2 Gang Ethernet Socket - Cool Grey

This is a flat-fronted data plate in cool grey, with a clip-on cover that hides the fixing screws so the front face reads as one clean panel. Two data sockets sit side by side, ready for patch leads running back to a router, switch or patch panel. It is wired for Cat 5 and Cat 6 cable, so it will serve an existing home network and still hold up if the cabling is upgraded later. The grey has a soft, slightly cool cast that sits well against pale paint and against darker sockets and switches rather than trying to disappear into them.

We reach for a two-port plate wherever one lead is never quite enough: behind a desk feeding a computer and a printer, beside a television for a set-top box and a games console, or in a study where a wireless access point wants its own hard-wired connection. It suits anyone who would rather run a cable than fight with wireless coverage through thick walls, and it keeps loose leads tidy at the point they enter the room. This is for dry rooms inside the house, working on low voltage data circuits only, so keep it away from bathrooms, garages and anywhere it might be splashed.

The plate is moulded in ABS, which takes the smooth grey finish evenly and does not mark the way a painted metal face can. Keep it looking right by switching the network gear off at the plug and going over the front with a barely damp cloth, then drying it; leave the kitchen sprays and solvent cleaners well alone, as they will dull the surface. It carries a ten year warranty. We would pair it with matching screwless plates elsewhere in the same room so sockets, switches and data points all read as one family.

What size is the plate?

It is a standard square plate, 88mm by 88mm, and it sits on a back box 35mm deep.

Will it work with Cat 6 cable?

Yes. It is made for both Cat 5 and Cat 6 data cable, so it is a sensible choice if you plan to upgrade your cabling in future.

Can I use it in a bathroom or an outbuilding?

No. It is rated IP20 for indoor use in dry rooms only, so a bathroom, garage or garden room is not suitable.

What is the plate made from?

Moulded ABS in a cool grey finish, weighing 0.065kg, so it is light and easy to handle when you are terminating the cable.

Does it carry mains power?

No. It is a low voltage data point, Class 3, intended for network circuits rather than power.

How should I clean it?

A barely damp cloth and a dry buff afterwards. Avoid solvents, cream cleaners and anything abrasive.