Tooth brush charger in bathroom cabinet

[JeddyS]

I have a bathroom mirror with small cabinet to one side, which has a light above the mirror (electrical connection above the cabinet) and would like to add a 'shaver socket' to charge a tooth brush into the small cabinet. I'd need to drill a hole to get into the cabinet from above, but am having trouble finding any small simple shaver sockets which I can mount simply into the cabinet or place on a shelf. Any suggestions please? Most of the stuff I'm finding requires a back box or hole behind which obviously doesn't work in a cabinet?
Thanks

 

[Why Not Indeed]

Pattress box? Maybe you already considered but the cab isn't deep enough.
Are you averse to making a hole in the back of the cabinet?

 

[Murdochcat]

Mirror or cabinet with integrated shaver socket and then the bonus would be a heat pad on the back of the mirror

 

[JeddyS]

I have about 13cm of depth to play with, but I need >5cm for the back of 2 pin plug (if the door is going to close while charging). So I'd need a socket which fits in a pattress box perhaps 5cm deep.
Alas the bathroom has just been done and everything is new so I don't really want to start changing it or trying to put holes in the back of the cabinet or wall.
Although I guess I could mount the box on the top facing downwards inside the cabinet. Dumb question then, do these shaver sockets fit into a single pattress box? I thought they tended to be quite high and deep at the back? Not sure I have width for a double box (maybe I have 10cm width).
All because her mother bought her an electric toothbrush for Xmas!
Thanks

 

[AndyPRK]

You don't want a shaver socket really, as these come with transformers which are bulky, heat up and humm. They aren't really designed for toothbrush charging.

How about one of these below? Must be the only brand without transformer (as no socket)
Would that fit on the side of your cab ?

Maybe cut a square hole out, and put a pattress box on the inside? (so cab sandwiches them)

Click CMA101 Mode In-Wall Toothbrush Charger (1 Gang) | eBay

BS EN 60335-1. Collection available.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[AndyPRK]

maybe post a pic of your charger plug. Do the pins lean towards each other slightly? (euro plug)

 

[JeddyS]

Yeah a photo is a good idea!
Also not having a transformer would be preferable since it's not needed (230V).
So if I understand you, buy a shallower 1 gang pattress box (the one in the photo was all I had lying around) and the CMA101 would attach to the front of it, then I can just drill a hole through the top for the mains cable. (and obviously secure the box to the cabinet somehow, which may be tricky as the back is very thin - hmm, maybe I can put the back of the box on the side of the cabinet as the side is thicker).
Neat! Thanks!!

 

[flameport]

If this is just for toothbrush charging, fit a 3A FCU, cut the plug off the charger and wire it into the FCU.

 

[JeddyS]

Another nice idea, presumably I could then mount the FCU on top of the cabinet (largely out of sight and out of the way) and just have the charger cable coming down through the top of the cabinet.

 

[AndyPRK]

Yeap, I was going for putting the box on the side.

Toothbrush looks too tall to fit inside cab.

if the box is going at the top of the cab, you could just take the cable out the top of the patress. If you want it lower, then yes, route the cable through.

Yeah a photo is a good idea!
Also not having a transformer would be preferable since it's not needed (230V).
So if I understand you, buy a shallower 1 gang pattress box (the one in the photo was all I had lying around) and the CMA101 would attach to the front of it, then I can just drill a hole through the top for the mains cable. (and obviously secure the box to the cabinet somehow, which may be tricky as the back is very thin - hmm, maybe I can put the back of the box on the side of the cabinet as the side is thicker).
Neat! Thanks!!

View attachment 367464

 

[ebee]

I know that I am considered weird but I cut the plug off the toothbrush charger, connected a 3 pin 13A plug with a 1 amp fuse oinside and chatrge it up in the bedroom, I do not have a shaver socket in the bathroom cos I have not got an electric shaver, don't like them,

 

[JeddyS]

You are right that the toothbrush is too tall to fit in where the shelves are currently (and there are no pre-drilled holes to move the shelf to), however I'm working on the assumption that the brush head will come off and it will then fit. Best check that before I go too far.

I did suggest charging the brush elsewhere, but 'met resistance'. I've supplied her with a 2pin to 3pin adapter for now.

Thanks

 

[AndyPRK]

I thought you would put the charger on the outside.

You could store it inside when not on charge.

 

[Tigercubrider]

If you’re cutting the plug off, you could screw the box to the wall behind the cabinet after carefully cutting the back. Often the cabinet is a basic frame with a glorified hardboard back so you’d gain 10 mm or so.
Does the cabinet come off?

 

[JeddyS]

Thanks, but I'm not sure the extra 10mm is worth the effort.
I'm currently considering going with the FCU with surface mount back box, above the cabinet and a hole in the top of the cabinet for the cable which minimises waste space.
Possibly neatest would be to put a hole for the cable to the FCU in the back of the cabinet at shelf level - if there is enough space to feed it up behind the cabinet. That way there would be pretty much no wasted space or visible wires in the cabinet.