TV in bathroom - regs and safety

[securespark]

If you are going to spur off a circuit above only a "cowboy" would choose the lighting circuit.

Now you're just being ridiculous.

 

[d000hg]

Why does Winston's house only have one lighting circuit? And why is having to reset the breaker such a terrifying prospect to him... many people have this happen every time a bulb blows!?

 

[d000hg]

Anyway this has all got acrimonious needlessly.

It seems:

1. I can have sockets in the bathroom if they are a certain distance from "zone 1" (which I need to look up)
2. I'm not sure about hard-wired as opposed to plug-in sockets, what the rules are there
3. I can even just run my TV off the lighting circuit even if there is debate whether this is a good idea
4. A special bathroom TV, or protecting my TV from the moist air, is a good idea (but not required)

Have I managed to correctly sieve out the pertinent facts from the arguments?

 

[winston1]

My loft has no socket circuits in it, but it does have a lighting circuit. How do you think I should power my aerial amplifier?

(Clue: a suitably labelled 13A socket-outlet)

1. Use a clock connector on the lighting circuit.
2. Use a BS 546 2 amp socket on the lighting circuit.
3. Use a BS 546 5 amp socket on the lighting circuit.
4. Use a 13 amp socket outlet spurred off the ring final or socket radial in the room below. Make it a double socket. Then you can use a vacuum cleaner to clear up the mess afterwards.
5. Use an aerial amplifier that is phantom powered up the coax from a power supply behind the TV.
6. If the aerial is in the loft move it outside on the chimney and most probably you won't need the amplifier.

Your clue is wrong. No.5 is by far the most common method with no.6 a close second.

 

[winston1]

Anyway this has all got acrimonious needlessly.

It seems:

1. I can have sockets in the bathroom if they are a certain distance from "zone 1" (which I need to look up)
2. I'm not sure about hard-wired as opposed to plug-in sockets, what the rules are there
3. I can even just run my TV off the lighting circuit even if there is debate whether this is a good idea
4. A special bathroom TV, or protecting my TV from the moist air, is a good idea (but not required)

Have I managed to correctly sieve out the pertinent facts from the arguments?

1. Yes.
2. You can hard wire it, but inconvenient for maintenance. You can use a socket but not advisable to use a 13 amp socket on the lighting circuit.
3. Yes you can but see 2 above.
4. Yes.

 

[winston1]

Why does Winston's house only have one lighting circuit? And why is having to reset the breaker such a terrifying prospect to him... many people have this happen every time a bulb blows!?

It doesn't. Who said it did?
Resetting is only a problem if you are in a dark loft alone.

 

[securespark]

Anyway this has all got acrimonious needlessly.

It got acrimonious because when any of us advise (correctly) that a 13A socket can be used on a lighting circuit, somebody who, AFAICT has no training or qualifications spits his dummy out of the pram and calls those of us (who are trained and qualified and have decades of experience) who might dare to do this "cowboys".

 

[winston1]

It got acrimonious because when any of us advise (correctly) that a 13A socket can be used on a lighting circuit, somebody who, AFAICT has no training or qualifications spits his dummy out of the pram and calls those of us (who are trained and qualified and have decades of experience) who might dare to do this "cowboys".

You were the one who started it by making the silly suggestion in the first place. Common sense should tell you that it is not advised even if the regs allow it. The regs are often wrong and as such are amended from time to time.

I probably have higher qualifications than you. AMIET for your info.

 

[securespark]

I didn't start anything. I made a perfectly acceptable suggestion. You took umbrage.

Is that suddenly my fault?

Now you're being even more ridiculous.

 

[JohnW2]

It seems: I can have sockets in the bathroom if they are a certain distance from "zone 1" (which I need to look up)

Indeed, but the distance is 3m, so no good unless you have an enormous bathroom.

I'm not sure about hard-wired as opposed to plug-in sockets, what the rules are there

The main rule that might catch you relates to switches. If the TV had an accessible switch, there would be restrictions as to where it could be located. Hard-wiring as such is not a problem.

I can even just run my TV off the lighting circuit even if there is debate whether this is a good idea

You can, and may. Bear in mind that, in terms of the 'debate', there is only one (albeit vociferous, with strongly held views) person on the 'no' (or 'not advisable') side. Even he has had to admit that it is explicitly allowed by the Wiring Regs.

A special bathroom TV, or protecting my TV from the moist air, is a good idea (but not required)

Indeed - but, as you say, that's 'your problem' and not related to any 'requirements'

Have I managed to correctly sieve out the pertinent facts from the arguments?

It seems so. Well done!

Kind Regards, John

 

[winston1]

Deleted.

 

[winston1]

I didn't start anything. I made a perfectly acceptable suggestion. You took umbrage.

Is that suddenly my fault?

Now you're being even more ridiculous.

Your qualifications, by the way?

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I didn't say it was not allowed. I said there was never, ever, a reason to do it.

What we don't need to do is encourage it with unsuitable sockets ....

Here is the list of devices considered suitable for use as fixed lighting points:

• A ceiling rose to BS 67
• A luminaire supporting coupler to BS 6972 or BS 7001
• A batten lampholder or a pendant set to BS EN 60598
• A luminaire to BS EN 60598
• A suitable socket-outlet to BS 1363-2, BS 546 or BS EN 60309-2
• A plug-in lighting distribution unit to BS 5733
• A connection unit to BS 1363-4
• Appropriate terminals enclosed in a box complying with the relevant part of BS EN 60670 series or BS 4662
• A device for connecting a luminaire (DCL) outlet according to BS IEC 61995-1
• An installation coupler BS EN 61535.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

It got acrimonious because when any of us advise (correctly) that a 13A socket can be used on a lighting circuit, somebody who, AFAICT has no training or qualifications spits his dummy out of the pram and calls those of us (who are trained and qualified and have decades of experience) who might dare to do this "cowboys".

For some reason, just as with his blathering about Low Voltage and electronic transformers, it is abundantly clear that the site wants him to do it.

 

[securespark]

If you look back, you've made a bit of a fool of yourself.

those of us (who are trained and qualified and have decades of experience)

It would appear you immediately mistook this as an attempt by me to compete against you as to who had the higher qualifications.
My point was that there are several qualified, time-served sparks here with a collective lifetime of experience and we are all OK about using a 13A socket in this situation.

Let it go now and desist advising people they shouldn't do it, just because you disagree with it..