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You are at:Home»Projects and advice»Installing a shaver point

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.

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 drilling and plugging them.

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.



Connections at the shaver point.

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.

Tools needed

  • Insulated screwdriver
  • Wire cutters/strippers
  • Trimming knife
  • Power drill
  • Masonry bit
  • Club hammer
  • Cold chisel OR Brick bolster
  • Padsaw (For plasterboard walls)

Materials needed

  • Yellow-and-green sheathing
  • Mounting box
  • Grommet
  • Wall plugs (For masonry walls)
  • Terminal block (For plastic mounting boxes)

Related projects

  • Electrical earthing
  • Installing a fused connection unit (FCU)
  • Extending a lighting circuit
  • Preparing cable and flex for connection
  • Preparing the circuit route

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