Wall Controllers & Timer Switches for Electric Towel Rails
14 years supplying UK bathrooms, est. February 2012. Free delivery on orders over £200. 5-year manufacturer's warranty on all towel rails.
Timer Switches and Wall Controllers for Electric Towel Rails
An electric towel rail left running all day costs significantly more than one running on a timer. A 150W rail operating 24 hours a day uses 3.6 kWh — at 24.67p/kWh, that is 89p per day, or around £27 per month. The same rail on a two-hour morning and one-hour evening schedule uses 0.45 kWh per day — roughly 11p, or £3.40 per month. A £27 timer switch pays for itself in under five weeks and continues saving money every month after that. This collection covers the four products that make that possible: a booster timer, a digital programmable timer, a WiFi fused spur timer, and a waterproof splash box for damp external installations.
Where Controllers Must Be Installed
Timer switches and fused spur controllers are rated IP20 — suitable for dry locations only. Under UK wiring regulations, they must be installed outside the bathroom, on an external wall, in a hallway, or in an adjacent cupboard. They cannot be positioned inside the bathroom regardless of proximity to water sources. The towel rail element itself connects to the fused spur via heat-resistant cable routed through or around the bathroom wall. The rail operates inside the bathroom; the controller sits outside it.
For reference: non-thermostatic elements are IPX6 rated and thermostatic elements are IPX4 rated. The rail body itself has no zone restriction.
Element Compatibility and State Memory
All Elegant Radiators electric elements are fully compatible with external timer switches and controllers — both our own and any standard third-party unit. You do not need a manufacturer-matched timer to use these controllers with our rails.
Importantly, all our elements remember their last setting when power is restored. If the element was running at heat level 2 when the timer cut power, it will resume at heat level 2 when the timer switches power back on — not reset to a default or switch off entirely. This means the timer controls only the on/off schedule; your chosen heat level is preserved through every power cycle. Set the element once to the level you want, let the timer manage the schedule, and the rail will behave consistently every time.
Which Controller Do You Need?
Booster Timer Switch (£27.49): a simple twist-timer that runs the rail for a set duration — typically 30 minutes to 2 hours — then switches off automatically. No programming required. Best suited to households with variable routines who want on-demand warmth without the risk of leaving the rail on all day.
Digital Programmable Timer (£32.49): set up to six on/off events per day, seven days a week — and this is where a heated towel rail stops being a bathroom appliance and starts being part of your morning. Programme it to switch on 30 minutes before your alarm. By the time you have shaved or washed your face, the rail is fully warm and a dry, heated towel is waiting. No standing in a cold bathroom waiting for it to heat up, no remembering to switch it on the night before. The rail comes on, does its job, and switches off — every day, without you touching it. For households with a consistent routine, this is the most rewarding upgrade in the range.
WiFi Fused Spur Timer Switch (£34.99): app-controlled from your phone, anywhere. Override schedules remotely, switch the rail on while you are still in bed, or check whether you left it running when you left the house. Combines scheduled programming with manual override — the most flexible option for households where the daily routine changes.
IP66 Waterproof Splash Box (£14.95): a weatherproof enclosure for installations in damp or exposed external locations — a utility room, an outbuilding, a garage, or an external wall subject to splashing. Houses a standard fused spur or timer switch inside a sealed IP66 rated case. Not a bathroom installation product — for external and damp-location use only.
Do You Need a Controller If Your Element Already Has a Timer?
If your electric towel rail element already has a built-in timer or WiFi control, a separate wall controller is not required — the element manages its own schedule. Built-in controls are available on thermostatic and WiFi elements in our heating elements range. A wall controller is only necessary when your element is a standard non-programmable type that relies on an external switch to turn it on and off. If you are unsure which element type you have, check whether the element has any buttons or an LED display — standard elements have neither.
For the full electric towel rail range, see our electric towel rails collection. For dual fuel conversion kits that add an electric element to an existing CH rail, see our dual fuel kit range.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put a timer switch inside my bathroom?
No. Timer switches and fused spur controllers are IP20 rated and must be installed outside the bathroom under UK wiring regulations. The correct installation is to mount the controller on an external wall, in a hallway, or in an adjacent cupboard, and run heat-resistant cable through or around the wall to the towel rail element inside the bathroom.
Will the element remember its heat setting when the timer switches it back on?
Yes. All Elegant Radiators electric elements remember their last heat setting when power is restored. If the element was running at level 2 when the timer cut the power, it will resume at level 2 when the timer switches back on — it does not reset to a default or require manual adjustment each time. Set your preferred heat level once and the timer handles the rest.
How much does a timer save on an electric towel rail?
A 150W rail running 24 hours a day costs around £27 per month at 24.67p/kWh. The same rail on a three-hour daily schedule costs around £3.40 per month — a saving of over £23 per month, or around £280 per year. A £27–£35 timer switch typically pays for itself within five to six weeks of use and continues saving money indefinitely.
What is the difference between a booster timer and a programmable timer?
A booster timer runs the rail for a set duration from the moment you turn it — useful for on-demand use when you need warm towels in the next hour or two. A programmable timer runs on a pre-set daily or weekly schedule without any daily input — the rail comes on 30 minutes before you wake up, so a warm towel is ready after your morning shave or face wash without you thinking about it. If your routine is consistent, a programmable timer delivers a noticeably better daily experience. If your usage is irregular, the booster timer is simpler.
Do I need an electrician to fit a timer switch?
If you are replacing an existing fused spur switch with a timer unit of the same footprint, a competent DIYer can make the swap with the circuit isolated. If you are installing a new fused spur from scratch — running a new cable from the consumer unit — this is notifiable work under Part P of the Building Regulations in England and Wales and must be carried out by a qualified electrician. When in doubt, use a qualified electrician for any new electrical installation near a bathroom.
Will these controllers work with any electric towel rail element?
All Elegant Radiators elements are compatible with our controllers and with any standard external timer switch. These controllers work with standard non-programmable elements that rely on an external switch — they are not needed for thermostatic or WiFi elements that have built-in scheduling. The controllers are rated for loads up to 3kW, covering all standard towel rail elements (typically 150–600W) with significant headroom.
