Supply feed to the shower niche/Vanity Unit

[JK28]

Hi all,

Going to be renovating our bathroom myself & looking for some advice on which is the better/correct way of powering the LED in the shower niche & under the vanity unit. I will be using IP65 LED strip lights powered using a 12v/24v LED Driver

Method 1
Spur off the existing bathroom lighting circuit & wire it up like most common lights. i.e. Spur to junction box with power to LED driver & another to a 2 gang 1 way switch. With this I would be placing the driver in the ceiling (loft) running two 12v cables one for shower niche & other to vanity unit. This way if driver ever fails then i can replace/maintain in the loft.

Method 2
Again spur of existing bathroom circuit to the light switch (2 plate method). From light switch I would then run feed (supply) to LED driver stored somewhere in the bathroom (under shelves or vanity unit out of prohibited zones) & rest will be the same shower niche & vanity unit etc.

I have concerns with both methods, method 1 is having the led driver in the loft, will most prob have a fire hood over it but will it be a fire hazard?

With the second method, since I want use a 2 gang 2 way switch (one for existing bathroom lighting & one for new LED lights) will this be a issue having two types of wiring in the light switch?

Is there a prefered/correct way of doing this? I want to get all the cables installed correctly before a electrician checks it all, the last thing I want is bathroom all done & having to re-run all the cable again etc.

Appreciate your help in advance

 

[blup]

Personally I’d do whichever is easier for now and later access. Is a few watts going to create a fire hazard?

 

[Taylortwocities]

Where you can locate power in a bathroom (mains or ELV voltage) depends on where the power will be related to the location of any bath or shower. There are rules about the various zones and what can go there. You need to consider this before worrying about how to do it.
This article shows the various things to consider. Note this is from a few years ago but is still valid except for the location of a mains socket. The new distance is 2.5metres - down from 3 metres, but that won’t worry you - unless you have a very big bathroom!

https://electrical.theiet.org/media/1450/section-701.pdf

Note that any electrical work inside a bathroom zone is NOTIFIABLE and needs to be certified and notified by a registered electrician.

 

[JK28]

Thanks for advice.

Both methods are just as easy to install but just want to confirm which method is the common one used/installed by electricians and I'm aware there are different zones ie. 0-2 in which electrics can be installed. Although shower niche fall under zone 0 as long as its min IP67 rating & max 12v its fine.

 

[Taylortwocities]

Although shower niche fall under zone 0 as long as its min IP67 rating & max 12v its fine.

Not any old 12volts though. It must be provided by a SELV power supply. Not all are.

 

[JohnD]

What is the ceiling height?

Where is the extractor fan?

 

[JK28]

Not any old 12volts though. It must be provided by a SELV power supply. Not all are.

Thanks for advice

What is the ceiling height?

Where is the extractor fan?

Bathroom height 2300mm no windows extractor fan to side wall

 

[JohnD]

Bathroom height 2300mm

Then a ceiling lamp will be out of zones (2250mm)

But over the shower it might get splashed, so sensible to have an IP rated one

If the extractor is not over the bath or shower, it will likely be out of zones, as may your shaver socket and mirror lamp.

 

[JK28]

Thanks for your advice

I'm not too worried about the lights, shaver fittings etc as they are already there so would comply with the regulations. My main concern is how to wire the supply feed for the LED driver whether method 1 or method 2 is the most used in practice.

 

[Taylortwocities]

Thanks for your advice

I'm not too worried about the lights, shaver fittings etc as they are already there so would comply with the regulations. My main concern is how to wire the supply feed for the LED driver whether method 1 or method 2 is the most used in practice.

Option 1. If you have the driver in the bathroom itself then you are - unnecessarily- bringing 230volts into the bathroom.
Note that if the feed comes from a lighting, or any other circuit , the circuit must be RCD-protected. And (again) you will need a SELV driver for the LEDs.

 

[JK28]

Thanks

Option 1. If you have the driver in the bathroom itself then you are - unnecessarily- bringing 230volts into the bathroom.
Note that if the feed comes from a lighting, or any other circuit , the circuit must be RCD-protected. And (again) you will need a SELV driver for the LEDs.

Thanks, yeah circuit is RCD protected and already found something like this for the LED

Amazon.co.uk