Not only the convenience and safety of using electricity, but also the appearance of the room depends on the correct selection and arrangement of electrical installation products in the apartment.
Sockets and switches play a significant role in the interior, giving it completeness.
Main types of switches and sockets:
Waterproof sockets and switches
Suitable for use in wet rooms — bathrooms, saunas, etc. Such products are marked IEC 529-89 and comply with GOST 14254-96. This means that splashing water will not disrupt the normal functioning of sockets and switches.
Sockets with protective curtains
Especially useful if there are small children in the house. Special plugs inside do not allow objects to enter the device — the baby will not be able to insert a nail or finger into such a socket. This socket can only be “unblocked” by using the plug.
Sockets with ejector
To avoid the effort of pulling the plug from the socket, you can purchase sockets with a pusher. You press on a special “ear” and the plug itself is pushed out of the socket.
Key switches
Usually one- or two-key, less often – three-key. Some manufacturers produce products with a large number of keys, but they are not very convenient for apartments.
Switches with indicator light
The purpose of indicators can be different — it is selected depending on the requirements. Sometimes a glowing indicator on the switch signals that the device is on (this is convenient if the switched-on light bulb is behind a closed door), and sometimes the indicator “light” is constantly on — thanks to this, the switch is easy to find on the wall in the dark.
Switches
Work “in pairs”. Very convenient in long corridors, on stairs, etc. One of the switches, located at the entrance to the corridor, turns on the light bulbs, the other, mounted at the opposite end of the corridor, turns off the light. Heading in the opposite direction, you can repeat the procedure in reverse order.
Dimmers (light controllers)
Adjust the brightness of the lamp from bright to dim lighting. Usually these are touch buttons built into the switch. By pressing the button, you can gently adjust the light.
Motion sensor
The motion sensor built into the switch reacts to the presence of a person. It is worth noting that such switches are not recommended to be installed near heating devices, since they can react to heat and turn on when they are not required to do so.
Timer
Timers built into switches can be part of a smart home system. With their help, you can program the on/off switching of lamps or other electrical appliances depending on your requirements.
Switches in the “smart home” system
The home control system takes control of every light source in all rooms, regardless of the location and type of luminaires. Together with manual control (using a wall-mounted switch), it becomes possible to turn on/off, adjust brightness, and monitor serviceability remotely. From your bedroom, you can turn off the lights in the whole house or just in the nursery, or leave night lighting on duty. The control of lighting devices is based on the ideology of lighting scenarios. Its essence is that by pressing a smart switch key or a virtual button on the touch panel, you simultaneously control the operation of several lamps in accordance with the program laid down by the designer (or you personally). The system’s passive infrared sensors or photocells can control light sources automatically, with or without the use of conventional wall switches. For example, light accompanies a person as he moves through rooms (tracking light).
Design of sockets and switches
Modern sockets and switches are not only utilitarian devices, but also decorative elements, one of the components of interior design. Although the simplest ones are still popular — as a rule, white and square sockets and switches, products with more interesting designs are increasingly coming into fashion.
Forms
The shape of these products can be varied. The most popular is the square frame, which can be combined with either a square or rectangular, or a round or oval key. Sometimes the corners of a square frame are rounded. Oval frames are becoming more and more popular. Often the frame of the switch (or socket) is made of different materials or of the same material, but of a different shade. And the front panel itself can be flat or convex. In addition, there are sockets and switches with replaceable frames: if necessary, the frame can be replaced with the same one, but of a different color. The product itself does not need to be changed.
Materials, shades
High-quality plastic electrical installation products are made from special types of plastic (duroplast, thermoplastic, etc.). These are impact-resistant, UV- and weather-resistant materials. They can be very different in color — from traditional white and ivory to bright red, green, blue, etc. In addition to the usual plastic, modern designer switches and sockets (in particular, their frames or keys) can be made made from natural wood, stone, steel, aluminum, brass, chrome, glass, there are even products made from alloys of gold and silver. The frame can be smooth or rough, matte or shiny, iridescent or even shimmering.
Series (collections)
Sometimes entire series of sockets and switches are produced that are made in the same style. A wide selection of different lines and shapes allows you to choose the ideal option for any style — empire, modern, baroque, country, high-tech, etc. Such series often include the maximum number of functional elements: sockets and switches for rooms, bathrooms, offices etc. Devices of the same series combine color, characteristic silhouette, and materials used.
Telecommunication sockets
This is a separate type of sockets. The European standard provides for two outputs at once — for simultaneous connection to the central antenna of a TV and a radio operating in the FM range. There are also sockets, in the housing of which there are TV, radio and satellite sockets. And a telephone socket usually has two outputs: either both for telephones, or one for a telephone and the other for a computer. Sockets for the telephone network have an RJ11 connector), sockets for a computer network have an RJ45 connector.
Placement in the interior
It is not necessary to use the same white switches and sockets in all areas of the apartment. When creating a stylish interior, experiment with the colors and shapes of these products, just make sure that they do not deviate from the overall style of the interior. For example, if the apartment has shiny chrome door fittings or lamp parts, then sockets and switches should also have metal or silver-plated parts, and not gold or copper. And vice versa. It is also desirable that matte and gloss do not “argue” with each other. If the fittings are glossy, then the sockets with switches should not be matte.
Bright white switches and sockets do not always look beautiful in an apartment (especially if the main colors of the interior are warm and calm). But, if you do not want to experiment with unusual materials or shades of these products, opt for the “ivory” color; it will look more appropriate in a home interior than pure white.
If you decide to use colored electrical installation products, you should not match them to the color of the walls: firstly, it is very difficult to match the tone. Secondly, colored sockets and switches can be used to advantageously emphasize or repeat some interior detail. For example, a glass table and cabinets will be perfectly complemented with rosettes with glass frames. And, for example, wooden frames of electrical accessories can be successfully matched to wooden curtains.
Useful tips
— When purchasing a switch, inspect it carefully. On the inside, the current and voltage values must be indicated, as well as the quality standard icon of the country of origin.
— Do not place a switch with a motion sensor in rooms. This option is only for walk-through premises where people visit only from time to time. Otherwise, while in the room, you won’t even be able to sit quietly on the sofa: to keep the light connected to the sensor from going out, you’ll have to move all the time.
— When placing blocks of sockets and switches on wall patterns, remember that in the vast majority of series of sockets from different manufacturers there are no frames for more than 5 posts. This means that you cannot design more than 5 sockets and switches side by side (as one block).
— It is better to place bedside sockets not too high, since these sockets are often used to charge a mobile phone or connect a laptop. For the same reason, there should be at least two sockets near the bed on each side — the second sockets will be needed for bedside lamps and floor lamps.
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