2 Gang Double 13A Socket - Orange

Bright orange is not a colour power points usually come in, and that is exactly the appeal. This is a two gang switched socket on a screwless flat plate, the front face left unbroken by fixing heads, with chrome rockers and chrome trim set against the colour. Each way switches on its own, so one appliance can be turned off at the wall while the other keeps running. The plate is a slim, low profile shape that sits close and reads as a single block of colour from across the room.

We reach for a coloured plate when the electrics are meant to be part of the scheme rather than something to hide: a studio or an indoor workshop bench, a garage wall painted out in the same tone, a child's room, a bright utility. As a standard 13A double it takes ordinary British plugs, so nothing about the way it is used changes, only the way it looks. It is meant for dry rooms indoors on a normal household supply, so we would keep it well away from bathrooms and anywhere it might be splashed.

The plate and switch mouldings are ABS, a tough plastic that holds its colour and shrugs off knocks better than a painted finish would. Wipe it with a barely damp cloth and dry it off afterwards; strong cleaners and scouring pads will dull both the colour and the chrome, so leave those under the sink. It carries a ten year warranty. If you are running a bold palette through a room, matching the socket to the walls or deliberately setting it against them both work well, and the chrome inserts give you something to tie back to chrome handles, taps or a nearby chrome light fitting.

What size is the front plate?

The plate measures 146mm long by 88mm high, with a depth of 25mm, so it suits the usual run of double socket positions.

Are both sockets switched?

Yes. Each of the two ways has its own rocker switch, so you can isolate one appliance and leave the other live.

What is the plate made from, and is the orange painted on?

It is moulded in ABS, so the colour is part of the material rather than a surface coat that can chip away.

What are the chrome parts?

The rockers and the trim detail are chrome, which frames the orange and stops it looking flat.

Can it go in a garden room, garage or outhouse?

It is rated IP20 and made for indoor use only, so it is fine in a dry, heated garage or garden room but not where damp or splashing is likely.

How should I clean it without marking the finish?

A soft cloth, lightly damp, then dry. Avoid solvents, bleach and abrasive pads, as they will haze the plastic and the chrome.