Switch board
Switch boards are another integral part of electrical works during finishing of a new house. The reason it is termed integral is because switch boards are so prominent in a house that they define the finishing grade & quality of a house. If a house has been finished on an economical look and budget, its switch boards too will be of low quality and average look; if a house has been finished to a luxury grade, its switch boards will be of the best quality and sleek looks. There are multiple types of switch boards used in a house, as mentioned below:
- 1 Gang
- 2 Gang
- 3 Gang
- 4 Gang
- 6 Gang
- 8 Gang
- 6 + Dimmer
- Dimmer
- 6 + socket
- 1/2/3 Gang 2-way
- Bell push
- Power plug
- Light plug
- Multi plug
- TV socket
- TP socket
- Data socket
During construction of a house, switch board selection and installation happens during the finishing works, however the decision about which boards to use has to be made during grey structure works, before plastering the walls, when the electrical conduit is being laid. Switch boards are installed on pre-fitted, concealed plastic/wooden/metal boxes — it is not necessary that each brand of switch board uses the same box on which it is to be installed. Switch boards most commonly used in houses in Pakistan can be classified as:
- Local switch boards
- China fittings
- Imported
Local switch boards
Local switch boards can commonly be seen in low-cost or economical houses, in which wooden or metal internal concealed boxes are used and switches are fixed on a custom-made plastic sheet. This kind of switch board is very economical, however it does not give an appealing look to the house. Each switch is independent and can be easily replaced in case of any malfunction.
China fittings
China fittings are the most frequently used switch boards in modern houses. There is a vast variety of brands available under the category of china fittings — each brand has multiple series of switches, and each series has a different switch style, colour and quality. The style in trend these days consists of vertically long-sized switches, which give a sleek look and add to the overall finishing grade of a house, as mentioned before. These switches are slightly more expensive than conventional small button china switch plates. Switch plates with smaller-sized switches/buttons have an advantage over plates with medium or full-sized switches/buttons — the easy replacement of an individual switch in case of malfunction. In the other two types, switches are made in pairs, so if one button malfunctions, a pair of 4 switches will need to be replaced.
As per our experience, we recommend the following brands that deal in imported china fittings with good quality switch plates:
- Aqua switch board (Most highly recommended)
- TJ switch board (highly recommended)
- Orange switch board (recommended)
- Popular switch board (recommended)
- Klass switch board (recommended)
- Hero switch board (recommended)
- Opal switch board (recommended)
- Sogo switch board (recommended)
Imported
Though people mostly use china fittings, as explained above, in their newly built houses these days, imported (European) switch boards are also used in premium-plus or luxury-grade finishes. These types of switch boards have their own internal box that has to be fitted during grey structure works — a typical china fitting box, if fixed during grey structure, will not accommodate imported switch boards. These switch boards are more expensive as compared to china fittings, however the quality of the switches and internal system is far superior, as a result of which malfunction rarely happens. The only disadvantage of these boards is that the largest-sized board in imported fittings will not have more than 4 or 6 switches/buttons — hence more boards are required in one room, which adds financially to the already expensive list of imported boards. Some of the imported fittings available in Pakistan are:
Quality check
The most common defect and malfunction that occurs in china fittings switches is related to sockets and dimmers. Sockets in low-quality china fittings lose their internal grip, as a result of which a 2-pin or 3-pin male plug doesn't hold inside the female socket. Secondly, the internal fitting of a socket that holds a 2-pin or 3-pin plug must be made of good quality copper — while purchasing light plugs, multi plugs and power plugs, one must inquire about this issue from the seller. Low-cost/cheapest light plugs do not have a life of more than 2-3 months once you start using them. Similarly, low-cost/cheapest dimmers in china fittings will get defected if you have to operate fans on a UPS. As per our experience, we highly recommend dimmers and light plugs from Aqua Electrical — these fittings are the most expensive in china brands, but a one-time investment will save you from the hassle of changing your fittings again and again due to malfunctioning.