The choice and installation of electrical appliances in the apartment, although not the most important part of the repair , but still important. Moreover, the assortment of various electrical appliances today is very wide.
One of the ways of economical placement of outlets is the installation of a socket with a switch in one housing. This combination is a very practical technique, and therefore has recently become very popular.
The main advantage of installing a combined unit, where the socket is combined with a light switch, is the ease of connection. In this case, it is not necessary, as with a separate installation of switches and sockets, to make contacts in different places and make two different holes in the wall (which then, incidentally, have to be masked, doing a small cosmetic repair). It is also convenient that the outlet with the switch will be located at the same height (usually according to European standards).
The installation of the "socket + switch" blocks is possible on almost any surface, whether it's plasterboard, foam block, brick or even stone. Install these devices can be both indoors and outside the buildings (for outdoor installation should use waterproof models).
From the disadvantages of the socket, combined with the switch, it should be noted that if one of the component parts of the unit becomes unusable, its replacement will be impossible, and it will be necessary to change the entire unit. However, compared with the advantages of this type of electricians, this shortcoming is not so serious.
On sale there is a mass of varieties of such combined blocks, which can be classified according to two characteristics. The first is the appearance of the unit, and the second is the number of plug sockets and switches. So, for example, you can purchase in one case triple switch with a single outlet or a double socket with a single-key switch.
In addition, the sockets are known to be external and internal. The former are used for open wiring, the latter for hidden. The external socket with the switch in one case looks more cumbersome than the internal one. However, if you have an open wiring system in your apartment, and change it is problematic, then your option is only an outdoor unit.
How to connect the "switch and socket in one housing" unit?
The installation of the outlet with the switch in one housing is approximately as follows:
- Disconnect the power supply.
- Make markings for the subsequent installation of the installation boxes.
- Drill the wall with a "crown" in the right place.
- Break the perforated holes that are used to make the cables.
- Connect the installation boxes to each other by inserting special connectors into the slots.
- Start the cable, after cleaning it, into the boxes.
- Fasten the boxes to the wall using the fixing screws.
- Prepare the wires for connection.
- Remove the cover from the socket and connect the wires to its terminals.
- After unscrewing the screws, install the socket into the box.
- Isolate the wires of the switch and prepare it for installation.
- Connect the cable and install the switch.
- Then, set the block overlap common to the switch and socket and close its cover.
- Turn on the power and check how the "socket + switch" works with the tester.
This is the most common scheme that most home electricians use.
Let's note the most authoritative manufacturers of such combined units: Makel, ABB, Legrand, Lezard, Viko, Gira, Unica Schneider Electric and others.