Bathroom Cabinet Replacement

[Robert Connor]

Hi All,
I'm replacing an illuminated bathroom cabinet which is supplied by one cable from the existing lighting circuit to the bathroom. It switches with the rest of the lights.
I hope to replace it with a cabinet with lights, demist and charging socket. I will need it to be livened all the time so that electric toothbrushes can be charged when the lights are off.
My assumptions are:
1 I will need to move the supply cable from the switched supply to the permanent supply.
2 I will need to fit an FCU as the cabinet will now be live all the time and no longer part of the lighting circuit.
My Questions to you are:
1: Can I do this with the single existing cable?
2: Is this the best solution?

Cheers,
Rob

 

[Taylortwocities]

My suggestion is that you replace the existing cable with 3-core and earth cable. This will provide you with a live and a switched live. I like to have my demist going on and off with the lights - it stops you leaving the heater on by mistake.
To do this, you'll need to find where the existing cable terminates and connect the new one up somehwere suitable.

If new cable is not pratical, you'll need to swop the live wire to a permananent live. Where this is will depend on your house wiring.
My suggestion is that you replace the existing cable with 3-core and earth cable. This will provide you with a live and a switched live. I like to have my demist going on and off with the lights - it stops you leaving the heater on by mistake.
To do this, you'll need to find where the existing cable terminates and connect the new one up somehwere suitable.

If new cable is not pratical, you'll need to swop the live wire to a permananent live. Where this is will depend on your house wiring.

 

[Octopus]

Much better to buy a mirror / cabinet with it all built in .... so if you are competent, the connection needs to be changed from the Sl to the Pl of the light...............

I slightly disagree with above - if its an integrated unit, when you put the cabinet lights on, the demist heats up, so don't mess around changing the internals of the new cabinet.

There should be no need for a FCU, but if you can add one it wouldn't harm

 

[Taylortwocities]

Depends on the cabinet. Mine has a separate switch on the side for the demist. The mirror lights are on a separate sensor switch.
That's why I rewired it so it comes on with the room lights.

 

[Octopus]

Depends on the cabinet. Mine has a separate switch on the side for the demist. The mirror lights are on a separate sensor switch.
That's why I rewired it so it comes on with the room lights.

Which is fair enough when you are competent and have test equipment etc

 

[Taylortwocities]

Yes, like the name of the forum.

 

[Octopus]

Yes, like the name of the forum.

But NOT like a lot of posters on here!

 

[Robert Connor]

Thanks for all the advice.
On inspection, the cable down to the cabinet had been buried in the wall without any protection and is now immovable. So using it as a draw wire for a length of 3 core as suggested in the first solution is a non-starter. Pity as this would have been my preferred solution.
So it looks like I'll have to find a cabinet with an integrated light switch and move the cable from the SL to the PL as in the second suggestion.

 

[Octopus]

So it looks like I'll have to find a cabinet with an integrated light switch and move the cable from the SL to the PL as in the second suggestion.

Which nearly all have .................