Electric towel rails - none seem to have IP ratings

TLC-Direct have some - eg "Splash-proof (IPX5 rated) for use in bathrooms and other wet areas" @ £86.40

No thermostat, as shown in the picture it would appear to be permanently on with no way to control it or turn it off. The FCU can't be switched as that would then have to be properly rated for the area it's in.

The Dimplex range seem to be generally IPX5, though I am not sure that applies to a standard flex outlet, and I am sure an FSU would not be suitable inside the zones. I put my FSU outside the room, and thermostat control and flex outlet inside the room but outside the zones. 100GBP is bit optimistic by half an order of magnitude, though.

It seems (electricians correct me if I'm wrong) that switched fused units are allowed in a bathroom (outside the zones) but I agree with you I would not fit one.

Chris Green snipped-for-privacy@isbd.net wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@esprimo.zbmc.eu:

If you don't mind rolling your own then searching for thermostatic elements finds quite a few with IP ratings, this one IPX4:

I went for a separate ladder rail, heater and controller but the cost ended up about the same.

Thermostat might be built in. Our towel rail is heated by the CH system but also electrically, controlled just by a switch in the airing cupboard.

I was unclear if you wanted a thermostat to reduce the risk of burn from the rail or to save wasting energy when the room was warm. If the latter then you could simply add an external thermostat. I'm not sure just what level of protection you'd be looking for there given this is not in a bathroom. Is the environment worse than a metre or so from a kitchen sink?

You have lost me Chris.

What bathroom zone is the FCU in and what "rating" do you think it needs?

A towel rad probably needs double pole switching so an unswitched FCU would not be suitable.

It's my speciality! :-)

It's not actually in a bathroom zone, it is however in a potentially 'splashy' environment so I'd prefer if it had an IP rating for that sort of environment. So I'd like IPx4, the radiators I've seen don't give any ratings though.

So the illustration is wholly misleading as it shows an unswitched FCU (as far as one can tell). A switched FCU is likely not IPx4 unless it's an outdoor one and they are not really 'indoor friendly' in terms of their looks.

The regs are unclear what you can install outside the zones. Basically they say anything you want if RCD protected and "appropriate for use".

Some of the photos have a SWFCU.

You seem to be leading inexorably to your needing to run the flex from the towel rail /unbroken/ through a flex outlet plate to a SFCU outside the "splashy zone". (Possibly a plate where the flex exits downwards at the bottom if splashes are to be large/frequent.) But that patently involves more work so fingers crossed you'll find a simpler option you can accept.

But that still leaves the temperature setting bit on the radiator itself, that needs to be 'bathroom safe', it's this bit that is my real concern. An unswitched FCU would be fine if the thermostat on the towel rail can be turned right down. If necessary have a remote switch to isolate it.

I at least had not realised you wanted an /adjustable/ thermostat as well as IPx4 rating. I think you need to review your budget.

I solved a similar problem with my central heating (individual timer/stats in each room of the house and separate motorised valves), by building a relay box, using battery powered timer/stats and only feeding

Electrically it is safe and the timer/stat in the bathroom - although not rated for damp atmospheres - is still working 17 years later.

Depending on what wattage element you go for, it might be wishful thinking that the room will ever become too hot ;)

It's not intended to heat the room, it's intended to dry towels. However one still wants to be able to turn it down/off.