.

IMG_3481.jpg (165.53 KiB) Viewed 1665 times

My consumer unit.

IMG_3482.jpg (164.11 KiB) Viewed 1665 times

Many thanks for reading. Is there anything else here I should consider or need to look at before doing so? Cheers.

[ericmark]

That is what I would do, however if there is any chance of renting the home, then clearly to get an EICR pass you need to follow the rules, so one has to be sure the mirror is rated for bathroom use, it seems some were designed for rest of EU and did not follow UK rules, and they have not got the BS EN 61558-2-5 marking required for the shaver socket, if owner occupied I would not worry, it is only a problem with rented accommodation and pedantic inspectors.

[Puk]

Thankyou Eric, I appreciate the reply. This is an owner occupied home, very little chance of me being able to afford to keep and rent it, covid really did a number on my employment. But it’s definitely good to know the standards if someone else were to refer to this thread.

I cannot see anywhere that mentions the BS number you state, not on the back of the cabinet nor on the shaver socket internally either. Just CE markings. It does make you wonder about this Chinese stuff we fit to our homes, I think if it were me buying it I’d have done a bit more research, the wife is fairly quick off the bat though.

My understanding is to always use a fuse rated for the job, so this device pulls 15w according to the manufacturer, so 15/230=0.07A=70mA so a 1A fuse is appropriate for the fused spur?

[aeromech3]

Only an opinion as ericmark is the expert: the regs allow for a bathroom light to be replaced but alterations come under part P and so adding a back box and FCU, though safer might be considered an alternation, No?
What I have done in the past for my bathroom is put the FCU in the loft.
The shaver unit to BS61558-2-5 is a heavy unit with an isolating transformer with perhaps 115v and 230v tapping; it would be quite obvious in your cabinet.
I would, for peace of mind, check the earth wire of the unit to the cabinet aluminium which you are likely to touch with damp hands, for continuity even with RCD protection.

[Puk]

Thanks for the comment Aeromech.

So I referred to this document: https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Technical/ ... /Zones.pdf

The location of my fcu is outside of zones, over 60cm away from the bath/shower. The switch is about 2.2M from the floor, I could raise this to be the 2.25M if required.

But as my understanding it falls outside of zones so therefore I can fit an fcu.

I am open to all other consideration though and want to know I’m safe in what I’m doing.

I checked the earth with a meter between the wire from the roof and a radiator, that is fine. I will check the earth lead to cabinet as well, that’s a good suggestion.

[Someone-Else]

The whole idea of an RCD is the fact it does not worry if there is an earth or not, it will still work.

Part P is only concerned about additional circuits or altering a circuit within a zone, adding an FCU to the lighting circuit is NOT adding a new circuit or within a zone.

I would put the FCU in the bathroom, above the mirror, but close to the ceiling.

[Puk]

Thankyou gents.

I shall move my fcu further up the wall, I’ve a few inches to spare regardless.

[aeromech3]

For discussion, here is an extract from Welsh Gov. site and I understand they are same Regs as England, maybe there is a caveat about areas in the full document, but they mention Coronavirus so it is recent:-
"Minor works
The Building Regulations allow certain works (known as non-notifiable or minor work) to be carried out without having to notify building control or using a registered electrician. Such work includes: replacing any electrical fitting (for example, socket outlets, light fittings, control switches) adding a fused spur (which is a socket that has a fuse and a switch that is connected to an appliance eg, heater) to an existing circuit (but not in a kitchen, bathroom or outdoors) any repair or maintenance work installing or upgrading main or supplementary equipotential bonding installing cabling at extra low voltage for signalling, cabling or communication purposes (for example, telephone cabling, cabling for fire alarm or burglar alarm systems, or heating control systems)."

I recently fitted a chromed ceiling chandelier in the bedroom, it was stated as double insulated (is this bathroom mirror, I don't think so) but still I connected up an earth link, I prefer the RCD finding out a manufacturing fault with the help of an earth than my hand.

[Someone-Else]

Also for discussion

The cable was already there, so it is not an addition.

No where did I say he should not connect the earth, I did say that an RCD does not care if there is an earth present, since an RCD does not rely on an earth, so to say

the RCD finding out a manufacturing fault with the help of an earth than my hand

Is in error, since that is not how RCD's work.

Wales does not have the same "building control rules" that England does.

At the end of the day, it is up to the OP to decide what he wishes to do.

[ericmark]

The whole idea of an RCD is the fact it does not worry if there is an earth or not, it will still work.

Normally yes I would agree, however with a shaver outlet it is a IT supply so the RCD will not work at all.

Part P is only concerned about additional circuits or altering a circuit within a zone, adding an FCU to the lighting circuit is NOT adding a new circuit or within a zone.

I would put the FCU in the bathroom, above the mirror, but close to the ceiling.

In England that may be true, in Wales bathrooms, kitchens, and outside are special locations. So in theory should be notified. In mothers house the county council did some work under social services and the new socket fitted was not RCD protected and no minor works certificate was issued, so even the council do not follow the Part P rules, at least not Flintshire, so breaking the rules would not worry me, when I mislaid the paperwork on mothers death I tried to get replacements, told it would take 4 months, so whole idea of council keeping records seems to be a joke.

The guides to laws do not seem to follow what the law says, this has been very evident with new English landlord laws, where the law says any item clearly intended not to be moved is covered, but the guide says cookers, fridges, freezers are not included, so in real terms just make it safe, but also must be aware there are some pedantic inspectors, I may not fail it, but that does not mean every inspector would permit it.