The days of buying whatever is available are over! Today, when designing the electrical installation in your home, you can use modern and designer options. Contemporary solutions are as functional and aesthetic as traditional ones, and at the same time bring a breath of freshness. An issue that has been causing problems since the day humans harnessed electricity remains unchanged: determining the number of electrical sockets and their location in each room.
From this article you will learn:
- What should modern electronic equipment be like?
- How to choose electronic sockets for the interior of a single-family house;
- What to pay attention to when choosing sockets.
Electrical sockets – what are the characteristics of modern electronic equipment?
When planning the contact arrangement, it is worth (as far as possible) taking into account possible changes in furniture in the future . What good is a large number of sockets in a room if they are blocked by chests of drawers or inside a custom-built wardrobe? Usually, most electrical sockets are located in the kitchen and bathroom, and fewer - in the corridor or bedroom. This is due to the number of electronic devices constantly and periodically connected in these rooms.
Modern electronic equipment, including electrical sockets, should minimize, or preferably exclude, the risk of overloading the circuits . When choosing it, it is worth considering the following features:
- functionality,
- degree of protection (security),
- aesthetics
How to choose electrical sockets for a single-family house?
Electrical sockets are divided according to their function (installation, loudspeaker, antenna, multimedia, teleinformation) and the method of installation (flush-mounted, surface-mounted). We explain more about this in the article Types, series of electrical sockets and connectors . However, it is worth briefly explaining that:
- flush-mounted sockets are mounted in the wall (plaster), in special boxes, which requires forging for their installation;
- Surface-mounted sockets are installed outdoors, without forging, most often in places where a concealed installation cannot be carried out and/or aesthetic issues are secondary (e.g. garage, workshop, basement, wooden house, etc.).
When choosing sockets for a single-family house, analyze several important aspects, which we will discuss later in the article.
Selecting an electrical socket for the conditions of use
When choosing a nest for a single-family house, adjust its parameters to the conditions in which it is to function.
Type of electrical socket
Houses most often use standard E-type (installation) sockets , equipped with two holes (for a phase and neutral wire) and a grounding pin), and sometimes also F-type sockets (schuko - without a pin, with grounding connected to the plates). The rarest option in Polish homes are type C contacts.
Tightness class (IP)
Check the tightness class determined by the IP index value . It should be adapted to the conditions prevailing in individual rooms. For installation sockets in rooms of a single-family house , where we usually do not deal with hazardous factors, an IP value of 20 or slightly higher will be sufficient. In the bathroom , where there is a risk of water splashing, the tightness class should be at least IP 44. In work rooms, e.g. boiler rooms, tight sockets with an IP 56 index are used. Sockets with complete protection against moisture are defined by the IP 68 value.
Additional functions of sockets
The socket is uneven. In addition to models that only fulfill their basic role in the simplest possible way, "added value" variants are offered, e.g.
- with additional protection for children - sockets with opening covers, closed flaps or operating only when a plug is inserted into them,
- with an ejector that makes it easier to pull out the plug without the risk of tearing the socket out of the box,
- with a residual current device built into the socket, useful in old installations and rooms exposed to greater contact with moisture (e.g. bathroom),
- with a built-in class D surge arrester , which is useful when sensitive equipment is connected to the socket,
- with USB port ,
- with a key that ensures that the plug is inserted into the socket only with a special cover.
Resistance to mechanical damage
The resistance class is determined primarily by the material from which the surface-mounted socket housing or frame for the flush-mounted socket is made. Surface-mounted sockets are usually very hermetic, but much more exposed to external factors , which is why they are equipped with seals that limit exposure to dust or water splashes.
Modern and resistant surface-mounted sockets are most often made of two types of materials:
- ABS – acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene terpolymer, characterized by very good mechanical parameters and low price; it is easy to process, but has low resistance to UV radiation and chemicals, which may cause discoloration;
- PP – polypropylene: highly resistant to damage, ultraviolet rays and chemicals.
When installing sockets in a single-family house, you will mainly be dealing with flush-mounted contacts.
Check out the offer of accessories for flush-mounted sockets
Frame for an electrical socket
Electrical socket frames are structural elements for flush-mounted electrical sockets and connectors . Modern products, apart from being practical, also have a decorative function. Frames for sockets and switches isolate installation elements, protect the wall against visible traces of use and external factors, and their wide selection allows you to match the appropriate products to virtually any interior design.
Here the range of possibilities is much wider and you can choose from parameters such as:
- multiple – three-, four-, five-fold and larger frames;
- installation direction – vertical, horizontal or universal (vertical or horizontal);
- frame material - most often it is PVC (polyvinyl chloride), but models are also available made of glass, stainless steel, concrete, cement, wood, and even with an antibacterial coating containing silver ions; the material determines the mechanical resistance of the element, but also its aesthetic value;
- appearance – on the market you will find colorful products that will work great, for example, in a children's room, modern monochrome, wooden, glass or unusual geometric frames.
If you want to maintain visual consistency, you can choose sets of socket frames and electrical connectors.
Modern electrical sockets for home – product overview
At the Onninen wholesaler you will find a wide range of electrical equipment from renowned manufacturers . When ordering sockets for a single-family house, choose proven, functional and visually attractive frames from recognized brands: Onnline, Opal (White/Perła), Hager (Optima, Barva, Regina, Lumina series), Kontakt-Simon and others. Below we present the most popular of them:
- OPAL 1-gang white electrical socket frame - universal frame for sockets or switches that ensures long-term and failure-free operation. Its silver contacts are produced by welding, which guarantees greater durability and safety than connections using riveted contacts. Thermoplastic material resistant to external conditions was used for production. Reliable and safe assembly of the frame is ensured by a modern quick-connect mechanism.
- Hager sealing set – a set with a hinged cover, used in the Optima, Barwa and Regina series to achieve splash-proof IP 44.
- Hager Lumina 2-fold frame - the frame is made of steel sheet, which guarantees reliable installation and eliminates the risk of damage on uneven surfaces. The creamy surface has a glossy finish. The frame is clamped vertically. Screwless clamps ensure quick and easy installation of the element. The product's protection level is IP 20, which makes the frame suitable for sockets in most everyday rooms.
- Berker 1-fold frame - the ergonomic design of the 1-fold, universal frame from Hager will work perfectly in any home. Matt aluminum-colored elements are made of thermoplastic, ensuring color durability and resistance to scratches and other mechanical damage. The antistatic coating provides resistance to chemical agents, high temperatures and UV radiation. The product's protection class is IP 20.
The selection of products on the market is huge. The problem is not the inability to find an appropriate solution, but rather decision-making paralysis resulting from a certain crop failure. We hope that our article was helpful in organizing information and will make it easier to make decisions when shopping.
Check out the offer of switches and sockets at the Onninen wholesaler