12 Best Socket and Switch Brands

*Overview of the best according to the editors of Healthy Food Near Me. About selection criteria. This material is subjective, is not an advertisement and does not serve as a guide to the purchase. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.

Sockets and switches are not only interior items matched to the color of wallpaper or furniture. Such electrical peripherals play an important role in the daily operation of electrical equipment and affect safety. Let’s take a look at which brands in this industry have gained more recognition and trust from customers through the release of reliable products.

Tips for choosing switches and sockets

If you are not an electrician, then all sockets and switches for you may differ only externally in design and shape. In fact, there are many more differences in such devices. When choosing, pay attention to the following parameters:

1. Place of operation. This is determined by the degree of IP protection. There are switches and connectors for connecting electrical equipment, used only inside dry rooms (IP20). Others are suitable for wet rooms (IP44). Still others are allowed to operate outdoors (IP55, 56, 66).

2. The number of sockets on the panel. Sockets are single, double, triple, etc. The same is true for switches. The number of sockets should be chosen taking into account the connected devices. For example, in the kitchen, an in-line socket can be useful for powering a refrigerator, electric stove, oven, and microwave. It is practical to leave one free socket for periodically connecting a mixer, coffee grinder, blender. Several switches on the panel are relevant for the hallway, bathroom and toilet, as well as in the case of 2-3 levels of lighting in the room (spotlights and the main chandelier).

3. Breaker actuation mechanism. Switches work differently. It can be a key, a toggle switch or a rotary switch. A device with a dimmer allows you not only to supply power to the lighting elements, but also to adjust the brightness of the latter.

4. Mounting method. Sockets and switches can be overhead or internal (embedded), depending on the method of wiring. Typically, a hidden type is used for residential premises, and an invoice is used only in temporary structures for quick organization.

5. Protection Options. The outlet socket may have additional protection, which is important in the case of small children. The plug can be prevented from turning on by a hinged cover, a rotary shutter mechanism, or a switch that supplies power separately to a specific outlet.

6. The presence of grounding. This type of socket is designated 2K + 3 and has additional contacts for grounding. This is true if the wiring also contains three cores. In the event of a voltage breakdown in household appliances to the case, the current will go into the ground, and will not hit the user. If the wiring in the houses is old, then it was mounted without grounding, and therefore a 2K socket is enough. But since all modern equipment is produced with grounding sockets, many still choose such sockets so that they better fit the plugs.

7. Characteristics. In the household network, 220 V operates, so the switches are produced with a small margin of 250 V. But the maximum permitted socket current depends on the connected devices. Here, the average calculated value is 4A = 0.9 kW of power. For example, if it is planned to plug in a welding machine with a power of 5 kW, then the socket should be rated for 50 A.

8. Contact fixing method. The connection of the supply wires can be realized using a screw clamp or a snap-on terminal. The second option is simpler, but less durable in terms of contact density.

9. Connector type. In Russia, the Euro connector is common, designated as type F, as well as the old type C, used back in the USSR. USB outlets are available for charging your phone. The connection of a landline telephone is made through a 4-pin socket. There are sockets with one hole for the cable from the television antenna.

10. Additional functions. These may include: ejection, which makes it easier to remove the plug, as well as a backlight, which helps to find the switch or socket in the dark. There is also a timer with which you can set the time for automatic interruption of the power supply. Wi-Fi will allow you to control the outlet remotely via your smartphone.

According to the design and materials of manufacture, switches and sockets are made of plastic, metal, porcelain and glass. The shape of electrical accessories can be square, round, rectangular and asymmetric. Here you can be guided by your own taste and combination with other elements of the interior.

Rating of the best brands of sockets and switches

Best Inexpensive Socket and Switch Brands

Now let’s move on to specific brands that produce such products. First, consider manufacturers whose products are notable for their low price and are suitable for cosmetic repairs.

BREAKDOWN

Rating: 4.6

Experts awarded the first place in the category to the Turkish brand MAKEL. The company has been on the market for more than 40 years, and its products are sold in 40 countries around the world. The company manufactures switches, shields, sockets, tees, doorbells and cables. The manufacturer’s assortment contains sockets for indoor and outdoor use (IP 44 and 55). Switches are presented in the lines of Cellia, Lumia, Lunis, Manolya.

Recently, the brand’s products have been produced in a minimalist style, suitable for most modern interiors. The experts especially liked the modular series Kare and Millanta, consisting of three circuit breakers arranged in a row. A feature of the product is the narrow configuration of the keys, which takes up little space on the wall. You don’t have to cut a large mounting hole. Each button has a narrow LED backlight to accurately hit it in the dark.

BERKER

Rating: 4.5

The second position in the round belongs to the BERKER brand, which has been operating in Germany for over 100 years. The manufacturer’s catalog offers electrical installation products, including a large selection of sockets with various frames, as well as switches. Building management systems are also produced under this brand. Buyers in the reviews are satisfied with the product assembly quality and service life.

Products of this brand are popular for a wide variety of designs. The range of the company contains sockets with style both from the past and from the future. The Serie 1930 range offers customers rotary switches that, when touched, take the user back in time, helping to create a cozy, homely atmosphere. For lovers of the most modern, the brand offers switches in the TS Sensor line, which are made on a flat plate, and all the keys are drawn here. Touching the icon starts the supply of voltage to a specific lamp. Thanks to this, it is possible to arrange 8 switches in a place that occupies two classic toggle switches.

Bylectrica

Rating: 4.4

The Bylectrica brand belongs to the Belarusian manufacturer BelTIZ LLC, which produces sockets, LED lamps and switches. The products are designed for installation in standard European boxes 60 mm in diameter, so they fully comply with modern requirements and are easy to install. The catalog contains electrics with and without grounding, as well as a moisture-resistant series for installation in the bathroom or on the street. In addition to the classic types, this brand sells specific sockets for connecting a telephone, wiring the Internet or supplying a signal from a television antenna.

In reviews, brand products are praised for their reliability and high quality. If these characteristics are a priority for you, combined with an affordable price, then choose a Belarusian manufacturer.

Viko

Rating: 4.4

The category is completed by the Viko brand, whose production is located in Turkey (Istanbul). Every year the company produces about 100 million units of products. 40% of goods are exported to 75 countries of the world. Production is carried out according to Japanese technologies and imported equipment, since the Turkish brand is controlled by the Japanese concern Panasonic. The leaders in sales among switches and sockets are the Karre, Carmen and Meridian series. In the reviews, buyers are satisfied with the brass terminals and simple assembly.

This brand is recognized as the best in the design of the plastic casing of sockets. The company’s designers try to make the appearance of electrical accessories as interesting as possible. For example, in the Novella series, an imitation of the Cherry wood surface is used, with characteristic divorces and transitions of dark and light tones. This allows you to make sockets inconspicuous, and if they fall into the field of view, they will surprise you with their “wooden” case.

The best brands of sockets and switches in terms of price-quality ratio

This category is represented by products of more expensive brands. The product quality is quite good and these peripherals will last longer, but you need to be prepared to pay more for them than for analogues from the previous category.

Legrand

Rating: 5.0

The first brand on the list is the French “Legrand”, which stands out for the quality and reliability of its products. The company has enterprises in 90 countries of the world, and products are sold in 180 countries. In total, the concern employs more than 38 employees, and the manufacturer produces 000 items of products. In the field of electrical embedded products and “smart systems”, the company has about 300 patents of its own. The catalog of switches and sockets is represented by hidden and overhead series, extension cords, connectors and plugs. There are electrical installation products for special applications in particularly difficult conditions (in the rain, in dusty buildings, in intense sunlight).

Electricians in the reviews like that the configuration of switches and other products of the brand is designed so that when the front panel is removed, there are no exposed live parts. This increases the safety of operation and minor repairs, in case someone accidentally energizes the machine.

Schneider Electric

Rating: 4.9

Experts gave the second place to the French brand Schneider-Electric, which was introduced back in 1836. The manufacturer has been producing electrical accessories for almost 200 years and is one of the oldest in Europe. Now the company’s plants are located all over the world, including two factories in Russia. Masters in the reviews note the convenience of installing products of this brand and the high-quality manufacture of socket terminals that can withstand increased loads.

The brand’s switches have one of the largest design choices among similar products on the market. Hidden installation devices are represented by the Altira, Merten M-Plan, Unica, Inserts, Antique/Artec, Senda, W59 series and 8 more options. Each series is filled with its own design features and varieties, and the number of functions can reach up to 150. The same variety is contained in the categories of products with open installation, for which the brand is recognized as the best.

BTICINO

Rating: 4.8

This brand has been around since 1989 and is known for its quirky and unique design ideas for sockets and switch panels. The product catalog is divided into categories by style and type of device, which makes it easier to find a specific product. Among the brand’s assortment there are even specific models of switches, the keys of which have reliefs. This simplifies tactile orientation and is appreciated by blind people.

Brand products stand out from the rest with their creative design. The company’s developers are constantly working on the invention of new, unique shapes and colors of switches. The experts paid special attention to the Axolute series, which is the pinnacle of innovation and luxury for the manufacturer. Brand sockets, as well as the surfaces of switches can be finished with marble, natural stone, covered with leather. There are keys and frames made of steel or glass. Brand panels are classic or touch. All this will allow you to decorate the room with taste, and not just install power management devices.

FAITH

Rating: 4.7

The review continues with the Spanish brand FEDE, which is one of the standards among luxury electrical accessories. The manufacturer’s socket catalog contains products for connecting electrical appliances, telephones, computers and television systems. Switches of the FEDE brand can be both in a classic design and with natural stone or copper finishes. In total, the manufacturer has 17 lines.

The brand is recognized as the best in terms of maintainability of electrical accessories. Frames, trims, buttons and end caps are sold separately to repair a cracked item or improve operational safety. Replacing a damaged key is carried out in a few touches and you don’t even need to turn off the power on the machine. At the same time, all elements are firmly held in place.

Polo-Hager

Rating: 4.6

The Polo brand was created in Germany about 50 years ago and specialized in the production of fittings for installation in electrical systems of residential and office buildings. After a while, the company was merged with Hager and today the products are sold under the joint brand Polo-Hager. Sockets and other products of the company are distinguished by high-quality assembly and the use of brass contacts, which allows them to withstand increased loads without melting. The most popular series of the brand are Hermetica, Optima, Regina and Fiorena. Users in the reviews like a huge range of plastic switch colors, which can be from white and cream to wenge. In this case, the surface is possible both glossy and matte.

The brand is recognized as the best, since its products are produced using modern technologies for creating halogen-free polycarbonate. In practice, this means that the plastic will not turn yellow in the sun and retain its whiteness.

FIG

Rating: 4.5

This is a German brand that appeared in 1988. The manufacturer specializes in flexible power transmission systems, distribution automation and other low-voltage equipment. The company’s offices operate in 100 countries around the world. There are factories producing brand products in Russia, the USA and Europe. Sockets and light switches are presented in the collections of Zenit, BJE, Levit, Impuls. Especially stylish, judging by the reviews, are sockets from the Future line, the surface of which looks like black velvet. If glossy dark finishes are required, then Anthracite products are the current offer of the brand.

We considered the brand’s fittings to be the best for ergonomics. The shape of the switch keys has beveled edges and a particularly smooth structure, which increases the safety of operation. Sockets for connecting a USB cable (charging a tablet, phone) have a beveled panel with a “recessed” connector located at 45º. This ensures that the cable exits not at a right angle from the wall, but downwards, which is more convenient for operation. So, no one will hook your wire from the phone.

Jung

Rating: 4.4

The brand is recognized as the best for loyalty to the classics. The motto of the company is “classic for all time”. The range of the brand is represented by sockets and various switches, familiar to many since childhood. Instead of developing whimsical new forms, the company’s designers took up the perfection of already created and recognized products around the world. For example, the LS990 is a circuit breaker that first appeared in 1968. Under this brand, it has been produced for more than 50 years, becoming more elegant, thinner and more attractive. The LS1912 series has a tumbler-type switch, used even under Tsarist Russia. Its surface is finished with gilding, and the neat casting of lines immediately hints at a modern device.

But the manufacturer’s designers have added variety to the classics, giving the surfaces bright colors. So, you can buy a yellow, red or blue socket here. In total, brand accessories are presented in 63 shades, which customers like in reviews and leaves competitors far behind.

TOUR

Rating: 4.4

The review is completed by the German brand GIRA, which emerged in 1964. But the company itself, which produced products, has existed since 1905, only then it was called Giersiepen. Therefore, in 2005 the manufacturer celebrated its 100th anniversary. The brand’s electrical devices have always been innovative. The company was the first to switch to the manufacture of modular systems and was one of the leaders who introduced the rocker switch. The production of products for equipping “smart homes” was launched here back in the 1990s. Brand designers are constantly surprising with new inventions. One of the latter is implemented in the E2 line, where the switches have a cold color of stainless steel.

Judging by the reviews, electricians like the interchangeability of parts of switches, regardless of belonging to the series. This makes picking up the broken element easier. For such simplicity of layout and consumer focus, the brand is recognized as the best.

Attention! This material is subjective, is not an advertisement and does not serve as a guide to the purchase. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.