What are sockets and switches called? Types of electrical sockets and switches: what are they and how to choose the right one. Outdoor or Surface Socket

If you started a major overhaul in an apartment or a private house, then you can’t do without work related to electrical wiring. After all the cables are laid and sealed, it's time to choose sockets and switches. Not every person can name the best brands in this segment, and therefore we will try to fill in theoretical gaps in order to facilitate the subsequent choice of electrical accessories. It will not be about “conveyor” construction, when equipment is purchased in large quantities, but about ordinary and private electrical work.

Let's designate the most popular manufacturers producing sockets and switches (the best brands), taking into account the opinions of experts in this field and the reviews of ordinary owners of these accessories.

Criterias of choice

The desire of any potential buyer is to choose a good product with the best value for money. In our case, sockets and switches (the best brands) will vary greatly in the price range - from 25 rubles to 300.

In principle, two main groups of this kind of accessories can be distinguished, where the price is the critical factor: the older one is about 300 rubles per product, the younger one is about 50 rubles per copy.

The article will be partly subjective, because it is very difficult to cover the entire range that is presented on the shelves of electrical goods stores, and a large number of fakes can form an erroneous opinion in the buyer about a particular brand. It is also worth noting that the products that will participate in the review are intended only for flush-mounted installation in the wall (standard block socket with a switch). By and large, we are not interested in the specific cost of products, but in the difference in prices between products from different manufacturers.

The main criterion for the review is classic, that is, products without pretentiousness, but at the same time not primitively simple. In general, everything that is not ashamed to be mounted at home or with a good friend / girlfriend at home. Due to the wild popularity of modular electrical products (prefabricated frames, interchangeable frames, composite bases, etc.), they will be considered as a basis.

Manufacturers of electrical goods (sockets and switches)

The best brands and eminent manufacturers of electrical accessories have their own, sometimes very rich, history, their own production, and also received recognition at specialized exhibitions.

In addition, the list below can be seen in the reports of large companies involved in the construction and improvement of buildings.

Popular brands producing sockets and switches (top manufacturers) are as follows:

• Legrand;
• Wessen;
• Lezard;
• anam;
• bticino;
• "Belarusian sockets";
• GUSI;
• Makel;
• scneider electric.

Top Models

Based on prices and consumer reviews, the following picture emerges. The bulk of manufacturers and their products have occupied a niche in the budget group, and the three venerable heavyweights have become the leader. As a result, we will evaluate the qualitative indicators of two price groups - the older and the younger.

Senior price group

1. Legrand.
2. scneider electric.
3. Bticino.

The distribution of positions in this group is purely conditional. Each of these three manufacturers has extensive premium collections and a huge range of budget models, that is, sockets and switches, the price of which does not exceed three hundred rubles. Standard and universal solutions of these brands practically do not differ in cost. As for the elite models, they remain just as inaccessible to the average buyer as before, but these are truly high-quality products that will decorate any home.

Sockets and switches "Legrand" are in the first place due to their affordable price. As for Schneider-Electrician, the prices bite there, and Bticino can be eaten at all. But in defense of the latter, we can say that if you hold Bticino products in your hands, then in each element you can feel the Italian quality, from which goosebumps run down your back, while the same “Legrand” does not cause such emotions. It is quite possible that you won’t surprise anyone with Legrand, and the Italians have recently appeared on our market.

As for the Germans Scneider-electric, there is simply nothing to complain about - everything is done beautifully and impeccably. Turning any socket or switch from Schneider Electric in your hands, you think that you are playing the legendary Lego constructor.

Any product from the above brands is more than a worthy decoration for your apartment or house. If you have free funds, then do not hesitate to spend money on products from one of these manufacturers.

The owners in their reviews speak very warmly about these companies. Users appreciated the quality, beauty and flexible pricing policy of brands. There were no critical comments on specialized forums, so there are no questions about quality.

Junior price group

• anam;
• Wessen;
• Lezard;
• "Belarusian sockets";
• GUSI;
• Makel.

In the first place is a fairly popular company "Anam". Someone may disagree with this choice, because the products of this brand have a very specific look: awkwardly shaped products with giant buttons and wide margins. But in defense of Anam, we can say that this is one of the best contenders for the first place due to the excellent quality of plastic and the enviable pricing policy, which was appreciated by the domestic consumer.

Reviews of the brand's products are mainly in a positive way. The owners appreciated the high-quality and durable products of the company, as well as the original appearance. Some, on the contrary, complain about the frivolity and difficulty of adapting switches and sockets to some design solutions, but this is already a matter of taste and this factor cannot be attributed to critical moments.

As for the rest of the participants in the list, here you can simply say: “both cheap and cheerful!”. These are ordinary models with some distinctive design features, from which you should not expect anything supernatural. Yes, they meet certain quality standards and norms, they can last for a long time, but be prepared for some surprises. Judging by the reviews on the products of these companies, sometimes you can find a small factory defect, like a screw that does not hold a wire, a slightly lopsided button, or an incomprehensible sound when turned off.

Summarizing

If you are engaged in a budget project or arrange an apartment "for sale", then the lower price group is an ideal option. Well, in cases of "I'll do it myself" your choice is the older group. It would also be worth noting that the products of "solid middle peasants" are very rarely counterfeited, while the electrical accessories of European brands, if you look at our shelves, consist of almost 40% of counterfeit.

The use of electricity in apartments and private houses has not surprised anyone for a long time - one of the benefits of the modern world has closely entered the way of life of a person. Boiling an electric kettle, charging a phone, or simply applying voltage to a lighting lamp does not seem to be a difficult undertaking, however, without intermediary devices, such operations would be many times more difficult. These include sockets and switches - seemingly unpretentious, but very important elements of the power circuit.

However, supplying power to lighting fixtures and household appliances is not the only function performed by sockets and switches. With the development of production methods and various design trends, they have acquired the status of decorating elements, the poor choice of which could negatively affect the overall appearance of the living space.

The range of such a liquid product today is represented by a huge number of foreign and domestic firms, which is why it can be incredibly difficult to stop at one single option. Even with a proper attitude to the purchase process, there is always a chance to choose a low-quality model, the degree of safety of which is obviously lower than the requirements of world quality standards. In connection with such a high importance of the subject, we have created a rating of the best manufacturers of sockets and switches, whose products meet the highest requirements of industry standards and guarantee proper preservation of the appearance during a long period of use. The main criteria for selecting nominees for the top were the following parameters:

• the level of fame and popularity of the company among domestic users;
• expert evaluation of the product series of each company;
• average service life of sockets and switches within the range of one manufacturer;
• nominal workmanship, no fakes on the market;
• value feature.

The best manufacturers of sockets and switches in the budget segment

3 WESSEN

The best price for a range of products. The presence in the line of models stylized under the tree
Country: Germany
Rating (2019): 4.6

The next place in the ranking goes to one of several representatives of the Schnider Electric Corporation, which develops budget versions of sockets and switches based on the production base of the well-known cartridge. It differs from competitors in its commitment to originality (even to the detriment of common design sense) and the low cost of the entire product range.

According to experts, the main trend of products from Wessen leans towards the classics, however, some representatives of the company are outwardly stylized as wooden coatings. The brightest representative of this trend is the Wessen 59 series, designed with a precise wood texture on solid and segment models of sockets (and switches). The reverse (standard) side of the representation is expressed by a typical Prima series, manufactured at the company's Russian plant. This sample is notable for its overall sparseness and nondescript (but informative) dot indicator.

2 MAKEL

High quality standards. Commitment to classic style
Country: Türkiye
Rating (2019): 4.8

A Turkish manufacturing company with almost half a century of experience, widely known in the Russian Federation. Its characteristic feature is the basing of production on German high-precision equipment, which makes it possible to compete even with the recognized pillars of the world market.

Sockets and switches from Makel do not have any innovations in terms of appearance, remaining true to classical standards. However, one feature can be traced in this component: the predominance of rounded lines can be traced in the features of the forms, which will definitely fit into any design concept of a house or apartment. The main color that prevails in the assortment is white, diluted with bright (more often golden) inserts and additional structural elements (indicators, motion sensors, brightness controls or connectors). Among the most popular representatives of the company include:

• Makel Cellia;
• Makel Lunis.

1 Berker

The best range of choices. About 100 years on the lighting market
Country: Germany
Rating (2019): 4.9

A German manufacturing company, whose activities began to develop actively almost a century ago. It is a prime example of a company that produces unpretentious products in various fields of electrical engineering with a low selling price and satisfactory quality indicators. To call the assortment of sockets and switches Berker classic, perhaps, that is possible. But not scarce at all - for such an impressive history of concepts, quite a lot has accumulated.

The striking difference of the German concern from the main competitors in the category lies in the absence of a single design solution as such: in the Berker assortment you can find both angular rosettes and streamlined, smoothly curved contours. A striking representative of the first group can be the basic line Berker B.3, sharpened for the angularity of the contour and button segment. The second line, Berker R.1, provides consumers with a quieter and more pleasant looking sockets and switches, made with a circular central segment for a key or connectors.

The best manufacturers of sockets and switches in the middle price segment

4 FEDE

The original design of the entire range of products
Country: Spain
Rating (2019): 4.8

A very young Spanish company, which began operations in 2007. I chose for myself a very specific, but unloaded niche for the production of sockets and switches in vintage style. All the work of FEDE is associated exclusively with the intended style, which is why the company, although it does not become a leader in sales, is remembered by absolutely any user.

In general, prefabricated products from this company do not cost that much - the main profit comes from trading in expensive frames, leaving the price in the premium segment. Actually, only true connoisseurs of design with a predominance of historical embellishments use the services of the company - in an ordinary house or apartment such a pretentious element will be out of place. It is very difficult to single out any one model here, since all of them in one way or another represent a certain visual value. The most unusual thing in the selection, in the author's opinion, are the Sanremo and Toscana Palace collections, although taste is a subjective matter.

3 Jung

The best variability within the classic socket design. Attractive price
Country: Germany
Rating (2019): 4.8

Another representative of the middle segment (with an emphasis on budget series) was the German manufacturer Jung, whose design direction strikingly coincides with a number of other German companies. At the time of its pedantry, the company does not deviate from the canonical type of sockets and switches, making the classic square shape the standard of its style.

However, such a serious limitation did not in any way affect the breadth of the assortment - on the contrary, the creation of artificial "barriers" allowed the company to create many variations of one plan. So, by extending the key (or jack space) of the typical A500, Jung designed the LS990 series with a thin bezel that perfectly matches the Hi-Tech design. Other variations were created in the same vein, based on the detailing of the boxes, the thickening and thinning of their free edges, as well as the variety of key geometry, plugs and connectors.

2 Gira

High degree of strength of the constituent elements
Country: Germany
Rating (2019): 4.9

The Gira company, which developed its activity at the very beginning of the 20th century, could not move away from the canons of the form of sockets and switches, smoothing the corners, but still taking square boxes as a basis. Despite this fact, it is certainly impossible to call the assortment and variety of series boring: where forms lay down their powers, design and design continue to retain a solid audience.

Yes, Gira's coverage of countries is not as large as, for example, that of ABB (about 36 versus 100), but given the scale of a German company, this is a very solid indicator. In their reviews, consumers often praise the strength of the construction of boxes, keys and connectors, while noting the average level of cost with a smooth (serial) transition to premium. The most popular products of the company include the Linoleum Multiplex and E2 lines of different price categories, which are not devoid of design sophistication and high quality.

1 ABB

The best manufacturer in terms of price and quality. Wide range of products
A country: Sweden/Switzerland
Rating (2019): 4.9

ABB was formed by the merger of two well-known (at the time) companies - the Swedish brand ASEA (founded in 1883) and the oldest Swiss concern Brown, Boveri & Cie, which opened a little later (in 1891). The purpose of such integration was the possibility of a massive “capture” of the market with its own products, which naturally resulted in success and sales in more than 100 countries around the world.

During our grand renovation, I had, among other things, to select and install the required number of sockets and switches throughout the apartment. Naturally, I wanted these to be the most optimal electrical installation products in terms of price and quality, but unfortunately theoretical searches did not give me a clear answer to the question, which sockets are best, but only sowed a bunch of doubts in my head.

Which sockets are better - my selection criteria

• optimal price-quality ratio;
• only sockets for flush mounting into the wall were considered;
• maintainability, aesthetic appearance and user reviews were analyzed;
• the comparison did not include both overly cheap and primitive, and overly pretentious and expensive specimens;
• for comparison, I took classic samples from each model range in the same price category, so I had to distinguish two price groups in order to be completely objective;
• only those sockets that I saw with my own eyes, felt, tried, compared in work participated in the rating.

So, I outlined my approximate requirements for answering the question of which sockets are better. If interested, you can read in more detail about my criteria for selecting high-quality electrical installation products in the article. Of course, no one is safe from fakes, and if one fell into my hands, then an erroneous opinion could have formed about the manufacturer. Therefore, in no case do I pretend to be the truth, but I pursue only a narrative goal.

Whose sockets are better - rating of manufacturers

Most of the presented brands of sockets and switches are more or less known, and we have a separate detailed comparative article about each of them. Our top ten contenders for the title of the best include such brands as:

According to the pricing policy, all these manufacturers had to be conditionally divided into two groups - this is a large budget group and a trio of heavyweights. Therefore, we will compare the participants within each of these groups.

• - french brand
• - italian brand
• - German brand

Any of these sockets will become a worthy decoration of your home.

In general, with regard to the products of all the above brands, we can say this: if you want to buy not only more expensive, but also better, feel free to choose Germans, Italians or French - here only the subjective personal feeling from meeting face to face or by touch plays the final role. The main thing is not to get lost in the variety of collections. All standard solutions from these manufacturers are almost comparable in price. And these are really high quality products!

Legrand- in the first place because of the opportunity to offer the most affordable price. The main advantages of this French brand are excellent quality and a wide range of colors and models.

Sockets Legrand

Schneider Electric a little more expensive. But this German brand, first of all, tries to take into account the wishes of consumers, so all their products, including sockets and switches, are broadly focused. Here you can find both budget models and products designed for a wealthy buyer, and in the first and second cases these will be samples, the German quality of which is simply impossible to find fault with - everything is so impeccable and beautiful that you feel like a child playing with the legendary LEGO constructor .

Bticino at the average price of its products, it outdid the two previous brands. However, when I held Bticino products in my hands, I felt goosebumps with delight, but Legranda and Scneider Electric did not. Perhaps due to the fact that Legrandom will no longer surprise anyone, but I saw the products of intricate Italians for the first time. It was the Bticino switches that I installed in my new apartment. I could not resist their quality and appearance, despite the rather high cost. Which, by the way, I don't regret at all.

Products of the Italian brand Bticino

Not mentioned here ABB concern only because I have not had my own experience with this brand. This applicant is better known as a leader in the field of electrical wiring protection systems. But ABB sockets and switches can also be members of the higher price group.

It is very pleasant that in this case the high price of sockets and switches fully corresponds to the quality of these products. Having proven themselves in the West and also known throughout the world, these manufacturers cannot lose face. The more interesting it will be to deal with more budget solutions.

At the first place - . Perhaps it may seem to some that the first place is not entirely deserved: awkwardly shaped sockets and switches with huge buttons and wide margins. However, in terms of plastic quality, this is the best of the contenders, and at the price it is more profitable than competitors in block design. It is no secret that today it is not relevant to install single sockets, even if the socket is designed for one device, there must be a reserve. If earlier ANAM had only one collection on our market - with the same ivory color design, today everything has changed. The new Zunis collection from Anam-Legrand makes it possible to realize various design fantasies. A very worthy choice, time-tested!

I will give the second place to three contenders at once - Makel, GUSI and Lezard. Here you should focus on your taste, as well as on the availability for replacement! Makel is already known in Russia, Lezard is not yet so developed, and GUSI, until recently, did not have the highest reputation, although it has become better with the advent of new collections. All representatives of this group, in addition to good plastic, have only one flaw - the contact groups are not well developed: either thin and soft metal, or frail screws and insufficiently large clamps.

A good solid third place is Wessen. As people say: "and cheap - and cheerful!". Perhaps the best replacement for Belarusian sockets, both in concept and in execution. Even at the price Wessen is a very attractive offer. Just don't expect supernatural from Wessen - its price justifies the quality.

In fourth place in the ranking Belarusian sockets. Belarusian sockets are in last place due to a very simple design and negligent execution: either the screw does not hold the wire, or the button falls out or looks ugly. And some switches make an incomprehensible sound, and with installation errors, problems with fuzzy switching occur over time. But despite this, when implementing the maximum budget project, it is better to use Belarusian sockets.

In last place DKC, but in no case due to poor quality. Rather, it is because this brand stands apart: in terms of price, it more claims to be in a high price group, but in terms of quality it cannot yet compete on equal terms with eminent manufacturers. But still DKC is very, very good. His other products are better known - cable channels and other related products. Especially for installation in cable ducts DKC is a particularly good solution. Amazing for industrial premises and offices, but not the most elegant for apartments. Hence its special status and a special place in the ranking.

Thus, in order to determine which sockets are best for your home, look at average-priced products, more or less well-known brands. The products of "solid middle peasants" are almost never faked, domestic manufacturers can make good electrical installation products, but they still have to catch up with foreign brands. When choosing products of well-known European brands, the main thing is not to run into a fake.

How to choose sockets and switches for an apartment?

Sockets and switches - we take only the best brands!

So, most often, most buyers think and act. And he steps on a rake, because the main thing in wiring accessories is by no means a brand. Why, you ask? We answer - the name of the company guarantees the quality of the product, durability, aesthetics, but not suitability for its intended purpose. It is not enough to buy the most expensive outlet of a well-known company, you need it to be “correct”. For example, for a bathroom with moisture protection, and for a nursery - with special child protection.

Therefore, the electrician first thinks about where the installation will be and what the requirements for the product are, and only then about which sockets to choose from.

What sockets and switches should be installed in the apartment

Conventionally, all installation products for an apartment can be divided into ordinary and special. The first category includes room sockets and switches. They "live" in calm conditions without increased loads and "natural disasters" in the form of water, steam, high temperature. This includes sockets for electrical appliances, telephone, computer and television.

Almost all brands, brands and varieties are suitable for rooms.

On a note! The only thing to consider is small children. If you have them or plan to in the near future, then you will need sockets with child protection in the form of special curtains or plugs with a key lock. To protect young researchers from dangerous current, sockets should be installed both in the children's room and in those places throughout the apartment where the baby can reach them. Special sockets with child protection are available from most manufacturers in different series.

To the special ones - we include sockets for the stove, the choice of which we have already written about and waterproof.

How to choose the right sockets and switches in the bathroom

The bathroom is a special place in the apartment with a wet and hot microclimate. And everything that is in it is subjected to constant loads in the form of water, steam, temperature. "Goes" and electrical installation products. Therefore, it is recommended that they either be taken out of the bathroom, or installed protected. The main feature of waterproof sockets is a sealed housing and special curtains that do not allow moisture to pass to the mechanism.

The level of protection for such products is not lower than IP 44, or even 54-55. What is hiding behind the numbers 44-55 and so on? Resistant socket to water and dust. That is, you can pour the socket from the shower or sprinkle it on it - all the water will remain outside the case.

A product marked 44 is not afraid of splashes and small streams of water, with an index of 55 it will withstand a jet, and with an index of 66 - in front of a powerful jet with decent pressure.

But an ordinary room socket has an IP 20 index and is only suitable for a room or hallway. She will definitely “drown” in water and arrange a short circuit.

How to choose sockets for the Internet and TV

There are television and computer sockets in almost all "room" series of most manufacturers. The only thing you need to take care of:

• In television - the type of outlet, there are a through, terminal and "star". Pass-through TV sockets are necessary if you connect several TV connection points in series with a cable. Terminal - is placed under the last TV in the network from those connected in series (if you plan to have one TV, then the terminal is also for you). The star type is used to create parallel TV connection points.
• In computer (which is called RJ-45 in a professional language) - the category of outlet. The most common are the 5th and 6th categories of Internet outlets. The category of outlets must match the category of the Internet cable (twisted pair). It determines the data transfer rate. In most cases, it makes sense to use twisted-pair and Category 5 RJ-45 outlets.

TV outlets should be planned at the location of the TVs. RJ 45 computer sockets are usually installed in the hallway, from where a signal is broadcast through the wi-fi router throughout the apartment.

We figured out the installation locations, now let's talk about which sockets are better to install, external or internal.

“Hide the outlet or choose an outdoor installation?”

Such a question can be heard from unfortunate electricians, of whom, unfortunately, there are a lot of divorces. The master professional will ask you about something else: what kind of wiring, indoor or outdoor? Because sockets will be the same: for internal wiring - hidden in the walls, for external wiring - installed on top.

In a city apartment, the wiring is usually hidden, all sockets are “drowned” into the walls for safe connection to the wires. Well, in order not to interfere with the arrangement of furniture with protruding cases.

In the bathroom, you can install both wall-mounted waterproof sockets and hidden ones. There is no such amount of furniture and the case on the wall next to the washing machine or jacuzzi will not interfere with anything. But, the installation must be done by a specialist! Don't risk your safety. And now let's talk why.

The right outlet in the bathroom or why you need grounding

Grounding provides safety when using electrical appliances. So that they do not shock when touched, especially with wet hands or in a damp room. The ground contact removes static and unwanted current from the case. After all, it happens that the internal cables of the devices have a violation of the insulation and touch the external parts. Grounding protects against such troubles, but do not forget that RCDs must be installed on powerful devices and in rooms with high humidity, for complete safety.

Now you know how professional electricians approach the issue of choice, and we can talk about which company sockets and switches are better. But from the point of view of their practical application ..

From Legrand to IEC - or how to buy good sockets and switches

Most often, one series of sockets and switches is chosen for the entire apartment. This is a good option, but before buying it is better to make a list of what types are needed, where and how much. If you plan a complete overhaul, you will need:

• special sockets for the stove in the kitchen;
• outlets with curtains (if there are children in the house);
• ordinary sockets for electrical appliances in rooms, in the kitchen, in the hallway, on the insulated balcony or loggia (think about it, maybe it would be better for you to install double models in some areas);
• sockets for computer cable, telephone and television.

The list is impressive, but it's not scary. Let's just start with sockets of one type.

for bathroom

There are in the lines of sockets and switches of almost all brands. But the best products are presented in series from Legrand and Schneider Electric.

• Legrand (Plexo, Celiane, Valena, Etika, Galea Life);
• Schneider Electric (series Sedna, Glossa).

Speaking of aesthetics, the waterproof Celiane and Valena are the most attractive, fashionable and trendy. Used for design repairs and bold design ideas. According to the installation sites, if you want to put wall sockets - choose Plexo, if you are planning to hide everything - then Celiane.

Socket outlets with shutters

Or as they are often called, with "protection from children", there are also in all lines. If you choose, for example, Legrand's Ethics for the bathroom, you will also find children's ones in the assortment. But, if you decide to make a bright room for the baby, then pay attention to these series:

In addition to high-quality protection against "illegal access", these sockets with shutters fit perfectly into the interiors of children's rooms, thanks to a large selection of colors, both mechanisms and frames. If you want a green or crimson frame, to match the color of the wallpaper, please tell me how many.

Which series and brand to choose

For an apartment, there are a huge number of series of sockets of popular and not very brands. Therefore, we will deal with it in this way - we will divide it into prestigious-elite and democratic-accessible.

We include well-known brands as elite and prestigious - Legrand, Schneider Electric, ABB, GIRA. Their series can be divided into designer (Legrand Selian, Gira and ABB Zenith) and popular (Legrand Valena, Ethics, Schneider Glossa and Sedna).

You can read about the advantages, aesthetics and other benefits in the descriptions of these lines. Now let's just make one point. Often, when choosing, they give preference to products with metal mechanisms, which is completely in vain.

Plastic ones are just as good, and the quality of the socket or switch depends both on the quality of the installation and on the experience of the master. For example, the Legrand Etika and Schneider Electric Glossa series are made of polycarbonate plastic and are distinguished by enviable quality and more than affordable price for “branded” products. Moreover, the cases and filling are both durable and plastic. When installing, you have to try hard to cripple them. Even too pinched paws in concrete.

This is for the attention of "metal lovers". And besides, the metal mechanism is not a panacea, you can install it “crookedly”, so that you have to change it soon.

Economical electrical option

Good quality at a reasonable price is offered by Viko and IEK. If you are not chasing designer novelties, doing budget repairs or changing the electrics in a rented apartment, these products are the most suitable. It will work well, as much as it should, and meet the money for a much smaller amount than when buying prestigious brands.

True, there is one rake here, you can run into a fake. Of course, “linden” is also produced under well-known brands, but the level is so different that fake ABB or Legrand is much easier to figure out than fake Turkey Viko.

Our store guarantees quality and sells only branded wiring accessories. But, if you have to buy them somewhere in the supermarket or help your friends choose, remember 4 useful tips.

How to spot fake sockets and switches

1. Tip one - smell the product. Fakes are often riveted from I don’t understand what kind of plastic that smells bad.
2. Tip #2: Consider your weight. Original products, especially from expensive series, weigh very decently. The materials used are good, durable and of sufficient thickness. A fake will weigh much less.
3. Tip three - look at the quality of the case. There are many slots and the construction is flimsy - you have a fake in your hands. If the case can be disassembled, check how it connects. Original sockets and switches are often assembled on latches. If instead of them the case is twisted into screws or simply soldered in places, then this is a fake.
4. The fourth tip is the appearance of contacts. Of course, the easiest way to check the mechanism for embedded products is in plain sight. It’s more difficult with case ones, but check the ground contact there, which is always visible. If it does not look the best, then the hidden ones will be far from ideal. And that means that you keep the “self-propelled gun” under the brand name.

Summing up

What if all sockets are the same for you, like pale faces for the Indians? And what kind of contacts, amps and so on, you can’t understand? Come to us!

We will consult, select the necessary sockets, switches, automatic devices, RCDs, cables. For one apartment or the whole house. We have been working with electricians for a long time, we know the subtleties and secrets that we will generously share with you.

We come across electrical outlets every day, so it is very important that they are convenient and reliable. A lot depends on the correct choice of outlet. Firstly, it is an opportunity to fully meet their needs in the inclusion of electrical household appliances. In addition, its service life depends on the correct choice of the socket.

When a person does not know the basic rules that must be followed when choosing an outlet, he often faces the problem of frequent failure of outlets. Perhaps, in this case, the socket simply does not correspond to the actual load parameters of the household appliances that are included in it. Therefore, it is necessary to know how to choose a quality outlet. We will talk about how to do this correctly in this article.

At the moment, the range of sockets is very large. In this case, your task is to choose a quality outlet. If you buy the first outlet that comes across that was recommended by the store clerk, you will make a mistake. Since there is a high probability that this outlet does not meet the required parameters.

What to consider when choosing sockets

There are several criteria to consider when choosing an outlet. First, it is the type of electrical wiring. If your wiring is mounted directly in the wall, that is, a hidden type, then you need to choose an internal outlet. A distinctive feature of this type of socket is that it is installed in a special box, which is pre-mounted in the wall. In this case, only the body of the socket is located outside the wall, and the body of the socket is located directly in the box.

If your wiring is laid in an open way, then you need to purchase an outdoor type outlet. The socket of this type is mounted directly on the wall. A distinctive feature of the outdoor outlet is that its entire body is outside.

The next criterion is the degree of protection of the socket housing. In accordance with generally accepted standards, there are several types of plug sockets, which are classified depending on the degree of protection of their housing from the negative effects of both moisture and mechanical impact by foreign objects. How to choose an outlet in this case?

Explanation of designations for the degree of protection of electrical equipment from environmental influences

As a rule, a special IP AB type marking is applied to the socket housing, where “A” and “B” are digital values ​​\u200b\u200bthat correspond to one or another degree of protection of the housing from negative impacts. In order to make the right choice of outlet, you need to know the interpretation of these numerical values.

So, the number "A" shows the diameter of the object, from the external influence of which the body of electrical equipment is protected, in particular the socket. The number "B" indicates the degree of protection of this housing from moisture. Let's list the possible numerical values ​​and the corresponding parameter.

The number "A" - the diameter and type of object:

"1" - more than 50 mm, as well as the back of the hand;

"2" - more than 12 mm, as well as fingers;

"3" - more than 2.5 mm, including hand tools;

"4" - more than 1 mm, including nuts, washers, bolts and individual conductors;

"5" - the case is protected from dust, and is also completely protected from the effects of objects;

"6" - the body is completely dustproof and fully protected from the effects of objects.

"0" - there is no protection of the body from the impact of objects.

The number "B" - the degree of exposure to moisture on the case:

"1" - individual drops that fall on the body vertically;

"2" - individual drops that hit the body vertically at a slight angle, up to 15 degrees;

"3" - rain;

"4" - splashes of water that can fall on the body at different angles;

"5" - water jet;

"0" - there is no protection of the case against moisture.

Other important criteria to consider

An important criterion for choosing an outlet is the presence or absence of a grounding conductor in the wiring of an apartment (house). If one is present, then it is necessary to choose an outlet with an additional grounding contact.

The next, no less important criterion for choosing an outlet is the operating ratings: the type of current, its magnitude, voltage value, and mains frequency. The voltage of the household electrical network is variable, its value is 220 volts, frequency 50 Hz. The rated current is selected in accordance with the load of household electrical appliances that you plan to plug into this outlet.

Its service life depends on the correct choice of the socket according to the nominal parameters. If, when choosing an outlet, you find that there is no marking on it, then refuse to purchase it. There is a high probability that this outlet does not correspond to the expected load or household network parameter.

In addition to the above, one more criterion for choosing an outlet can be noted - this is the quality of the plug connectors. Choose an outlet with spring-loaded connectors, as they provide additional contact rigidity when plugging in a household appliance. If you choose a socket with conventional connectors, that is, without additional springs, then after a while the rigidity of the contact between the connectors and the plug will significantly decrease, which will lead to their heating and possible damage.

In order to choose a quality outlet, pay attention to how the electrical wire is connected to the outlet. In this case, the best option is to choose the connection where the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe contact surface of the wire with the socket contacts is larger.

If there is a need to connect several sockets with a cable, then pay attention to the presence of an additional pair of contacts on the socket. This will greatly simplify the connection of the wire, as well as increase the reliability of the connection.

Manufacturers of quality sockets

Expensive high-quality sockets are produced by European manufacturers. These are such well-known companies as "Legrand", "Schneider Electric", "Polo", "ABB", "Jung", etc. There are also very expensive designer sockets, most often these are Italian manufacturers, for example "Bticino", "Fontini" .

Outlets of Turkish and Polish firms "Makel", "Viko", "Karlik", "OSPEL" stand out for good quality and average prices. It is better not to buy cheap and very cheap sockets (legacy of the Soviet era and domestic analogues of well-known manufacturers). Since among these sockets there are a large number of low-quality ones. Although normal sockets can also come across, but this is already a lottery.

Electrical outlets can be fake and original. Buy only original sockets, and do it in trusted places, where sellers value their reputation.