1 Gang Cat 5 & 6 Ethernet Socket - Charcoal

A single data socket on a screwless charcoal plate, this is the point where a wired network connection meets the wall. The RJ45 module accepts Cat 5 and Cat 6 cabling, so it serves ordinary broadband speeds and faster wired links alike. The outer cover clips over the plate for a clean, flat face with no visible screw heads breaking up the front, and the deep grey moulding reads as a quiet dark square rather than a bright white one.

We use these wherever a wired link is worth having: a desk in a home office, a study wall, the corner where the router lives, or behind a television that streams and updates all evening. Wired connections stay steady when a house is busy and the wireless signal is fighting through walls, so it earns its place in a media wall or a bedroom set up for work. It runs on a low voltage data circuit rather than mains power, and belongs in dry rooms indoors. In a scheme with charcoal or graphite ironmongery, we would run this alongside matching charcoal power points on the same wall so the whole run looks deliberate.

The plate and cover are moulded polycarbonate in a matt charcoal, a square face of 88mm that sits comfortably in a line of same-size plates. The finish is solid colour through the material rather than a coating, so scuffs are less obvious than they would be on a painted plate. To clean it, wipe the face with a barely damp cloth and dry it off; keep solvents, kitchen sprays and cream cleaners away, as they will dull the surface over time. It carries a ten year warranty. Charcoal suits dark paint, exposed brick and deep grey kitchens, where a white plate tends to jump out at you.

What cable does it take?

It is built for Cat 5 and Cat 6 data cabling, terminated at the module behind the plate. That covers standard home broadband as well as faster wired links between rooms.

Is this a mains socket?

No. It is a data socket only, on a Class 3 low voltage data circuit. Appliances need a separate 13A socket.

How big is the plate?

The face is 88mm square, with a back box depth of 35mm behind it. It lines up with other plates of the same standard size.

What does screwless mean here?

The visible cover clips on over the plate underneath, so the front face has no screw heads on show.

Can I use it in a bathroom or outside?

No. It is rated IP20 and intended for indoor use in dry rooms.

How should I clean it?

A barely damp cloth, then dry with a soft cloth. Avoid solvents, abrasive creams and household sprays, which can leave the charcoal moulding dull or marked.