Countertop and furniture sockets

This category of products includes worktop sockets, i.e. special connectors that are part of the electrical installation, which are mounted directly in the tops of furniture. It is an ideal solution when it is not possible to mount traditional sockets in the wall or connecting plugs to ordinary sockets turns out to be not very functional.

What distinguishes countertop sockets?

table-top sockets (also known as table-top or furniture sockets) stand out from other contact models with their specific design. They have been designed in such a way that they can be inserted directly into the surface of the selected piece of furniture. Most often, they allow you to connect at least two devices at the same time.

Contrary to their name, they are suitable for installation not only in countertops, but also in vertical planes, e.g. in the walls of thicker furniture. They are most often installed in the kitchen. Particularly useful was placing contacts in the so-called kitchen islands. For this reason, tabletop sockets meet higher (compared to classic wall contacts available for sale) degrees of protection. The widespread use of them in the kitchen forced the manufacturers to make furniture sockets resistant to, for example, moisture and steam. What's more – this type of equipment often has special covers. It is possible to mount the sockets in such a way that the holes for the plugs are hidden inside the tabletop. This is to protect the contacts, e.g. from getting dirty and splashed. In addition, it allows you to limit access to the socket for small children.

Types of countertop sockets

Tabletop sockets can be distinguished primarily by the type of supported plugs. In this respect, the classification looks almost the same as in the case of classic wall-mounted contacts. Therefore, there are furniture contacts on the market:

• type C (CEE 7/1) – classic socket with two holes and a circular recess for the plug. They do not have a ground pin.
• types E – (CEE 7/5) – sockets almost identical to type C, but they are equipped with a grounding pin. The most popular contacts, now considered standard.
• type F (CEE 7/3) – so-called sockets. Very rare in Poland. They are standard, for example, in Germany, the Netherlands and Croatia. Like type C contacts, they have two holes – one for phase, one for neutral. They do not have a grounding pin. Instead, they are equipped with two flat plates located on the sides of the plug hole.
• europe plug – a variety of C-type sockets – very rare. Sockets adapted to plugs with a characteristic flat shape.

Top sockets are also available in various color variants. All this in order to best mask the places of plugs and integrate them into the furniture design. It is also possible to select accessories with the appropriate number of sockets.

Countertop sockets not only for the kitchen

Furniture sockets are most often installed in the kitchen, but their use does not end there. This type of equipment also works well in offices. Desk recessed sockets are an alternative to the more common floor sockets. It is an ideal solution for small offices located in old buildings (e.g. in tenement houses), where the use of contacts in the floor is difficult for many reasons.

Nothing stands in the way of installing countertop sockets also in the living room or bedroom. With the right arrangement, they can be very functional. What's more – you will not have to worry about installing traditional wall contacts that often spoil carefully designed interiors. However, it must be remembered that with non-standard use of countertop sockets, it will be necessary to modify the furniture. So it is best to opt for this type of equipment when cabinets and similar equipment are made to order.

Deck USB sockets

You can insert not only ordinary electrical sockets into the countertops, but also USB ports. This is another solution that will be perfect both at home and in the office. More and more devices are charged and powered with cables terminated with this type of plug. Installation of a tabletop USB socket can improve the comfort of using various rooms in many respects. This also applies to the kitchen, where you can, for example, connect your phone to charge while cooking.

Single countertop sockets

Although whip sockets are mainly available in variants with at least two plugs, there are also models adapted to connect only one device at a time. Such accessories are aimed primarily at customers who, for various reasons, cannot afford to install the entire strip with contacts in the furniture. A single countertop socket will therefore work well in small kitchens or in the case of kitchen islands with small surfaces. It is also a good solution for people who would like to have this type of connection to the electricity network, e.g. in the living room or bedroom, but do not want or cannot make too much modifications to the furniture they already have.

How to plan the arrangement of countertop sockets?

Countertop sockets should not be conspicuous. At the same time, they must be located in such a place that the possible connection of equipment to them does not in any way interfere with other activities or processes that are to take place in the immediate vicinity of the equipment. In the case of kitchen worktops, the plugs must therefore not be too close to the working area. For obvious reasons, they should also not be mounted too close to the sink.

In offices, on the other hand, it is best to place furniture sockets in the corners of the desk or in the middle, right at the top edge. This location is practical and even with a large number of cables should not adversely affect the work in any way.

Top sockets in the el12.pl offer

The el12.pl online store offers a wide selection of countertop sockets adapted to be installed both in the kitchen, in offices and in any other room. We have models with shutters, hidden flat in the surface of the furniture, as well as innovative pull-out sockets (round and rectangular). The sale includes accessories adapted to handle a different number of plugs at the same time. We offer sockets of various designs and colors. Thanks to this, it is easy to choose the right product to perfectly match the design of the furniture. At el12.pl you will find equipment from reputable manufacturers only. We sell accessories of such brands as Emiter, GTV, Orno Polska, Tehalit and Kontakt-Simon.

Orders in the el12.pl store are carried out as soon as possible. Purchases are delivered to customers most often within a few business days. The exception is when the product is not currently in stock. During this time, the delivery time is extended to several weeks. Information about when you can expect a shipment with the ordered accessories can be found on each product card, next to the technical specification.