Installing a shaver point

Summary: Learn how to fit a mounting box and wire in a shaving plug.

* Notifiable project requiring Building Control approval. A shaver point is the only electric socket outlet permitted in a bathroom.

Although surface-mounted boxes can be purchased, it is safer to install a flush-mounted shaver point. Shaver points can either be connected to a ring main spur via an FCU or run from a spur on a lighting circuit.

An FCU is a socket with an integral fuse used for connecting high-wattage appliances, such as cookers, extractor fans, central heating timers and heaters to a circuit. You can connect an FCU to a circuit in three ways:

Replacing an existing socket outlet with an FCU.
Running a spur from a socket outlet on a ring main circuit
From a radial circuit.

To reduce the risk of overloading the circuit, high-wattage appliances are usually run on their own separate radial circuit.

Planning and preparation

Cut off the power supply to the relevant circuit from the consumer unit.
Ensure all metal pipework and objects in the room are properly earthed.
If your lighting circuit is not connected to a junction box above the bathroom, follow instructions for installing a junction box in the section on Extending Lighting Circuits.
Prepare the cable route from the junction box to the shaver point.
Follow the instructions in Extending Lighting Circuits to run a spur from the lighting circuit to the junction box.

Fitting a mounting box

The safest way to install mounting boxes for the FCU and the appliance outlet plate is to flush-mount them:

Hold the mounting box level against the wall at least 150mm (6in) above the floor and draw around it.
Place a masonry bit on your drill and set the drill to the depth required by the mounting box.
Drill holes around and inside the outline to make chopping out the hole easier. If the wall is masonry, cut out the hole using a club hammer and cold chisel or brick bolster.
Vacuum the hole and surrounding area to remove any dust.
If the wall is plasterboard, cut out the hole with a padsaw blade.
Press out the plastic tab in the back of the mounting box to make a hole for the cables.
Insert an eyelet or grommet into the hole to prevent damage to the cables.
Feed the original cable(s) and the new cable though the hole in the back of the mounting box and fit the box in the hole.
If you are fitting a mounting box to a masonry wall, mark the screw holes, then drill and plug the holes to screw the mounting box to the wall.

Drill holes around your outline to make chopping out the hole easier.

If you are fitting a mounting box to a masonry wall, mark the screw holes before druilling and plugging them.

Wiring in the shaving point

Prepare the cores of the other end of the cable.
If the earth cores are bare, cover the exposed end with a green-and-yellow sheath.
Connect the neutral wire (black or blue) to the N terminal in the face-plate, connect the live core (red or brown) to L, and connect the earth to the earth terminal.
If you have a metal mounting box, ensure it is earthed: an earth core should run between the mounting box and face-plate. With plastic mounting boxes, the earth cable should be placed in a plastic terminal block.
Screw the face-plate to the mounting box.
Switch the power on for the lighting circuit and test that that the shaving unit works.
If the unit is working satisfactorily, plaster over the chase.

Connections at the shaver point.

Author: C J Mills Google+

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Installing a shaver point

Planning and preparation

Fitting a mounting box

Wiring in the shaving point

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