Sockets and Switches: A Practical Guide for Electricians Finishing a Job

The consumer unit is buried in the cupboard. The cable runs are behind the plaster. The visible hardware — sockets, switches, faceplates — is what the client sees every day. Getting the specification right matters commercially: the wrong finish on a kitchen or living room is a callback. Getting it right means a satisfied client, a referral, and a repeat customer.

This guide covers how to specify Knightsbridge sockets and switches correctly for every room type, what the product ranges actually mean, and what to stock in the van.

White Plastic vs Chrome: When to Specify Each

The default spec for most domestic work is white flat-plate or white moulded. It fits planning, matches most interior styles, and is what most Part P inspectors are familiar with. But client expectations have shifted. In kitchens, living rooms, and master bedrooms, brushed chrome or polished chrome is increasingly the expected finish — not an optional upgrade.

A practical decision tree:

• Utility areas, hallways, bedrooms (secondary), garage: White standard — fast, cheap, universally acceptable
• Kitchen, living room, dining room, master bedroom: Brushed chrome or polished chrome — always ask first; most clients will say yes and appreciate the question
• Bathroom (outside wet zones): White or chrome IP-rated shaver socket — no standard sockets in bathrooms
• Garden rooms, workshops: White moulded or metal-clad depending on the use

Knightsbridge Range: What We Stock

Standard White — Trade Workhorse

Knightsbridge white sockets and switches are ASTA approved, well-made for the price point, and consistent in finish and dimension across the range. They work with standard metal back boxes and their contact surfaces hold up to regular use. At under £5 for a double socket, they're competitive on price without the quality inconsistency you sometimes see with unbranded product.

• 13A Double Switched Socket (DP, Twin Earths, curved edge) — £3.22 — the standard double socket for rooms. DP switching, twin earth terminals.
• 13A Double Switched Socket (DP, Twin Earths, outboard rockers) — £4.29 — square edge profile, slightly more premium appearance in white.
• 13A Double SP Switched Socket (ASTA Approved) — £3.99 — single-pole switching. Suitable for most domestic applications where DP switching is not specifically required.
• 10AX 1G 2-way Switch — £1.99
• 10AX 3G 2-way Switch — £4.99 — three-gang plate for rooms with multiple light circuits.

Brushed Chrome and Polished Chrome — Premium Finish

Knightsbridge's chrome range has the same internal mechanism as the white product — same back box fixing, same cable terminations — with a brushed or polished chrome faceplate. These fit directly over standard 35mm metal back boxes.

• 10AX 1G 2-way Switch, Brushed Chrome — £6.50
• 10AX 1G Intermediate Switch, Brushed Chrome — £9.99 — for three-way switching (landing/stair/hallway configurations).
• 13A 1G DP Switched Socket, Polished Chrome with White Insert — £9.99 — polished chrome with recessed white inserts; the kitchen/living room single socket spec.

SP vs DP Sockets: The Practical Difference

Single-pole (SP) sockets switch only the live conductor. Double-pole (DP) sockets switch both live and neutral simultaneously. For most domestic socket outlets, SP switching meets BS 7671 requirements. DP is required where full isolation is needed — connection units for appliances, certain outdoor and kitchen circuits, and anywhere the circuit might be serviced without isolating at the consumer unit.

In practice: specify DP as your default on socket outlets. The cost difference is negligible, it gives complete isolation when the socket is switched off, and it's more reassuring to the client.

USB Sockets: Always Ask, Usually Yes

USB-A sockets have become the default ask on new kitchen and living room circuits. The client always wants somewhere to charge without a plug, and a USB socket outlet addresses it cleanly.

• 13A 2G SP Switched Socket with Dual USB A+A — £18.99 — two USB-A ports alongside a standard double socket. Suitable for most household devices.

One note: USB-A is still the majority use case for household charging (phones, tablets, bedside lamps). USB-C charging is faster but requires a Type-C socket or a USB-C power delivery socket, which are available as separate products. For a kitchen or living room spec in 2026, dual USB-A covers most clients adequately.

RCD Sockets: Where You Need Them

RCD protection is required at socket outlets in specific locations under BS 7671. For circuits not protected by an RCD at the consumer unit, a socket with integral RCD provides the required protection at the point of use.

• 13A RCD Switched Socket, 2 Gang, White — £15.84 — integral RCD at the socket; useful for circuits fed from an older board without RCD protection, or for adding protection to a single circuit without consumer unit work.

Common applications: garage supply socket, garden power circuit, kitchen circuit on an older board. If you're adding a socket to a circuit without an RCD at the board, fit an RCD socket or protect the circuit at the CU — don't leave it unprotected.

What to Stock in the Van

A practical van stock for a domestic electrician doing refurbs and rewires:

• 10x double DP switched socket, white — covers 80% of the job
• 5x single DP switched socket, white
• 10x 1G 2-way switch, white
• 5x 2G 2-way switch, white
• 2x intermediate switch, white
• 2x double switched socket, brushed chrome — for kitchens/living rooms when asked
• 2x 1G 2-way switch, brushed chrome — to match
• 2x USB double socket — the client always asks
• 2x RCD socket — for non-RCD-protected additions

In Stock for Same-Day Collection

All Knightsbridge sockets and switches listed above are in stock at our Acton trade counter. Order by 3pm for next-day delivery. The full range is available at apmi.uk.

APM Plumbing & Electrical | 24 Western Avenue, Acton, London W3 7TZ | 020 8702 8080 | apmi.uk