A 2 pin plug found on an electric toothbrush or shaver has pins that are closer together than a traditional 2 pin EU mains adapter. This means that appliances that would normally connect to a shaver socket cannot and should not be connected to mains power in Europe.
Why are some plugs for shavers only?
Why do shaver sockets have 2 voltages?
Can you use both sockets on a shaver socket?
What are 2 pin plugs called?
Where can I put a shaver socket in a bathroom?
Electrical shaver sockets must always be within a safe distance from the sink, bath or shower to avoid splashes. They must be located more than 3m from the edge of a bath or shower. A popular location for a shaver socket is near a sink, windowsill or shelf, where it can easily be charged between uses.
Why do bathrooms have 2 pin plugs?
Therefore to protect people, a ‘safer’ less powerful form of electrical socket was introduced into bathrooms, where water is generally present more frequently. This safer solution was and is the 2 pin socket, similar to the 2 pin SCHUKO connector found in many European countries.
Why is a shaver socket allowed in a bathroom?
There is still the full mains voltage between them but they are both ‘isolated’ from earth. Whichever one you touch, only a tiny current will flow through you and its voltage, relative to earth, will be nearly zero – you will get no shock.
Why are there no power outlets in UK bathrooms?
Why are there no plug sockets in British bathrooms? The reason that there are no plus sockets in bathrooms is simple – having an exposed plug socket can increase the risk of electric shock. Plugs in England generally use 240-volt power, twice the amount found in US plugs which have 120-volts.
Why does my shaver socket buzz?
The shaving socket transformer has ferrous laminations, they move slightly as the AC voltage does its thing, this causes hum. It is what transformers do.
How do I plug in my Oral B toothbrush?
In most cases, an electric toothbrush is charged by sitting the brush handle onto a charging stand. The charging stand will normally come provided with the brush. It will be a round or square shaped plate in most cases with a prong (protuberance) that sits upright in the centre.
How can I charge my electric toothbrush without a shaver socket?
I don’t have a 2 pin shaver socket in my bathroom, what do I do? You need to purchase an 2 pin adapter, that will allow you to connect a 2 pin shaver plug such as that on your electric toothbrush to a 3 pin socket.
What is Zone 0 in a bathroom?
Zone 0 is quite basically, anywhere inside a bath, basin or shower itself. It’s defined as ‘any area within a bathroom that can hold water‘. Any fitting or appliance used within zone 0 must be a maximum of 12 volts (SELV) and fully protected against both partial and total immersion in water (minimum rating of IPX7).
Why do British bathrooms have no plug sockets?
Why are there no plug sockets in British bathrooms? The reason that there are no plus sockets in bathrooms is simple – having an exposed plug socket can increase the risk of electric shock. Plugs in England generally use 240-volt power, twice the amount found in US plugs which have 120-volts.
Why don’t electric toothbrushes have UK plugs?
The UK uses 240V electrics whereas the USA uses 110V. Most electric toothbrushes bought in the UK and Europe have charging stands that work on 220-240V. So to use them in the USA, you need a power converter to allow the charging stand to accept the 110V.
How can I charge my electric toothbrush without shaver socket?
You can buy adapters that go in a normal plug socket but have two pins in them for the toothbrush charger. I have an adaptor plug for mine I think you can buy them in the supermarkets. OP if you have a 2 pin US to UK adaptor that works. The pound shops sell the adapters as so all supermarkets.
Why do shavers have 2 pin plugs?
A 2 pin plug found on an electric toothbrush or shaver has pins that are closer together than a traditional 2 pin EU mains adapter. This means that appliances that would normally connect to a shaver socket cannot and should not be connected to mains power in Europe.
Why do Americans have plugs in bathrooms?
A bathroom is considered a special location for electrical instillation, mainly because of the increased risk of electrical shock it poses to users. There is also an increased risk of shock should your body become immersed in water (like your bath or shower) with a live electrical switch within reach.
Why do UK plugs have 3 pins?
The U.K. plug is designed so that the grounding prong is slightly longer than the prongs responsible for transferring current. Like a tumbler in a lock, this grounding prong is responsible for “unlocking” the socket, giving access to the more dangerous live and neutral terminals.
Why does my bathroom mirror hum?
The humming/buzzing sound is a sign that power from the LED transformer is circulating around the shaver transformer, which can cause the shaver transformer to vibrate against the backbox, this is what creates the sound.
Do shaver sockets get warm?
The older shaver sockets had a switch that turned on the transformer only when a shaver plug was inserted into the socket. If this model has a permanently connected transformer then in this weather it may feel very warm, a bit like the old permanently connected bell transformers.