20A vs 45A DP plate switch selection starts with the circuit design and connected load, not with which white accessory looks right on the wall. Both accessories switch live and neutral together and both include a neon indicator, but their current ratings, terminals and intended circuit duties are not interchangeable.
This is a trade selection note for electricians replacing or specifying a fixed wiring accessory. It is not a circuit-design shortcut. Confirm the load, protective device, cable, installation method, manufacturer data and applicable requirements before ordering. For the wider range, use APM’s wiring accessories and light switches collections.
These are two exact active APM product pages with different ratings and visibly different switch formats. Check the product data against the job schedule before collection.
A 20A double-pole plate switch with a neon indicator and optional flex outlet. Select it only where the verified circuit and load call for this accessory rating and connection format.
View the 20A switch
A 45A one-gang double-pole plate switch with a neon indicator, intended for a higher-current circuit duty than the 20A accessory. The circuit still needs to be designed and verified as a complete system.
View the 45A switchThe faceplate rating is a limit of the accessory, not permission to connect any appliance below the printed number without further checks. A competent designer or installer still has to establish design current, protective device characteristics, conductor size, installation method, ambient conditions, grouping and the load manufacturer’s connection instructions.
The Click Curva 20A DP Plate Switch with Neon is the smaller-rated option in this comparison. APM’s exact product record identifies it as a 20A double-pole switch with neon and an optional flex outlet. That combination is useful where the job specification requires local double-pole control and a flex exit, but the accessory must still suit the actual fixed load and cable arrangement.
The Click Curva 45A 1-Gang DP Plate Switch with Neon is the higher-rated option. Its larger duty does not make it the automatic replacement. Terminal capacity, box depth, cable bend radius, heat dissipation, accessory location and the equipment manufacturer’s instructions all matter. Substituting it merely because “45A is bigger” can leave the wrong accessory layout or an installation that is difficult to terminate correctly.
| Selection point | 20A Curva DP switch | 45A Curva DP switch |
|---|---|---|
| Accessory rating | 20A double-pole plate switch. | 45A one-gang double-pole plate switch. |
| Indicator | Integral red neon indicator. | Integral red neon indicator. |
| Front arrangement | White rocker format with optional flex outlet stated on the exact product record. | Larger red rocker format for the higher-rated one-gang accessory. |
| Use only after | The load, circuit, cable and connection method have been verified for a 20A accessory. | The load, circuit, cable, terminal and enclosure requirements have been verified for the higher-current duty. |
Replacement work often looks simple because the old plate is already on the wall. That does not prove the existing accessory was correctly rated, that the conductors remain serviceable or that the connected appliance is unchanged. Record the existing circuit details, isolate safely, prove dead and inspect before treating any new plate as a like-for-like swap.
Back-box space matters. Larger conductors and stiffer terminations need room to enter without excessive strain or sharp bending. Confirm the manufacturer’s minimum enclosure depth and terminal capacities from current technical data. Do not rely on the visible plate dimensions alone, and do not force conductors behind an accessory that does not sit naturally in the box.
The neon is an indication feature; it is not a substitute for safe isolation or proving dead. Its switching relationship and meaning must be understood from the product diagram. Labelling also needs to make sense to the person using or maintaining the installation. Where the load requires a specific local isolator arrangement, follow the equipment instructions and the designed circuit schedule.
White moulded accessories are easy to confuse on a picking list. Use the complete title and exact APM product page rather than writing “DP switch” on its own. The 20A product is bound to APM SKU SWITCHES5055112819144 and EAN 5055112819144. The 45A product is bound to APM SKU SWITCHE5055112819540 and EAN 5055112819540.
When the schedule calls for the lower-rated accessory and optional flex outlet format, link the Click Curva 20A DP Plate Switch with Neon. When the verified design calls for the higher-rated one-gang accessory, link the Click Curva 45A 1-Gang DP Plate Switch with Neon. Keeping the reference exact helps the counter, installer and tester discuss the same item.
The practical rule is straightforward: select from the circuit outward. Load and design first, then cable and protective device, then the switch rating, terminals, enclosure and front arrangement. That prevents a visual match from becoming an electrical mismatch.
Bring the circuit schedule or exact product reference to APM Plumbing & Electrical at 24 Western Avenue, Acton, W3 7TZ. Call 020 8702 8080 or check the exact product pages before travelling.
Shop the 20A DP switch Shop the 45A DP switch{"one"=>"Select 2 or 3 items to compare", "other"=>"{{ count }} of 3 items selected"}
Leave a comment