Not even remotely drastic, outlets in bathrooms are illegal in the UK for a reason.

People with 'common sense' die all the time, "I'll just dry my hair whilst sitting on the bath", only takes a dribble of water from your hand into the switch of the dryer and you're toast!

Couldn't care less about English regs. In fact, in the UK I found it quite irritating not having electrical outlets in the bathroom, which is where I preferred to shave (electric) rather than in the bedroom.

As for people drying their hair while sitting in the bath - a pretty ridiculous example of "common sense".

I think that it's a good idea to not have any power outlets in these areas but then again, people will be people & end up using extension leads anyway...which introduces even more dangerous links to an already dangerous chain.

And that is why in one of my rented houses I had a trailing lead into the bathroom, up the wall to a 3 way outlet.

Exactly, one example, leave shower head hanging or drop it by mistake and the pressure is strong enough to make it shoot out water at a few feet distance in any direction. PZZZZZZZZZZZZZT!

Nothing is important enough to necessitate outlets in a washroom. Even wall mounted water heaters claim their share.

My showers have a curtain to stop water coming out.

Next silly example please?

It is of course ENTIRELY UP TO YOU what you do in your own home.

Shaving is possible even in the UK by installing a safety isolated 'shaver point' which won't zap you. Of course, like my dad, you can have a (IMHO better) wet shave

The Japanese brands of wall shower units all have RCD built in but all also have ground lugs and will be marked somewhere that the unit must be grounded (in the case of some Sanyo in huge red letters on the front cover). The RCD should work without the ground but the ground provides protection that the RCD can not (including feed side of electric wire). I would also highly recommend having another external (outside of bath) RCD on the feed line. Years ago had a (US) brand where the mechanical test plastic prevented RCD trip due to soap crud freezing it (obviously had not been tested monthly or weekly). Another, later model of the same unit had a modified slot in plastic to prevent this so obviously others had the same problem.

And make sure the electrician hooks up the wire - I found one unit where they had just insulated the ground wire and let it hang inside the shower as they did not have a clue what that third wire was for (but if that is what the owner wanted they would provide).

In a residential installations RCDs and RCBOs should be tested at least every 3 months and should trip everytime and failure to do so indicates no supply to the RCD/RCBO or a faulty device. To test press the test button.

Replace if faulty they are not repairable.

Provided they are installed correctly the failure rate is very low. They must trip between 50% and 100% of rated current in ma.

Actual tripping time for a RCB or RDBO in ma and the actual time to trip in msecs can be carried out using the correct test equipment.

Thanks guys, looks like a roll of yellow/green cable in the suit case when I head back to LOS shortly.

555, contrary to popular belief (and observation) green cable is available from specialist stores. You'll find it at the back under the empty rice sacks and expired MaMa noodles

Actually, I thought it was for tying up the rice sacks.

Green /yellow insulated earth wire minimum 2.5sqmm ( 7/.067 ) available in 100metre reels.

Source Olex cables Aust.

It has been a legall requirement for over two years here in Thailandthat all new electrical installations are earthed.

It still rarely happens because many electricians here are exactly as some previous poster said---a coconut or rice farmer with a s[are time job!

I bought a second hand house where the Earth rod was correctly in place and wired to the consumer unit---where it ended as all socket outlets installed were two pin.

Not much use earting the socket outlets if all appliance you buy here come with a two pin plug and are double insulated and not requiring earthing.

I have just run a secondary earthed circuit to socket outlets I brought with me from the uK to run the applaiances we also brought from the uk.

All exposed metal work that may be come alive (indirect contact) must be earthed. That means all electrical appliances eg rice cooker, iron etc except those marked with the double insulated symbol must be connected by a 3 core flex to a 3 pin plugtop and compatable socket -- the earth contacts must mate between the plug and socket

Warning-- some plugs and sockets do not comply in this regard.

All exposed metal work that may be come alive (indirect contact) must be earthed. That means all electrical appliances eg rice cooker, iron etc except those marked with the double insulated symbol must be connected by a 3 core flex to a 3 pin plugtop and compatable socket -- the earth contacts must mate between the plug and socket

Warning-- some plugs and sockets do not comply in this regard.

Most definately!

For some (currently unknown) reason most major domestic appliances (fridge, washer, microwave, kettle etc) come with a 'Euro' or 'Schuko' style plug. This LOOKS like a two pin but in reality is not and requires the correct socket to be safe. The correct socket is not normally found in Thai installations and these plugs are invariably rammed into the two-pin outlet leaving the ground to fend for itself

Look here:- http://www.crossy.co.uk/wiring/plugs.html for useful infomation

All exposed metal work that may be come alive (indirect contact) must be earthed. That means all electrical appliances eg rice cooker, iron etc except those marked with the double insulated symbol must be connected by a 3 core flex to a 3 pin plugtop and compatable socket -- the earth contacts must mate between the plug and socket

Warning-- some plugs and sockets do not comply in this regard.

Most definately!

For some (currently unknown) reason most major domestic appliances (fridge, washer, microwave, kettle etc) come with a 'Euro' or 'Schuko' style plug. This LOOKS like a two pin but in reality is not and requires the correct socket to be safe. The correct socket is not normally found in Thai installations and these plugs are invariably rammed into the two-pin outlet leaving the ground to fend for itself

Look here:- http://www.crossy.co.uk/wiring/plugs.html for useful infomation

Great stuff - many thanks from me if not from anyone else.

Look here:- http://www.crossy.co.uk/wiring/plugs.html for useful infomation

Thanks for that explanation and depiction of the Schuko plug, Crossy. My TV, microwave and washing machine all have one.

My condo electrical circuits are currently UNgrounded, but it's good to know that if/when I find a way to run an earth wire down to terra firma that I can ground my TV, microwave and washing machine.

Look here:- http://www.crossy.co.uk/wiring/plugs.html for useful infomation

Thanks for that explanation and depiction of the Schuko plug, Crossy. My TV, microwave and washing machine all have one.

My condo electrical circuits are currently UNgrounded, but it's good to know that if/when I find a way to run an earth wire down to terra firma that I can ground my TV, microwave and washing machine.

This page may be useful http://www.crossy.co.uk/wiring/2pin.html