Domakihub How to Install a Shaver Socket in Your Bathroom
What your electrician does — and what you need to know before booking the job.
Reviewed by Domakihub home & decor pros · 2026-06-23 · 5 min read
A shaver socket is the small two-pin outlet you see in bathrooms — the kind designed specifically for electric shavers and toothbrush chargers. Unlike a standard 13A wall socket, it contains an isolating transformer that keeps users safe from electric shock near water. The video above walks through the actual wiring; the steps below explain the full process so you can plan the job and have an informed conversation with your electrician in Greece.
Why a Shaver Socket Is Not the Same as a Normal Socket
A shaver socket uses an internally isolated transformer, which means the output circuit has no direct connection to the mains earth or neutral. This galvanic isolation is what makes it safe to use near a sink or shower tray — if a live wire were accidentally touched, no current can flow back through the water or a wet floor to the user.
In Greece, bathroom electrical work falls under Greek Standard ELOT HD 384 (aligned with IEC 60364). Zone restrictions apply: no standard socket may be placed within 60 cm of a basin, and any socket within Zone 2 (up to 60 cm from the basin edge) must be an isolated shaver type or specifically rated for wet areas. This is not optional — it is a code requirement, and only a licensed electrician (αδειούχος ηλεκτρολόγος) may carry out fixed wiring work in Greece.
Understanding the Wiring Options
A shaver socket can be fed in two main ways: spur off the lighting circuit (tapped at a ceiling rose or junction box), or a dedicated spur from the ring main or consumer unit. The lighting-circuit method is the most common in flats and apartments because the cable route is short and the existing circuit has enough spare capacity for the tiny load a shaver draws (typically under 20 W).
Your electrician will choose the best feed point based on cable routing, zone compliance, and the load already on each circuit. In older Greek properties, wiring may run in conduit inside the walls — factor in chasing and replastering if a new cable route is needed.
How the Installation Works — Step by Step
- 1
Switch off and verify isolation
The electrician turns off the relevant circuit breaker at the consumer unit (πίνακας διανομής) and uses a voltage tester to confirm all conductors are dead at the planned socket location. In a bathroom there is no margin for error — isolation must be verified before any work begins.
- 2
Choose the location and mark the wall
The socket is positioned outside Zone 1 (the immediate shower/bath area) and within convenient reach of the mirror — typically 15–20 cm to the side of the basin mirror, at a height that avoids splash. The electrician marks the back-box cutout and the cable run, then chases the wall if surface trunking is not being used.
- 3
Run and connect the supply cable
A 1.0 mm² or 1.5 mm² twin-and-earth cable is routed from the chosen feed point (ceiling rose, junction box, or consumer unit spur) to the back box. Live (brown/red), neutral (blue/black), and earth (green-yellow) are terminated at the shaver unit's integral transformer terminals according to the manufacturer's diagram. The earth is connected even though the output side is isolated — it protects the transformer casing itself.
- 4
Fit the back box and socket face plate
A flush plastic or metal back box is fixed into the chase (or a surface box is screwed to the tile using appropriate wall plugs). The wired shaver unit clips or screws into the back box, with cables dressed neatly so no conductor is pinched. Dual-voltage models — offering both 240 V and 115 V outputs — are standard and accept both European two-pin and US-style shaver plugs.
- 5
Test, certify, and restore power
Before closing up, the electrician tests insulation resistance and polarity with a multifunction tester. In Greece, any new fixed wiring addition requires an updated Υπεύθυνη Δήλωση Εγκαταστάτη (installer's declaration) — keep this document as it is needed for insurance, property sales, and rental licensing. Power is then restored and the socket is tested with an actual load.
Rather have a pro handle it?
Get a vetted electrician pro in your city — one number, booked in EN/EL/DE.
FAQ
- Can I install a shaver socket myself in Greece?
- No. Greek law (Presidential Decree 108/2013 and the licensing framework under ΥΠΕΝ) requires that all fixed electrical installation work — including adding any new wiring or outlet — be carried out and certified by a licensed electrician. You can prepare the space (remove old tiles around the location, clear the route), but the wiring itself must be done by a professional who can issue the required installer's declaration.
- Does a shaver socket work for an electric toothbrush charger?
- Yes. The two-pin Europlug used on most toothbrush charger bases fits a standard shaver socket. The socket's isolating transformer limits the output to around 20 W, which is more than enough for a charger that typically draws 1–3 W. It is not suitable for a hair dryer or any appliance above roughly 20 W.
- How long does the installation take, and what does it cost in Greece?
- For a straightforward spur off an existing lighting circuit with a short cable run and no retiling needed, a competent electrician typically completes the job in one to two hours. In Greece, expect to pay roughly €80–€180 for labour plus the cost of the socket unit (€15–€50 depending on brand and finish). Jobs requiring wall chasing and replastering will cost more — get two or three quotes and confirm the electrician will provide the certification document.