2 Gang Telephone & Cat 5/6 Data Socket - Piano Black

This is a two gang plate that puts a telephone connection and a data connection side by side on one faceplate, so a desk gets both a phone line and a hard wired network point without a second plate on the wall. The data half is made for Cat 5 and Cat 6 cabling, which covers most domestic network runs. The plate itself is screwless, giving a flat unbroken front with no fixings on show, and the finish is a deep gloss piano black that reads almost like lacquer under a lamp.

We reach for this in home offices, studies and box rooms turned into workspaces, where a computer wants a steady wired connection rather than whatever the wi-fi manages at the far end of the house. It also earns a place behind a television or media unit in a sitting room, and in a guest bedroom that doubles as somewhere to work. Anyone pulling network cable through a house during a refurbishment will appreciate that one plate does the job of two, which keeps a wall from filling up with small squares. It is intended for indoor rooms and low voltage data circuits only.

The body is moulded ABS with a high gloss black face. Gloss black shows dust and fingermarks more readily than a satin finish, so a dry microfibre cloth most weeks, and a barely damp one for smudges, will keep it looking sharp; leave cream cleaners, abrasive pads and anything solvent based well alone, because they take the shine off and it does not come back. It carries a ten year warranty. We choose it in rooms where the switches and plates are already dark and a white faceplate would jump out at you, and against an inky or charcoal wall it all but disappears.

What cabling does the data side accept?

It is made for Cat 5 and Cat 6 network cable, which suits the wired runs used in most homes for computers, games consoles and smart televisions.

How big is the plate?

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

Is the finish a paint or a plastic?

The plate is moulded ABS in a high gloss piano black through the material, rather than a sprayed coat sitting on top of a metal plate.

How should I clean it without dulling the gloss?

Dust with a dry microfibre cloth and lift marks with a cloth wrung out in plain water. Avoid cream cleaners, scouring pads and solvents, all of which will scratch the surface.

Can it be used in a bathroom or outside?

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

Does it come with a warranty?

Yes, it carries a ten year warranty.