2 Gang Double 13A 45W USB-A/C Socket - Plum

A plum faceplate with chrome rockers gives this double socket its character, and the screwless plate keeps the front clean with no visible fixings. Each half is rated 13A and switched, so power can be cut at the plate rather than by pulling plugs about. Alongside the two sockets sit a USB-A and a USB-C port, sharing up to 45W between them, which is enough to bring a phone and a tablet up together or push a laptop along at a sensible rate.

We reach for something like this at bedsides, on kitchen worktops and beside a desk, anywhere charging cables have started to multiply and a plug-in adaptor is hogging half the plate. Because the USB ports are built in, both sockets stay free for the kettle, the lamp or a monitor. The plum finish suits rooms with deeper paint colours and papered walls, where a plain white plate tends to sit awkwardly, and it looks well against warm woods and brass door furniture.

The plate is moulded polycarbonate over metal internals, and the colour carries across the whole face rather than being confined to a border. It is meant for dry indoor rooms running on a normal household supply, so keep it clear of splashes and out of bathrooms. For cleaning, isolate the circuit at the consumer unit, wipe the plate with a barely damp cloth and dry it straight away; solvents and cream cleaners will dull the colour, so leave those under the sink. It carries a ten year warranty. If you are working through a whole room, we find a single plate colour throughout reads better than one feature plate among white ones, so it is worth deciding early how far you want the plum to run.

How is the 45W divided between the two USB ports?

It is a shared output, so the 45W is split between the USB-A and USB-C ports when both are in use, and the full figure is available to one port on its own.

What size back box does it need?

A box depth of 35mm is recommended, with fixing centres at 120mm, which matches a standard double box.

How big is the faceplate?

It measures 146mm across by 85mm high, with the plate and its rear projection totalling 35mm in depth.

Are the sockets switched?

Yes, each of the two gangs has its own rocker switch, so either side can be turned off while a plug stays in place.

What is the plate made from?

Polycarbonate for the visible plate and rockers, with metal used for the internal current-carrying parts. It is a Class 1 fitting requiring an earth connection.

Can it go in a bathroom or outside?

No. It is rated for indoor use only, in dry rooms away from water and weather.