2 Gang Telephone & TV Socket - Matt Black

Two services on one plate: a telephone connection sitting alongside a coaxial television point, both set into a flat screwless front in matt black. The plate measures 88mm square, so it keeps to the footprint of a standard twin plate, and there are no screw heads on show across the face, which lets the finish read as one clean rectangle. The moulding has a low, dry sheen rather than a gloss, and the two openings are set side by side so leads drop away neatly.

We reach for this where a television and a phone line land in the same corner of a room and separate plates would clutter the wall: behind a wall-hung screen in a sitting room, at a desk in a study, or beside a bed where a handset lives. It handles low voltage signal work rather than power, so it belongs on data and aerial circuits only, and it is intended for dry indoor rooms. Matt black suits deeper wall colours, panelling and darker joinery, and it also holds its own against pale plaster where a white plate would look bland.

The plate is moulded ABS with a matt black finish, light in the hand and free of the trims and bevels that catch dust. Keep it looking right with a dry cloth over the face, and where marks build up around the openings, a barely damp cloth followed by a dry one. Polishes, solvents and cream cleaners all take the life out of a matt surface, so leave them in the cupboard. It carries a ten year warranty. We would pair it with other matt black plates and dark switchgear along the same wall so sockets, points and switches read as a set rather than a collection of odd shapes.

What connections does this plate give me?

Two: a telephone connection and a coaxial television point, side by side on one 2 gang plate.

How big is the plate?

It is 88mm square across the face, with a rear depth of 35mm.

Can it carry mains power?

No. It is a Class 3 low voltage product for signal work, so it should only be used on data and aerial circuits, never for power.

Is it suitable for a bathroom or an outbuilding?

It is rated IP20 and made for indoor use only, so keep it to dry rooms away from splashes and damp.

What is the plate made from?

Moulded ABS with a matt black finish. It weighs 0.065kg, so it is very light for its size.

How should I clean a matt black plate?

A dry cloth for dust, and a barely damp cloth for finger marks, dried straight after. Avoid solvents, polishes and abrasive creams, which will leave shiny patches on matt.