2 Gang Ethernet Socket - Light Grey

Wired networking still beats wireless for anything that matters, and this is the plate we reach for when a room needs a tidy pair of connections. Two ports sit in a flat screwless front in light grey, with no fixing screws showing on the face. It accepts Cat 5 and Cat 6 cabling, so a laptop, a games console, a printer or a smart television can each have a wired run of its own. The moulding is ABS, and it works on low voltage data circuits rather than anything carrying mains.

Studies and home offices are the obvious homes for it, particularly behind a desk where a computer and a network printer both want feeding. We also fit data sockets like this beside a television point on a media wall, in a hall cupboard near the router, or at the top of the stairs where a wired access point does more good than another repeater. It is for indoor rooms only. Nothing mains powered belongs on it: it is there to carry data and nothing else.

The plate is moulded in ABS in a light grey that carries across the whole front, and the screwless style keeps the face free of visible fixings. Grey sits comfortably against grey trunking, exposed brick or a painted wall where white would jump out, and we keep it in light grey for exactly that reason. Clean it with a barely damp cloth followed by a dry one, and keep solvents and cream cleaners well away from the finish; a soft brush is enough to clear dust from the ports. Unused ports are better kept covered so they stay clean. It carries a ten year warranty.

How many devices can I connect?

Two, one to each port. Both take Cat 5 and Cat 6 cabling, so you can run one to a computer and the other to a printer, console or television.

What size is the plate?

It is a square plate measuring 88mm by 88mm, with a depth of 35mm behind the front.

What is it made from?

Moulded ABS, finished in light grey, weighing 0.065kg.

Can I use it in a bathroom or outside?

No. It is rated IP20 and intended for indoor, dry rooms and data circuits only.

Does it carry mains power?

No. It is a low voltage data fitting, Class 3, for network cabling rather than power.

How should I clean it?

A barely damp cloth and then a dry one keeps the grey looking even. Avoid solvents and cream cleaners, and use a soft brush rather than liquid near the ports.