bathroom cabinet wiring problem

[Matt Jackson]

I'm installing a bathroom cabinet that needs power and more specifically earth. it has demister / LED lights and infra red switch.

The previous wiring (to the old cabinet) passed through the wall behind the cabinet and into the kitchen... spurring off a cooker socket. The new cabinet does not work with this setup, I suspected that the earth wasn't there, but it ive tested with multimeter and the kitchen has 240v testing live / earth.

I tested the cabinet was working by wiring a standard plug to it and plugging it into a socket. It does works.... but only when I plug it into through a peripheral device (rodent deterrent from maplin) which has a pass-through socket on it. I though it may have been an RCD detection, and plugged it through an RCD but this didn't work, only the rodent deterrent device.

In summary, I'm really confused as to why I can only get the device to work when plugged into / through this rodent deterrent, but nothing else. And how i can move forward.

i understand most people will say get an electrician...but i'm looking for an answer about how to do this myself.

Any advice or help much appreciated, cheers matt.

[Graham.]

Post by Matt Jackson
I'm installing a bathroom cabinet that needs power and more specifically earth. it has demister / LED lights and infra red switch.
The previous wiring (to the old cabinet) passed through the wall behind the cabinet and into the kitchen... spurring off a cooker socket. The new cabinet does not work with this setup, I suspected that the earth wasn't there, but it ive tested with multimeter and the kitchen has 240v testing live / earth.
I tested the cabinet was working by wiring a standard plug to it and plugging it into a socket. It does works.... but only when I plug it into through a peripheral device (rodent deterrent from maplin) which has a pass-through socket on it. I though it may have been an RCD detection, and plugged it through an RCD but this didn't work, only the rodent deterrent device.
In summary, I'm really confused as to why I can only get the device to work when plugged into / through this rodent deterrent, but nothing else. And how i can move forward.
i understand most people will say get an electrician...but i'm looking for an answer about how to do this myself.
Any advice or help much appreciated, cheers matt.

So, just to clarify, there is a fused switched spur unit
connecting this to the cooker circuit? Where is this FSU,? In
the kitchen?

[John Rumm]

Post by Matt Jackson
I'm installing a bathroom cabinet that needs power and more
specifically earth. it has demister / LED lights and infra red
switch.
The previous wiring (to the old cabinet) passed through the wall
behind the cabinet and into the kitchen... spurring off a cooker
socket. The new cabinet does not work with this setup, I suspected
that the earth wasn't there, but it ive tested with multimeter and
the kitchen has 240v testing live / earth.

The presence or otherwise of the earth should not affect whether the
thing functions. (not being there, would be a safety issue - but not a
functional thing, since there are very few things that depend on an
earth to function correctly)

Post by Matt Jackson
I tested the cabinet was working by wiring a standard plug to it and
plugging it into a socket. It does works.... but only when I plug it
into through a peripheral device (rodent deterrent from maplin) which
has a pass-through socket on it.

ok, ignore the rodent deterrent and anything further upstream for the
moment. You should be able to get it to work on a plug.

Now when you connect direct to a socket, is it that the device does not
work, or is it that the whole circuit RCD trips and disconnects power to
the whole circuit?

If the latter, then you have an insulation fault in the cabinet.

If the former, then you probably have a lose connection fault in the
cabinet.

Post by Matt Jackson
I though it may have been an RCD
detection, and plugged it through an RCD but this didn't work, only
the rodent deterrent device.

Unless you have two very odd faults (like earth transposed with one of
the other wires in both the cabinet *and* the rodent device, or perhaps
a non standard plug with pins that don;t mate properly with all sockets
then you are probably just chasing a co-incidence there.

Post by Matt Jackson
In summary, I'm really confused as to why I can only get the device
to work when plugged into / through this rodent deterrent, but
nothing else. And how i can move forward.

Using your multimeter on a resistance range, can you confirm continuity
from the pins of the plug through to the terminals at the other end of
the flex in the cabinet? If you can, then try with the flex in different
positions.
--
Cheers,

John.

/=================================================================\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
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| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\=================================================================/

[Brian Gaff]

I'm not sure what you term the rodent deterent.
What actually is it and what is it for?
On the face of it 240vac is what it says on the tin, why should where it
comes from make any difference at all.
Brian
--
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This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...
***@blueyonder.co.uk
Blind user, so no pictures please!
"Matt Jackson" <***@gmail.com> wrote in message news:c1adc04d-145d-4e26-846f-***@googlegroups.com...
I'm installing a bathroom cabinet that needs power and more specifically
earth. it has demister / LED lights and infra red switch.

The previous wiring (to the old cabinet) passed through the wall behind the
cabinet and into the kitchen... spurring off a cooker socket. The new
cabinet does not work with this setup, I suspected that the earth wasn't
there, but it ive tested with multimeter and the kitchen has 240v testing
live / earth.

I tested the cabinet was working by wiring a standard plug to it and
plugging it into a socket. It does works.... but only when I plug it into
through a peripheral device (rodent deterrent from maplin) which has a
pass-through socket on it. I though it may have been an RCD detection, and
plugged it through an RCD but this didn't work, only the rodent deterrent
device.

In summary, I'm really confused as to why I can only get the device to work
when plugged into / through this rodent deterrent, but nothing else. And how
i can move forward.

i understand most people will say get an electrician...but i'm looking for
an answer about how to do this myself.

Any advice or help much appreciated, cheers matt.

[Andy Burns]

Post by Matt Jackson
In summary, I'm really confused as to why I can only get the device
to work when plugged into / through this rodent deterrent, but
nothing else. And how i can move forward.

The cabinet probably has an isolating transformer in it, so chances are
anything plugged into the cabinet's socket wouldn't trip an RCD.

[Dave W]

"Matt Jackson" <***@gmail.com> wrote in message news:c1adc04d-145d-4e26-846f-***@googlegroups.com...
I'm installing a bathroom cabinet that needs power and more specifically
earth. it has demister / LED lights and infra red switch.

The previous wiring (to the old cabinet) passed through the wall behind the
cabinet and into the kitchen... spurring off a cooker socket. The new
cabinet does not work with this setup, I suspected that the earth wasn't
there, but it ive tested with multimeter and the kitchen has 240v testing
live / earth.

I tested the cabinet was working by wiring a standard plug to it and
plugging it into a socket. It does works.... but only when I plug it into
through a peripheral device (rodent deterrent from maplin) which has a
pass-through socket on it. I though it may have been an RCD detection, and
plugged it through an RCD but this didn't work, only the rodent deterrent
device.

In summary, I'm really confused as to why I can only get the device to work
when plugged into / through this rodent deterrent, but nothing else. And how
i can move forward.

i understand most people will say get an electrician...but i'm looking for
an answer about how to do this myself.

Any advice or help much appreciated, cheers matt.


Maybe your "standard plug" is old and has tarnished pins which don't make
very good contact in an old socket? Your rodent deterrent will have a shiny
new socket with decent springs.

[Graham.]

Post by Matt Jackson
I'm installing a bathroom cabinet that needs power and more specifically
earth. it has demister / LED lights and infra red switch.
The previous wiring (to the old cabinet) passed through the wall behind the
cabinet and into the kitchen... spurring off a cooker socket. The new
cabinet does not work with this setup, I suspected that the earth wasn't
there, but it ive tested with multimeter and the kitchen has 240v testing
live / earth.
I tested the cabinet was working by wiring a standard plug to it and
plugging it into a socket. It does works.... but only when I plug it into
through a peripheral device (rodent deterrent from maplin) which has a
pass-through socket on it. I though it may have been an RCD detection, and
plugged it through an RCD but this didn't work, only the rodent deterrent
device.
In summary, I'm really confused as to why I can only get the device to work
when plugged into / through this rodent deterrent, but nothing else. And how
i can move forward.
i understand most people will say get an electrician...but i'm looking for
an answer about how to do this myself.
Any advice or help much appreciated, cheers matt.
Maybe your "standard plug" is old and has tarnished pins which don't make
very good contact in an old socket? Your rodent deterrent will have a shiny
new socket with decent springs.
--
Dave W

I have exactly that problem on the right hand side of a dual gang
socket in the kitchen, the toaster doesn't work when plugged in
directly, but works perfectly when I use what "Big Clive" calls
a "Deathdapter" with its slightly non standard size pins.
(GIYF if you haven't heard of him or it).
I know, I must get round to replacing that socket.

[F Murtz]

Post by Graham.

Post by Matt Jackson
I'm installing a bathroom cabinet that needs power and more specifically
earth. it has demister / LED lights and infra red switch.
The previous wiring (to the old cabinet) passed through the wall behind the
cabinet and into the kitchen... spurring off a cooker socket. The new
cabinet does not work with this setup, I suspected that the earth wasn't
there, but it ive tested with multimeter and the kitchen has 240v testing
live / earth.
I tested the cabinet was working by wiring a standard plug to it and
plugging it into a socket. It does works.... but only when I plug it into
through a peripheral device (rodent deterrent from maplin) which has a
pass-through socket on it. I though it may have been an RCD detection, and
plugged it through an RCD but this didn't work, only the rodent deterrent
device.
In summary, I'm really confused as to why I can only get the device to work
when plugged into / through this rodent deterrent, but nothing else. And how
i can move forward.
i understand most people will say get an electrician...but i'm looking for
an answer about how to do this myself.
Any advice or help much appreciated, cheers matt.
Maybe your "standard plug" is old and has tarnished pins which don't make
very good contact in an old socket? Your rodent deterrent will have a shiny
new socket with decent springs.
--
Dave W

I have exactly that problem on the right hand side of a dual gang
socket in the kitchen, the toaster doesn't work when plugged in
directly, but works perfectly when I use what "Big Clive" calls
a "Deathdapter" with its slightly non standard size pins.
(GIYF
if you haven't heard of him or it).
I know, I must get round to replacing that socket.

Is the dual outlet one of those weird ones that does not have the earths
linked internally but requires two physical connections?

[Graham.]

Post by F Murtz

Post by Graham.

Post by Matt Jackson
I'm installing a bathroom cabinet that needs power and more specifically
earth. it has demister / LED lights and infra red switch.
The previous wiring (to the old cabinet) passed through the wall behind the
cabinet and into the kitchen... spurring off a cooker socket. The new
cabinet does not work with this setup, I suspected that the earth wasn't
there, but it ive tested with multimeter and the kitchen has 240v testing
live / earth.
I tested the cabinet was working by wiring a standard plug to it and
plugging it into a socket. It does works.... but only when I plug it into
through a peripheral device (rodent deterrent from maplin) which has a
pass-through socket on it. I though it may have been an RCD detection, and
plugged it through an RCD but this didn't work, only the rodent deterrent
device.
In summary, I'm really confused as to why I can only get the device to work
when plugged into / through this rodent deterrent, but nothing else. And how
i can move forward.
i understand most people will say get an electrician...but i'm looking for
an answer about how to do this myself.
Any advice or help much appreciated, cheers matt.
Maybe your "standard plug" is old and has tarnished pins which don't make
very good contact in an old socket? Your rodent deterrent will have a shiny
new socket with decent springs.
--
Dave W

I have exactly that problem on the right hand side of a dual gang
socket in the kitchen, the toaster doesn't work when plugged in
directly, but works perfectly when I use what "Big Clive" calls
a "Deathdapter" with its slightly non standard size pins.
(GIYF
if you haven't heard of him or it).
I know, I must get round to replacing that socket.

Is the dual outlet one of those weird ones that does not have the earths
linked internally but requires two physical connections?

I've never seen one like that. Are you saying the L & N have busbars
but the earths are separate terminals?

[alan_m]

Post by Graham.
I've never seen one like that. Are you saying the L & N have busbars
but the earths are separate terminals?

See