How to choose sockets and switches: a review of the best brands on the market today
Agree, among the offers of sockets and switches, it is sometimes not easy to decide on a suitable option that will combine high quality products at an affordable price.
To make the choice easier, we will provide a review of popular electrical installation products from manufacturers whose products have won the trust of consumers. In addition, we will tell you what characteristics and parameters need to be taken into account in order to select the optimal sockets and switches for your home.
The content of the article:
Leading European manufacturers
The installation of high-quality sockets and switches plays an important role in the safety of the technical equipment of an apartment or house. Therefore, the buyer’s attention is primarily focused on products from well-known manufacturers with impressive experience and a well-deserved reputation in the market.
The composition of the top five leading European brands that produce high-quality electrical installation products has not changed over the past ten years. All standard models of the rating leaders are approximately in the same price segment.
If we consider exquisite solutions, for example, from antique brass and bronze, ceramics and glass, then due to the high price they will most likely be inaccessible to the average buyer. But in any case, these top five produce truly high-quality products.
Schneider Electric - Expert in Energy Management
The French company, founded 180 years ago, initially specialized in weapons. Over time, having expanded its specialization, the transnational enterprise began to deal with issues of electrical engineering and telemechanics, mastering more promising markets in the electrical power industry.
Today the company is considered a global expert in energy management.
Thanks to the efforts of the concern's leading engineers and designers, the range of manufactured equipment is quite wide and includes:
- information sockets, models with grounding and protective curtains, etc.;
- pass-through switches, as well as one- and two-key switches equipped with light indication.
It is simply impossible to find fault with the unsurpassed quality. All elements are executed impeccably. The use of spring bronze in the contact design allowed the manufacturer to avoid the use of an additional clamping element.
Sockets and switches operate reliably, thanks in large part to proven clamps. They hold fastenings firmly even when creating heavy loads. Installation of switches and sockets produced by the French concern will not be difficult. Installation can be done using screws or mounting tabs. Everything is accessible and understandable.
Today, Schneider factories produce many series of sockets and switches.
The two series that are most popular among consumers are:
- Unica — a series of communication sockets and switches manufactured on a modular basis.This design of the devices significantly expands the possibility of creating various functional combinations based on one seat.
- Sedna — products from the series, introduced in 2012, are distinguished by their low rise and refined shapes.
The catalogs present both laconic models with a minimum of design elements, and devices with bright cases that can act as a worthy interior decoration. All collections feature vertical and horizontal frames in a wide color palette.
Legrand – solution for the “smart home” system
Electrical installation products from a world-famous brand will cost a little less. Legrand. This is one of the few companies that supplies products such as three-gang switch with a socket or a socket combined in a common housing with a switch.
The French company, founded in the mid-19th century, relied on the use of new technologies in production. Today electrical installation products in technology "smart House" This manufacturer is sold in more than 150 countries.
In our country, products created at the concern’s production sites are represented by the following trademarks: Legrand, Zucchini, BTicino, Sarlam, "Contactor" And Cablofil.
In addition to traditional switches, the company offers rotary and pass-through cord control devices.
Sockets are represented by television and acoustic, video and radio. Most of these outlets are designed to withstand currents up to 16 A.
At the same time, the quality of the product does not deteriorate depending on the price of the product. All sockets and switches of this brand are made of self-extinguishing material. After all, the main postulate of the leading manufacturer is reliability and safety.
The use of various finishing frames allows you to harmoniously fit the purchased electrical installation product into an already furnished interior.
ABB – Swedish pedantry and Swiss precision
Corporation ABB, created in 1988 as a result of the merger of a Swiss company Air Force with a Swedish concern ASEA, today is rightfully included in the top leading European manufacturers of electrical installation products.
The company specializes in the production of automation and power equipment. But the quality of the electrical installation products it produces is also high.
All equipment of this European company is made in strict accordance with safety standards. And the design of each line has individual features. For example: series Impuls characterized by soft rounded shapes, and Reflex made in compliance with classical geometry.
Even the basic collections contain fluorescent frames that illuminate the outline of the keys with a soft light.
Bticino – Italian premium products
Electrical installation products of the Bticino trademark are also not inferior in quality. The highest quality plastic used by the manufacturer allows the use of Italian sockets and switches when installing a “smart home” system.
For example, today they are very popular switches with motion sensor, which reacts to the presence of a person within range.
The products are of high quality and long service life. They are easy to install and operate.
It is also important that all products of the Italian brand are manufactured in accordance with international safety standards. To obtain non-flammable plastic, polycarbonate is added to the polymer composition at the production stage.
Viko - functional simplicity and sleek design
The products of this brand are no less popular in the post-Soviet space. Most consumers choose sockets and switches Viko due to their reliability and affordable price.
They are used on the streets, installed in residential premises and even bathrooms - degree of protection Some models allow you to install sockets in rooms with high humidity.
The Turkish manufacturer Viko, although not so actively introducing innovations, is capable of surpassing some more famous manufacturers in terms of price-quality ratio.
The products of this brand are represented on the market in five lines:
- Vera - for open installation;
- Palmiye — for external wiring;
- Kardelen, Carmen and Carme Plus - for hidden wiring.
Over the years of competition, the manufacturers listed above have not ceased to improve production technologies.
And today, products manufactured under these brands are a guarantee of quality and reliability.
Popular budget solutions
Among budget models, products manufactured under the brand name deserve special attention Аnam.
Upon quick inspection, the sockets of this brand seem somewhat awkward, and the switches seem bulky with wide margins and huge buttons. But in terms of the quality of the plastic used, this is perhaps the best of the budget contenders.
The brand's products are in the same price segment as it Makel. The Turkish manufacturer specializes in producing high-quality yet inexpensive sockets and switches. Products manufactured under this brand meet international safety standards.
Not long ago, products appeared on our market Lezard. Although the Chinese brother is part of Legrand, in terms of quality parameters it is inferior to the “giant parent”.
Lezard products are made of good plastic. But they have one flaw - their contact groups are not well developed. Thus, some consumers note that the “original” screws of electrical installation products are rather weak, and the clamps are not large enough.
Brand electrical installation products Wessen - also a good option, produced by a domestic manufacturer. Since 2008 it has been part of the concern Schneider Electric. But absolutely all stages of production, starting with design and ending with the release of goods, take place in Russia.
The only disadvantage of Wessen products is carelessness in execution. For example, switches of this brand suffer from the fact that when assembled they can produce asymmetry. During operation, the key may make an incomprehensible sound, and over time it may even fall out.
There is no need to place higher demands on budget models. Most of them have a low maximum load power threshold.
Switches and sockets of this group have a short reliability life, and their service life rarely exceeds 5-6 years.You should be prepared for the fact that the plastic coating of the device will lose its presentable appearance within 1-2 years.
Criteria for choosing wisely
Choice socket or switch from a well-established manufacturer largely determines the quality and reliability of the device. But there are often cases when, in an effort to quickly make money on someone else’s “name,” cheap counterfeits of products from well-established manufacturers appear on the shelves.
Therefore, when choosing electrical installation devices, you should pay attention not only to the brand, but also to a number of parameters:
- Appearance. The plastic components of the housing should not be deformed when pressed.
- Smell. The product body should not smell. A sharp and unpleasant odor indicates low-quality plastic.
- Device weight. A high-quality electrical installation device should be relatively heavy. This will allow us to rely on the thickness and strength of the material, as well as the durability of its structural elements.
- Internal content. The device clamps can be made in the form of springs or screws. In sockets with a high rated current, a combined version is used: combined screw and spring clamps.
If possible, ask the seller to unwind the socket you like in order to carefully examine its “heart” - springs made of an alloy of non-ferrous metals.
They must be located strictly on the same axis with the holes in the cover. The reliability of the contact and the service life of the product directly depend on how firmly they crimp the ends of the plug.
Pay attention to where the wires are attached to the contact elements.The threads, both the bolts themselves and the terminals, must be strictly vertical and free of gaps.
The legs for attaching the core of the device must be made of durable material. Low-quality metal is easy to identify even with the naked eye.
When choosing an outlet, keep in mind that different countries have standards for electrical installation products that differ from ours. This, in turn, may cause minor installation difficulties. The German standard has been widespread in our country for a long time.
Today, European sockets are also actively used. Universal models are adapted to different types of forks.
According to PUE clause 1.7.73, sockets of different voltage classes must be structurally different. This solution eliminates the possibility of installing a plug for an electrical appliance designed for a different voltage class.
At choosing a light switch you should focus on two criteria:
- Maximum power. This is especially true when choosing to turn on powerful lighting fixtures.
- Guaranteed number of starts. Modern models can easily withstand up to hundreds of thousands of on/off switches.
If we take the switching method as a basis, then switches come with and without screw terminals. Experts recommend giving preference to models without screw clamps. They better ensure tight contacts with conductive elements.
In any case, the product you purchase must be certified and have a guarantee. This way you will protect yourself and your loved ones from short circuits and electric shocks. By purchasing electrical installation products from official distributors, the risk of running into a fake can be easily reduced to zero.
Conclusions and useful video on the topic
A detailed analysis of the pros and cons of four models of sockets from different manufacturers:
The market for electrical installation products is vast. Both leading brands and budget options can comfortably coexist on it. The main thing is to carefully study the nominal parameters of the products and the method of their installation.
After all, leading European companies mainly produce highly specialized products for a specific type of equipment. And the inattention of the buyer can play a cruel joke on him when an expensive and high-quality device, if installed incorrectly to the wrong network, quickly breaks down and provokes an emergency situation.
Tell readers which brand you prefer when choosing sockets and switches. You can leave comments and ask questions on the topic in the contact block below.
During the renovation, the electrical wiring was completely changed and new sockets and switches were installed. The market was not particularly pleased with the range and quality of products. Even with the naked eye it is clear that insufficiently durable materials were used in production, and the wiring is thin. After looking at the reviews on electrics, I decided to opt for the Lezard company. This is, of course, not Vico, but after a couple of years of active operational load there are no complaints so far. I hope not.
When we bought ourselves a 3-room apartment, we decided to immediately do a complete renovation.During the renovation, the turn came to sockets with switches. I know for sure that you cannot save on electrical equipment, since in the future this saving can lead to dire consequences. All electrical equipment was purchased from VIKO. It was affordable for us and at the same time of excellent quality. We completed the repairs, and for two years now there have been no problems with the electrical system.
This rather relates to wiring - this really needs to be done right away normally and not skimped. Sockets and switches, even budget ones, usually do not pose any danger, so there is no need to buy the most expensive ones.
A socket made of poor quality material can puff like a wick and lead to a fire. Moreover, the short circuit will come later, when it starts to burn. And your electrical protection will work when you need to call the fire brigade! 🙂 Guys, don’t listen to such smart people! Take sockets with a large current reserve! This is what happens after such experts...
You remind, Konstantin, of American liberals, who are ready to attract everything in sight to accuse their opponent. Well, find where Amir encourages you to buy crappy sockets. He's talking about budget ones, which are domestic.
So you laid out your shorted socket... so what? Before starting up the installed wiring and socket, you checked their insulation. But PTEEP and PUE provide for this. Periodic testing of the network with increased voltage is also provided. You do it? - of course not.
By the way, an expensive outlet may have weak insulation not because of the poor quality of the material, but due to operating conditions - and no amount of amperage will save you.