I am looking for an electric (only) towel rail with a thermostat for
installation in a toilet (no washbasin actually in the cubicle, it's
just outside the door).

There's a blanked off ex-socket where I can install an FCU so I can
hard-wire the towel rail.

However I can't see any sort of IP rating with any of the towel rails
I can find. Presumably they're rated for bathroom zones but I can't
see any actual evidence of this.

We don't want to spend a lot on this, needs to be less than £100 at
the very most. There's lots of possibles, like this:-

https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/27253669021...571623109 848

but no clue as to their IP rating etc.

I suppose that for the location where we want to put it it's
effectively outside any sort of bathroom zone but I'd really prefer
something that is rated for and safe in such a location.

Any pointers/suggestions?

--
Chris Green
·

On 14/02/2021 10:20, Chris Green wrote:
I am looking for an electric (only) towel rail with a thermostat for
installation in a toilet (no washbasin actually in the cubicle, it's
just outside the door).

There's a blanked off ex-socket where I can install an FCU so I can
hard-wire the towel rail.

However I can't see any sort of IP rating with any of the towel rails
I can find. Presumably they're rated for bathroom zones but I can't
see any actual evidence of this.

We don't want to spend a lot on this, needs to be less than £100 at
the very most. There's lots of possibles, like this:-

https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/27253669021...571623109 848

but no clue as to their IP rating etc.

I suppose that for the location where we want to put it it's
effectively outside any sort of bathroom zone but I'd really prefer
something that is rated for and safe in such a location.

Any pointers/suggestions?


TLC-Direct have some - eg "Splash-proof (IPX5 rated) for use in
bathrooms and other wet areas" @ £86.40

https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/DXTTRS120W.html

--
Robin
reply-to address is (intended to be) valid

Robin wrote:
On 14/02/2021 10:20, Chris Green wrote:
I am looking for an electric (only) towel rail with a thermostat for
installation in a toilet (no washbasin actually in the cubicle, it's
just outside the door).

There's a blanked off ex-socket where I can install an FCU so I can
hard-wire the towel rail.

However I can't see any sort of IP rating with any of the towel rails
I can find. Presumably they're rated for bathroom zones but I can't
see any actual evidence of this.

We don't want to spend a lot on this, needs to be less than £100 at
the very most. There's lots of possibles, like this:-

https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/27253669021...571623109 848

but no clue as to their IP rating etc.

I suppose that for the location where we want to put it it's
effectively outside any sort of bathroom zone but I'd really prefer
something that is rated for and safe in such a location.

Any pointers/suggestions?


TLC-Direct have some - eg "Splash-proof (IPX5 rated) for use in
bathrooms and other wet areas" @ £86.40

https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/DXTTRS120W.html

No thermostat, as shown in the picture it would appear to be
permanently on with no way to control it or turn it off. The FCU
can't be switched as that would then have to be properly rated for the
area it's in.

--
Chris Green
·

On 14 Feb 2021 at 11:05:15 GMT, "Robin" wrote:

On 14/02/2021 10:20, Chris Green wrote:
I am looking for an electric (only) towel rail with a thermostat for
installation in a toilet (no washbasin actually in the cubicle, it's
just outside the door).

There's a blanked off ex-socket where I can install an FCU so I can
hard-wire the towel rail.

However I can't see any sort of IP rating with any of the towel rails
I can find. Presumably they're rated for bathroom zones but I can't
see any actual evidence of this.

We don't want to spend a lot on this, needs to be less than £100 at
the very most. There's lots of possibles, like this:-


https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/27253669021...571623109 848

but no clue as to their IP rating etc.

I suppose that for the location where we want to put it it's
effectively outside any sort of bathroom zone but I'd really prefer
something that is rated for and safe in such a location.

Any pointers/suggestions?


TLC-Direct have some - eg "Splash-proof (IPX5 rated) for use in
bathrooms and other wet areas" @ £86.40

https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/DXTTRS120W.html

The Dimplex range seem to be generally IPX5, though I am not sure that applies
to a standard flex outlet, and I am sure an FSU would not be suitable inside
the zones. I put my FSU outside the room, and thermostat control and flex
outlet inside the room but outside the zones. 100GBP is bit optimistic by
half an order of magnitude, though.

https://www.dimplex.co.uk/sites/defa...l_Brochure.pdf


--
Roger Hayter

On 14 Feb 2021 at 12:16:46 GMT, "Chris Green" wrote:

Robin wrote:
On 14/02/2021 10:20, Chris Green wrote:
I am looking for an electric (only) towel rail with a thermostat for
installation in a toilet (no washbasin actually in the cubicle, it's
just outside the door).

There's a blanked off ex-socket where I can install an FCU so I can
hard-wire the towel rail.

However I can't see any sort of IP rating with any of the towel rails
I can find. Presumably they're rated for bathroom zones but I can't
see any actual evidence of this.

We don't want to spend a lot on this, needs to be less than £100 at
the very most. There's lots of possibles, like this:-


https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/27253669021...571623109 848

but no clue as to their IP rating etc.

I suppose that for the location where we want to put it it's
effectively outside any sort of bathroom zone but I'd really prefer
something that is rated for and safe in such a location.

Any pointers/suggestions?


TLC-Direct have some - eg "Splash-proof (IPX5 rated) for use in
bathrooms and other wet areas" @ £86.40

https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/DXTTRS120W.html

No thermostat, as shown in the picture it would appear to be
permanently on with no way to control it or turn it off. The FCU
can't be switched as that would then have to be properly rated for the
area it's in.

It seems (electricians correct me if I'm wrong) that switched fused units are
allowed in a bathroom (outside the zones) but I agree with you I would not fit
one.

--
Roger Hayter

Chris Green wrote in :

I am looking for an electric (only) towel rail with a thermostat for
installation in a toilet (no washbasin actually in the cubicle, it's
just outside the door).

If you don't mind rolling your own then searching for thermostatic elements
finds quite a few with IP ratings, this one IPX4:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/193060008323

from 53quid in chrome, adding a chrome ladder rail should keep you within
budget.

I went for a separate ladder rail, heater and controller but the cost ended
up about the same.

On 14/02/2021 12:16, Chris Green wrote:
Robin wrote:
On 14/02/2021 10:20, Chris Green wrote:
I am looking for an electric (only) towel rail with a thermostat for
installation in a toilet (no washbasin actually in the cubicle, it's
just outside the door).

There's a blanked off ex-socket where I can install an FCU so I can
hard-wire the towel rail.

However I can't see any sort of IP rating with any of the towel rails
I can find. Presumably they're rated for bathroom zones but I can't
see any actual evidence of this.

We don't want to spend a lot on this, needs to be less than £100 at
the very most. There's lots of possibles, like this:-

https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/27253669021...571623109 848

but no clue as to their IP rating etc.

I suppose that for the location where we want to put it it's
effectively outside any sort of bathroom zone but I'd really prefer
something that is rated for and safe in such a location.

Any pointers/suggestions?


TLC-Direct have some - eg "Splash-proof (IPX5 rated) for use in
bathrooms and other wet areas" @ £86.40

https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/DXTTRS120W.html

No thermostat, as shown in the picture it would appear to be
permanently on with no way to control it or turn it off. The FCU
can't be switched as that would then have to be properly rated for the
area it's in.


I was unclear if you wanted a thermostat to reduce the risk of burn from
the rail or to save wasting energy when the room was warm. If the
latter then you could simply add an external thermostat. I'm not sure
just what level of protection you'd be looking for there given this is
not in a bathroom. Is the environment worse than a metre or so from a
kitchen sink?


--
Robin
reply-to address is (intended to be) valid

On 14/02/2021 12:16, Chris Green wrote:
Robin wrote:
On 14/02/2021 10:20, Chris Green wrote:
I am looking for an electric (only) towel rail with a thermostat for
installation in a toilet (no washbasin actually in the cubicle, it's
just outside the door).

There's a blanked off ex-socket where I can install an FCU so I can
hard-wire the towel rail.

However I can't see any sort of IP rating with any of the towel rails
I can find. Presumably they're rated for bathroom zones but I can't
see any actual evidence of this.

We don't want to spend a lot on this, needs to be less than £100 at
the very most. There's lots of possibles, like this:-

https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/27253669021...571623109 848

but no clue as to their IP rating etc.

I suppose that for the location where we want to put it it's
effectively outside any sort of bathroom zone but I'd really prefer
something that is rated for and safe in such a location.

Any pointers/suggestions?


TLC-Direct have some - eg "Splash-proof (IPX5 rated) for use in
bathrooms and other wet areas" @ £86.40

https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/DXTTRS120W.html

No thermostat, as shown in the picture it would appear to be
permanently on with no way to control it or turn it off. The FCU
can't be switched as that would then have to be properly rated for the
area it's in.



You have lost me Chris.

What bathroom zone is the FCU in and what "rating" do you think it needs?

A towel rad probably needs double pole switching so an unswitched FCU
would not be suitable.


--
Adam

ARW wrote:
On 14/02/2021 12:16, Chris Green wrote:
Robin wrote:
On 14/02/2021 10:20, Chris Green wrote:
I am looking for an electric (only) towel rail with a thermostat for
installation in a toilet (no washbasin actually in the cubicle, it's
just outside the door).

There's a blanked off ex-socket where I can install an FCU so I can
hard-wire the towel rail.

However I can't see any sort of IP rating with any of the towel rails
I can find. Presumably they're rated for bathroom zones but I can't
see any actual evidence of this.

We don't want to spend a lot on this, needs to be less than £100 at
the very most. There's lots of possibles, like this:-

https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/27253669021...571623109 848

but no clue as to their IP rating etc.

I suppose that for the location where we want to put it it's
effectively outside any sort of bathroom zone but I'd really prefer
something that is rated for and safe in such a location.

Any pointers/suggestions?


TLC-Direct have some - eg "Splash-proof (IPX5 rated) for use in
bathrooms and other wet areas" @ £86.40

https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/DXTTRS120W.html

No thermostat, as shown in the picture it would appear to be
permanently on with no way to control it or turn it off. The FCU
can't be switched as that would then have to be properly rated for the
area it's in.


You have lost me Chris.

It's my speciality! :-)


What bathroom zone is the FCU in and what "rating" do you think it needs?

It's not actually in a bathroom zone, it is however in a potentially
'splashy' environment so I'd prefer if it had an IP rating for that
sort of environment. So I'd like IPx4, the radiators I've seen don't
give any ratings though.

A towel rad probably needs double pole switching so an unswitched FCU
would not be suitable.

So the illustration is wholly misleading as it shows an unswitched FCU
(as far as one can tell). A switched FCU is likely not IPx4 unless
it's an outdoor one and they are not really 'indoor friendly' in terms
of their looks.

--
Chris Green
·

On 14/02/2021 17:08, Chris Green wrote:
ARW wrote:
On 14/02/2021 12:16, Chris Green wrote:
Robin wrote:
On 14/02/2021 10:20, Chris Green wrote:
I am looking for an electric (only) towel rail with a thermostat for
installation in a toilet (no washbasin actually in the cubicle, it's
just outside the door).

There's a blanked off ex-socket where I can install an FCU so I can
hard-wire the towel rail.

However I can't see any sort of IP rating with any of the towel rails
I can find. Presumably they're rated for bathroom zones but I can't
see any actual evidence of this.

We don't want to spend a lot on this, needs to be less than £100 at
the very most. There's lots of possibles, like this:-

https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/27253669021...571623109 848

but no clue as to their IP rating etc.

I suppose that for the location where we want to put it it's
effectively outside any sort of bathroom zone but I'd really prefer
something that is rated for and safe in such a location.

Any pointers/suggestions?


TLC-Direct have some - eg "Splash-proof (IPX5 rated) for use in
bathrooms and other wet areas" @ £86.40

https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/DXTTRS120W.html

No thermostat, as shown in the picture it would appear to be
permanently on with no way to control it or turn it off. The FCU
can't be switched as that would then have to be properly rated for the
area it's in.


You have lost me Chris.

It's my speciality! :-)


What bathroom zone is the FCU in and what "rating" do you think it needs?

It's not actually in a bathroom zone, it is however in a potentially
'splashy' environment so I'd prefer if it had an IP rating for that
sort of environment. So I'd like IPx4, the radiators I've seen don't
give any ratings though.

A towel rad probably needs double pole switching so an unswitched FCU
would not be suitable.

So the illustration is wholly misleading as it shows an unswitched FCU
(as far as one can tell). A switched FCU is likely not IPx4 unless
it's an outdoor one and they are not really 'indoor friendly' in terms
of their looks.



The regs are unclear what you can install outside the zones. Basically
they say anything you want if RCD protected and "appropriate for use".

Some of the photos have a SWFCU.



--
Adam

On 14/02/2021 17:08, Chris Green wrote:
ARW wrote:
snip


It's not actually in a bathroom zone, it is however in a potentially
'splashy' environment so I'd prefer if it had an IP rating for that
sort of environment. So I'd like IPx4, the radiators I've seen don't
give any ratings though.

A towel rad probably needs double pole switching so an unswitched FCU
would not be suitable.

So the illustration is wholly misleading as it shows an unswitched FCU
(as far as one can tell). A switched FCU is likely not IPx4 unless
it's an outdoor one and they are not really 'indoor friendly' in terms
of their looks.


You seem to be leading inexorably to your needing to run the flex from
the towel rail /unbroken/ through a flex outlet plate to a SFCU outside
the "splashy zone". (Possibly a plate where the flex exits downwards at
the bottom if splashes are to be large/frequent.) But that patently
involves more work so fingers crossed you'll find a simpler option you
can accept.



--
Robin
reply-to address is (intended to be) valid

Robin wrote:
On 14/02/2021 17:08, Chris Green wrote:
ARW wrote:
snip


It's not actually in a bathroom zone, it is however in a potentially
'splashy' environment so I'd prefer if it had an IP rating for that
sort of environment. So I'd like IPx4, the radiators I've seen don't
give any ratings though.

A towel rad probably needs double pole switching so an unswitched FCU
would not be suitable.

So the illustration is wholly misleading as it shows an unswitched FCU
(as far as one can tell). A switched FCU is likely not IPx4 unless
it's an outdoor one and they are not really 'indoor friendly' in terms
of their looks.


You seem to be leading inexorably to your needing to run the flex from
the towel rail /unbroken/ through a flex outlet plate to a SFCU outside
the "splashy zone". (Possibly a plate where the flex exits downwards at
the bottom if splashes are to be large/frequent.) But that patently
involves more work so fingers crossed you'll find a simpler option you
can accept.

But that still leaves the temperature setting bit on the radiator
itself, that needs to be 'bathroom safe', it's this bit that is my
real concern. An unswitched FCU would be fine if the thermostat on
the towel rail can be turned right down. If necessary have a remote
switch to isolate it.

--
Chris Green
·

On 15/02/2021 09:11, Chris Green wrote:
Robin wrote:
On 14/02/2021 17:08, Chris Green wrote:
ARW wrote:
snip


It's not actually in a bathroom zone, it is however in a potentially
'splashy' environment so I'd prefer if it had an IP rating for that
sort of environment. So I'd like IPx4, the radiators I've seen don't
give any ratings though.

A towel rad probably needs double pole switching so an unswitched FCU
would not be suitable.

So the illustration is wholly misleading as it shows an unswitched FCU
(as far as one can tell). A switched FCU is likely not IPx4 unless
it's an outdoor one and they are not really 'indoor friendly' in terms
of their looks.


You seem to be leading inexorably to your needing to run the flex from
the towel rail /unbroken/ through a flex outlet plate to a SFCU outside
the "splashy zone". (Possibly a plate where the flex exits downwards at
the bottom if splashes are to be large/frequent.) But that patently
involves more work so fingers crossed you'll find a simpler option you
can accept.

But that still leaves the temperature setting bit on the radiator
itself, that needs to be 'bathroom safe', it's this bit that is my
real concern. An unswitched FCU would be fine if the thermostat on
the towel rail can be turned right down. If necessary have a remote
switch to isolate it.


I at least had not realised you wanted an /adjustable/ thermostat as
well as IPx4 rating. I think you need to review your budget.

--
Robin
reply-to address is (intended to be) valid

On 15/02/2021 09:11, Chris Green wrote:
Robin wrote:
On 14/02/2021 17:08, Chris Green wrote:
ARW wrote:
snip


It's not actually in a bathroom zone, it is however in a potentially
'splashy' environment so I'd prefer if it had an IP rating for that
sort of environment. So I'd like IPx4, the radiators I've seen don't
give any ratings though.

A towel rad probably needs double pole switching so an unswitched FCU
would not be suitable.

So the illustration is wholly misleading as it shows an unswitched FCU
(as far as one can tell). A switched FCU is likely not IPx4 unless
it's an outdoor one and they are not really 'indoor friendly' in terms
of their looks.


You seem to be leading inexorably to your needing to run the flex from
the towel rail /unbroken/ through a flex outlet plate to a SFCU outside
the "splashy zone". (Possibly a plate where the flex exits downwards at
the bottom if splashes are to be large/frequent.) But that patently
involves more work so fingers crossed you'll find a simpler option you
can accept.

But that still leaves the temperature setting bit on the radiator
itself, that needs to be 'bathroom safe', it's this bit that is my
real concern. An unswitched FCU would be fine if the thermostat on
the towel rail can be turned right down. If necessary have a remote
switch to isolate it.

I solved a similar problem with my central heating (individual
timer/stats in each room of the house and separate motorised valves), by
building a relay box, using battery powered timer/stats and only feeding
12V, from a safety transformer, to the timer/stats. This also meant that
until I redecorated each room and buried the cables, I could use surface
mounted alarm cable, up the edges of doorframes and the like, where it
was nigh on invisible, but it did not matter if the kids damaged it.

Electrically it is safe and the timer/stat in the bathroom - although
not rated for damp atmospheres - is still working 17 years later.

On Monday, 15 February 2021 at 09:18:06 UTC, Chris Green wrote:
But that still leaves the temperature setting bit on the radiator
itself, that needs to be 'bathroom safe', it's this bit that is my
real concern. An unswitched FCU would be fine if the thermostat on
the towel rail can be turned right down.

Depending on what wattage element you go for, it might be wishful thinking that the room will ever become too hot

David wrote:
On Monday, 15 February 2021 at 09:18:06 UTC, Chris Green wrote:
But that still leaves the temperature setting bit on the radiator
itself, that needs to be 'bathroom safe', it's this bit that is my
real concern. An unswitched FCU would be fine if the thermostat on
the towel rail can be turned right down.

Depending on what wattage element you go for, it might be wishful thinking
that the room will ever become too hot

It's not intended to heat the room, it's intended to dry towels.
However one still wants to be able to turn it down/off.

--
Chris Green
·