2 Gang Ethernet Socket - Orange

Orange is the colour most people reach for when a data point needs to be told apart from power at a glance, and this screwless plate wears it across the whole face. Two ports sit side by side behind a flat cover with no visible screw heads to break the line. The modules accept Cat 5 and Cat 6 patch leads, which covers most of what a home network asks of it: a router hand-off, a hard-wired television point, a games console or a desktop machine.

We would fit this where a single port would run out fast, such as a home office with a computer and a network printer, a media wall feeding a set-top box and a smart television, or a study shared by two people working at once. The orange face earns its keep in cupboards, risers and plant spaces, where power points, aerial sockets and data all sit within inches of each other and nobody wants to trace a lead twice. It handles low voltage data circuits only, so there is nothing switched or fused here, and it belongs in dry indoor rooms rather than outbuildings, bathrooms or anywhere exposed to weather.

Plate and modules are moulded in ABS, a hard-wearing plastic that holds its colour rather than yellowing, and the screwless face keeps the front smooth so dust has little to catch on. A dry cloth is usually enough; for fingermarks near a desk, a cloth just damp with water works, kept away from the port openings, and solvents or cream cleaners should never come near the moulding. It carries a ten year warranty. Committing to orange for data across a whole property is worth doing, because it stays readable from the incoming point right through to the last desk, and it saves labelling every plate later on. Patch leads are not included.

What size is the plate?

It is a standard square faceplate at 88mm by 88mm, with a 35mm back box depth behind it.

Will it work with Cat 6 cable?

Yes. The two modules are rated for Cat 5 and Cat 6 data, so either generation of cable and patch lead is fine.

Is this a mains socket?

No. It is a data socket only, working on low voltage data circuits, and nothing on it carries mains power.

Can it be used in a bathroom or garage?

It is intended for indoor use in dry rooms. Damp or unheated spaces are not suitable for it.

How should the orange finish be cleaned?

Wipe with a dry cloth, or one lightly dampened with water for marks. Avoid solvents, alcohol wipes and abrasive creams, which can dull the ABS.

Why choose orange rather than white?

Colour coding tells data apart from power and aerial points instantly, which is useful in cupboards, offices and anywhere several sockets sit together.