Electrical Switches and Plugs: A Buyer’s Guide

This is a basic guide on things to consider before embarking on a new construction or renovation project.

Terminology

The first problem many people face is the bewildering variety of electrical terminology used. Here is a brief explanation of the basic terms you will come across.

Gang: the number of switches or sockets on a plate. A light switch with 3 switches is called a 3-gang switch. A standard double socket is called a 2-gang socket.

road: the number of switches capable of turning on a light. For added flexibility, most switches are 2-way. A light controlled from 1 switch only requires a 1-way switch (although a 2-way switch can be used with no problem). A light controlled from 2 switches, for example a landing light, will require two 2-way switches.

Intermediate: If a light can be activated from 3 different switches, two of them must be 2-way switches and the third must be a middle switch.

unipolar: a single pole switch has one contact. When switched, it will only interrupt the active current and leave the neutral current intact.

double pole: A two pole switch has two separate contacts and will break both live and neutral currents. Double pole switches are recommended in most situations, especially if there are children in the house.

Calendar

Remember, you can put as many switches and plugs in an electrical circuit as you need. However, it’s still worth planning where you’ll need them before you buy. You need to think about the different needs of the room and your lifestyle: where do you need more power outlets? With the proliferation of electrical appliances, you should install more plugs than you think you will need, and make them double plugs instead of single plugs, since the price difference is minimal.

Always buy switched outlets for added protection. This does not apply to sockets for kitchen appliances such as freezers, which should not be turned on in case the switches are accidentally turned off.

Most people only put 1 TV point in a room; don’t make that mistake! Install TV points on at least 2 different walls in a room, you may want to rearrange the furniture and move the TV in the future.

Also consider the lighting needs of a room. Dimmer switches provide a relatively inexpensive and easy way to vary light levels in a room, particularly useful for creating different ambiances in dining rooms, living rooms, or bedrooms. Remember that if a light is to be operated from 2 locations and one of the switches to be used is a dimmer, the other must be a standard 2-way light switch, not a dimmer.

Flat or raised plate?

The differences here are more than just cosmetic. Flat plate outlets look sleek, modern and sophisticated, but they also offer a practical, space-saving solution for placing outlets behind furniture. However, the downside of retrofits is that they often require deeper back cases than originally installed, 35mm instead of 25mm. Changing rear cases can be time consuming and complicated.

Screwed or screwless?

Aesthetically, screwless flat plate switches give an even more modern look than screwed flat plate switches, but screwless switches and sockets have an added advantage: they also save you time and money as they can be installed without the plate. front before decorating and then painting. around quickly and easily without the use of tape or worry about marking the plate. When dry, simply clip on the faceplate.

finishes

Polished chrome, brushed steel, and black nickel are the most popular modern finishes. The downside of polished chrome in particular is that it shows finger marks very easily. One way to help avoid this is to choose a range where the faceplate is polished chrome or black nickel, but the switches themselves are made of black or white plastic. Of the 3 finishes mentioned above, brushed steel (also known as brushed chrome) is the easiest to keep clean.

You are now ready to take the next step in your project. Good luck!