Z.
perhaps a 5v USB socket in the bathroom would have been more sense, a live mains extension lead with a dangling socket in the bath regardless of where you plug it in is unwise.
Stupid, avoidable, but mercifully very rare. Unlikely to be mitigated by any of the recent regs changes, AFDD metal CUs and so on. A more sensitive RCD may help a bit, perhaps, if the bath is earthed but not for sure.
Mike
Oh Dear, not good, even a landline phone socket in a bathroom is not allowed. 5v charging lead for a mobile phone not a good idea either? but a mains extension, well mercifully rare but there you go, if it can happen it will happen and all we can hope for at best is that we might have reduced the odds of that to some degree
perhaps a 5v USB socket in the bathroom would have been more sense
But even then, we should be recommending equipment that is not both fixed, and intended for use in Zone 0, should not be used there.
If the USB outlet goes into Zone 2, say, standard switch/socket backbox mounting, and has mains input, interesting discussion regarding whether (or under what conditions) the source would be considered 'outside the zones'.
In selecting the source for the USB outlet, note the BS 7671:2018+A2:2022 change in 701.414 regarding sources for SELV and PELV equipment in zones 0, 1 and 2 (applies even where the source is situated outside the zones, as required by 701.55).
Just a final couple of thoughts.
(a) Whilst a lot of electronic appliances take in DC, their internal voltages and currents may not, from an electric shock perspective, be strictly 'ripple-free DC' ... and there may be converters inside that up the voltage. These may well exceed the equivalent of 12 V AC rms permitted by BS 7671 in Zone 0.
(b) Product standards may have different consideration for SELV and PELV voltages for different conditions, and these can be more (or less) stringent than in BS 7671 - or alternatively, a product standard such as BS EN 62368-1 may ignore wet condition altogether if it's stated the standard considers only dry condition.
a) Whilst a lot of electronic appliances take in DC, their internal voltages and currents may not, from an electric shock perspective, be strictly 'ripple-free DC' ... and there may be converters inside that up the voltage. These may well exceed the equivalent of 12 V AC rms permitted by BS 7671 in Zone 0.
But also true of battery powered kit - and if it says keep away from water (as it may well, and probably should), then there is an element of caveat emptor. (some of the larger display backlight power units are lethal once open to touch)
After all BS7671 is only Requirements for Electrical Installations - what you later do with the electrons so provided by that installation is someone else's problem. Arguably even that title includes quite a bit of mission creep, as wiring in cars, electric fencing, or wiring in buildings for telephony, IT, RF, perhaps even door bells have their own standards.
(b) Product standards may have different consideration for SELV and PELV voltages for different conditions, and these can be more (or less) stringent than in BS 7671 - or alternatively, a product standard such as BS EN 62368-1 may ignore wet condition altogether if it's stated the standard considers only dry condition.
Absolutely true. So why should that affect the Electrician doing the fixed wiring.
BS7671 is not the only fruit, and the BSI is not the only creator of standards.
M.
a) Whilst a lot of electronic appliances take in DC, their internal voltages and currents may not, from an electric shock perspective, be strictly 'ripple-free DC' ... and there may be converters inside that up the voltage. These may well exceed the equivalent of 12 V AC rms permitted by BS 7671 in Zone 0.
But also true of battery powered kit - and if it says keep away from water (as it may well, and probably should), then there is an element of caveat emptor. (some of the larger display backlight power units are lethal once open to touch)
After all BS7671 is only Requirements for Electrical Installations - what you later do with the electrons so provided by that installation is someone else's problem. Arguably even that title includes quite a bit of mission creep, as wiring in cars, electric fencing, or wiring in buildings for telephony, IT, RF, perhaps even door bells have their own standards.
(b) Product standards may have different consideration for SELV and PELV voltages for different conditions, and these can be more (or less) stringent than in BS 7671 - or alternatively, a product standard such as BS EN 62368-1 may ignore wet condition altogether if it's stated the standard considers only dry condition.
Absolutely true. So why should that affect the Electrician doing the fixed wiring.
BS7671 is not the only fruit, and the BSI is not the only creator of standards.
M.
Absolutely mapj1
So why should that affect the Electrician doing the fixed wiring.
Not at all for portable equipment, but for fixed equipment, such as USB outlet, ELV transformers etc, the consideration is required for selection of appropriate products for installation in certain locations, and perhaps the derivation of the source of supply per BS 7671.
yes - and the usb outlet would need to be one suitable for bathroom use - but I still think it is safer as it discourages the use of the mains lead to the short cabled plug in charger. you can even get one with a UK style isolated shaver socket.
Someone would need to check with one like this claims isolation to IEC 61558-2-16 but also only IP20 so outside zones please.
M.
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