4 Gang Single 2 Way Light Switch - Brushed Steel

Four rockers sit side by side on a single square plate, and the front shows no screw heads, so the brushed steel face reads as a clean panel on the wall. The rockers are chrome, a brighter silver than the plate behind them, which gives a touch of contrast at close range without shouting. Each rocker is wired as a two way switch, so it can work on its own or pair with a matching switch elsewhere in the house. At 88mm square, it keeps a good deal of switching inside the footprint of a single plate.

This is the one we reach for in hallways, landings and open plan kitchens, where several lighting circuits land at the same point and a row of separate plates would look busy. Paired switching suits staircases and long corridors, letting you control the same light from either end. It sits well in a house where the metalwork is already silver, keeping company with brushed handles, chrome taps and stainless steel appliances. We would keep the rest of the plates on that wall in the same screwless style, so the line of them stays quiet.

The plate is pressed steel with a fine brushed grain, carried on a moulded polycarbonate body that holds the metal clear of the working parts inside. It is meant for lighting circuits indoors on an ordinary household supply, and should stay out of bathrooms, porches and anywhere it may be splashed. To keep the face looking right, wipe along the grain with a dry microfibre cloth; cream cleaners and household sprays will dull brushed steel, so keep them off it. It carries a ten year warranty, and it looks at home beside chrome light fittings and polished metal shades.

What load will each switch handle?

Each gang is rated 10AX, which comfortably covers domestic lighting circuits, including LED, halogen and filament lamps.

What does two way switching mean in practice?

Each rocker can be wired either to control a light on its own, or to work in tandem with a second switch, so the same light can be turned on at one end of a stair or corridor and off at the other.

Can it dim the lights?

No, these are on and off rocker switches. If you want dimming on one of the circuits, that needs a dimmer plate instead.

How big is the plate?

It is 88mm by 88mm, the standard single plate footprint, with a 25mm depth behind the face.

Is it safe to use in a bathroom or an outbuilding?

It is for dry indoor rooms only, so kitchens, halls, bedrooms and living spaces rather than bathrooms, sheds or covered outdoor areas.

What is the best way to clean the brushed finish?

A dry or barely damp microfibre cloth, worked along the grain. Avoid abrasive pads, solvents and cream cleaners, as they will mark the brushed surface.