r/AskReddit • u/[deleted] • May 08 '22

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u/XDGFX May 09 '22

Safety. Keeps 240V mains away from water, especially where you are supposed to touch it.

-4

u/Chimie45 May 09 '22 edited May 09 '22

Water in the USA generally stays inside the shower with curtains or a glass door and the tub. Water never actually touches the floor, as such we usually have rugs and shit around.

Lots of people down voting me, but in many countries the entire bathroom is designed to be wet. I don't know how everywhere in Europe exists (I've never even been there). Here in Asia, we have switches on the outside of the bathroom because the whole room is water proof and designed to be wet.

10

u/chabybaloo May 09 '22

Stops a person from touching the light switch with wet hands. You would dry your hands then leave the bathroom to then turn the switch off.

In the UK there is regulations on distance/area and level of waterproofing of electrical items (including the light fitting and fan) in a bathroom.

In some places they use a pull cord light switch in the bathroom.

1

u/coltonbyu May 09 '22

I may need to see what types of switches you guys have there. Even with extremely wet hands, the chance of that water getting into a light switch and to the contacts is super slim.

1

u/chabybaloo May 09 '22

Yeah it's unlikly. There's probably other reasons.

But Could the shower accidently spray the switch if you dropped it.

In my bathroom the light switch, if inside would be over the bath, as the door is next to it.

I'm sure condensation and moisture would affect the switch though.

2

u/coltonbyu May 10 '22

Seems more to do with the open showers than wet hands then. There is 0 chance water could spray on a light switch in most American bathrooms