I have a shaver socket in my bathroom and I've just fitted a next to it
which I now need to get power to for the lights that are built in.

In my last house I had cavity walls so it was easy to drop new wires down
from the loft into the space behind the mirror, and then wire the mirror
into the lighting circuit.

My new place doesn't have cavity walls, so I was wandering if I can power
the mirror from the back of the shaver socket. It doesn't seem too
unreasonable as the mirror lights are 100w, but powering a shaver socket
and mirror lights from one spur seems like it might be bad form.

Cheers

Chris

My new place doesn't have cavity walls, so I was wandering if I can power
the mirror from the back of the shaver socket. It doesn't seem too
unreasonable as the mirror lights are 100w, but powering a shaver socket
and mirror lights from one spur seems like it might be bad form.

It's fine in principle, although the circuit or spur should be protected by
either aa fuse/MCB no more than 6A (i.e. an 3A FCU off a ring main, or a 6A
MCB lighting circuit).

Christian.

On Tue, 24 Oct 2006 13:50:19 +0100 someone who may be "Chris Styles"
wrote this:-

I have a shaver socket in my bathroom and I've just fitted a next to it
which I now need to get power to for the lights that are built in.

A cabinet I presume.

My new place doesn't have cavity walls, so I was wandering if I can power
the mirror from the back of the shaver socket. It doesn't seem too
unreasonable as the mirror lights are 100w, but powering a shaver socket
and mirror lights from one spur seems like it might be bad form.

Firstly find out what the shaver socket is fed from, by removing
fuses/switching off circuit breakers from the consumer unit.

If it is fed from the lighting circuit then this can be extended to
the cabinet.

If it is fed from another circuit check that there is a suitable
fuse in the cable that feeds the shaver socket. If there is then
this cable can be extended to the cabinet.

Either way beware of acceptable cable runs and supplementary
bonding. In England or Wales beware of John Prescott's stupid scheme
to make electrical systems more dangerous while putting money into
the hands of various organisations.


--
David Hansen, Edinburgh
I will *always* explain revoked encryption keys, unless RIP prevents me
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/00023--e.htm#54

Thanks for the advice..

If it's off the power circuit, you probably need an FCU for the
unmentionable item you're fitting anyway.

Why is a mirror with lights unmentionable?

There are two fluorescent tubes behind the glass of the mirror, and they
shine through a unmirrored area. They are low power, and give off enough
light so that I dont need to use the main bathroom lights on a cold dark
winter morning, so it is not like they are a vulgar waste of electricity.

However...

The mirror also has one of those 25w heating pad on the back that stop it
from misting up. I first saw these in Japan about 5 years ago and was really
impressed, and they do work exceptionally well. When i went to the shop to
buy the pad, the yound Saturday boy serving me said "I dont see the point of
these, all you have to do iw wipe the mirror with a towel. Clearly he didnt
shave at the time, nor did he have to clean his own bathroom mirror ;-)

If the objection is to do with power consumption, maybe i'll not start a
thread about under-tile heating (150w/m^-2) :-)

Cheers,
Chris

Why is a mirror with lights unmentionable?

I don't know, but you just said you wanted to power a {noun omitted} in
your initial post :-)

Ah, now I see... I didnt actually realised it's been so enigmatic :-)


If the objection is to do with power consumption, maybe i'll not start a
thread about under-tile heating (150w/m^-2) :-)

The issue is to do with protecting the circuit and the appliance. Many
appliances will specify they must be protected by a 3A or 6A fuse or MCB,
and while they would probably be okay on a lighting circuit it would be
unwise to connect them unfused to a 32A power circuit.

Yes, I get that bit...

I'd thought that my mirror with lights was "unmentionable" because of an
objection to mirrors that consume power, rather than because i'd omitted to
say what it was :-)

I have an irrational objection to the little battery powered whisks that
seem to be all the rage for those whose coffee has to have foam on top -
they just seem like a bizarre waste of resources, and that in 1 months time
there'll be millions of them in landfill. If you like foam on your coffee
that much, just put in a couple of drops of fairly liquid and stir with a
spoon.. there is no need for a whisk! ;-)

I have an irrational objection to the little battery powered whisks that
seem to be all the rage for those whose coffee has to have foam on top -
they just seem like a bizarre waste of resources, and that in 1 months
time there'll be millions of them in landfill.

We use ours so much that we've got through 3 sets of batteries. It is
impossible make milkshake without them, unless you just like brown milk with
bits floating in it, or enjoy assembling, cleaning and packing away food
processors.

Christian.

"Christian McArdle" wrote in message
.. .
I have an irrational objection to the little battery powered whisks that
seem to be all the rage for those whose coffee has to have foam on top -
they just seem like a bizarre waste of resources, and that in 1 months
time there'll be millions of them in landfill.

We use ours so much that we've got through 3 sets of batteries. It is
impossible make milkshake without them, unless you just like brown milk
with bits floating in it, or enjoy assembling, cleaning and packing away
food processors.

Christian.

I suppose it is fair enough if they are used. I tend to see them in 99p
bargain bins, where you just know that the cup of coffee you whisk will last
longer than the whisk itself. I suppose it is the same with all really crap
items that you know are destined for the landfill before can justify thier
existance.

I dont enjoy the assembly, cleaning and packing away of the food processor,
but i *love* the milkshake made from

- Cheapo softscoop choccy ice cream
- 3 scoops of Horlicks, for a nice malty flavour
- A dash of milk to get the consistency
- an optional shot or two of brandy, which makes for a luuuvly grown-up
milkshake :-)

MMMmmm....

On Wed, 25 Oct 2006 13:41:35 +0100, "Chris Styles"
wrote:

I dont enjoy the assembly, cleaning and packing away of the food processor,
but i *love* the milkshake made from

- Cheapo softscoop choccy ice cream
- 3 scoops of Horlicks, for a nice malty flavour
- A dash of milk to get the consistency
- an optional shot or two of brandy, which makes for a luuuvly grown-up
milkshake :-)


Totally OT...

Better if you use a liquidiser for a smoothie:-

(in variable proportions (As You Like It))

Strawberries (hulled)
Raspberries
Pear (peeled)
Apple (also peeled and cored)
Mango (possibly pureed)
Mandarin Oranges (yes - these do actually "smoothie")
A splodge of natural probiotic yoghurt
A sprinkling of granulated "Splenda" sucralose sweetener (optional)
A lickle bit of Green & Black's Orgasmic cocoa powder, and
A couple of ice cubes

Chuck 'em all in the liquidiser and beat the s**t out of the lot for a
couple of minuettes - then enjoy!

If you need to thin it down a bit, use orange juice as supplied in
pint milk bottles by the milkman.

--
Frank Erskine
Sunderland