Replacing Your Electrical Power Points: Crucial Things to Know When Buying Replacement Power Points

The powered socket points in your home and business are without a doubt some of the hardest-working and most reliable electrical fixtures ever made. At the same time though, a damaged or faulty power point can also present one of the worst possible hazards that a home or business owner is ever likely to confront.

Power points that intermittently lose power, won’t shutter, or are visibly scorched from overheating are hazardous. The shock from a faulty 230 – 240V power point can be fatal, but the risk of fire from a defective fixture poses a silent threat that can ignite inside a wall at any time and spread almost instantly through an entire structure.

In short, the consequences of using inoperative or malfunctioning power points are too great to ignore. Fortunately, though, replacement power points are readily available; and a licensed electrician can troubleshoot all your faulty fixtures, as well as upgrade you to newer, more flexible ones.

Getting the Most Reliability and Functionality From New Power Plugs

Regardless of whether it’s indoor or outdoor, when it’s time to replace your aged or defective power point plug outlets, you want high-quality sockets that can also give you more reliability and functionality. The fact is, as the types of appliances and accessories used in homes, offices, and other facilities have changed, the demands and expectations on power points have changed too.

Safety is the primary consideration in power point design, and that’s why when it comes to power points, Australia and New Zealand standard (AS/NZS) 3112 is very specific about their construction and pin variations. There’s more to Australian power point safety than just isolation switches; and home and business owners have a broad selection of single-, double-, and quad-type fixtures to choose from that are suitable for an equally broad range of current ratings, including:

·   10 Amps;

·   15 Amps;

·   16 Amps;

·   20 Amps; and,

·   32 Amps.

The reality of power points, however, especially in older homes and structures, is that you don’t always know the exact condition of every fixture. That’s why if you’re uncertain about the serviceable state of an electrical power point, you need to stop using it, isolate it at the fuse box if possible, and arrange to have a qualified electrician take a look at it. And if you discover that you have to replace it, this is an excellent time to consider installing all-new power points that can give you full assurance and some added flexibility.

New Orientations and Looks for Modern Power Points

Modern power point sockets have come a long way from the purely horizontal GPOs that were fairly common throughout the country only a few decades ago. They’re now available in an array of orientations that include:

·   Horizontal;

·   Vertical; and,

·   Horizontal/vertical.

These power plug points also boast an assortment of cover colours and finishes that allow them to blend into their environment more subtly, including:

·   Clear or painted plastic covers;

·   Stainless steel; or,

·   Brushed or polished aluminium.

Regardless of whether you’re looking to buy power points for home or commercial purposes, you won’t have any problem finding replacement fixtures that are an ideal match for your setting. You’re also going to be impressed by the wide selection of special features that are available with today’s power sockets.

New Power Points With More Safety and Charging Features    

Let’s be honest: the power requirements of many of the appliances and accessories in today’s homes and offices are nothing like they were only a generation ago. Devices and appliances have more powering and charging options than ever, but they’re also more sensitive to less stable power. That means even if you’re just replacing an inoperative electrical power point, replacing it with one that has special protection and charging features is going to be beneficial.

You can buy new electric power points for sale that include features such as:

·   An extra switch. In addition to a standard isolation switch, a lot of new power points include an extra switch for controlling other permanently wired appliances.

·   Residual current discharge (RCD) protection. RCD is an essential safety feature that actively detects imbalances in ground current flow and instantly disconnects the power when one is sensed.

·   Surge protection. In environments where power can voltage flows can become unstable, surge protection is ideal for safeguarding sensitive electronics like laptops and smart TVs.  

·   Round earth. Round earth electric plug points are designed to safely power 10 Amp devices that can be used on lighting circuits without tripping a circuit breaker.

·   USB charging. With so many ordinary devices capable of being charged from USB, it makes sense that electrical power points for sale should also have provisions for Type A and Type C USB charging.

Suffice it to say, there are power point socket fixtures for every power supply contingency. And that even includes tough outdoor, all-weather power points that are made especially for Australia’s weather extremes.

Be Sure to Have the Right Outdoor Power Points for the Job

Make no mistake: an outdoor power plug point isn’t the same as an indoor plug point. They have to be extra durable, UV and fade-resistant, and most importantly, they have to be able to withstand exposure to water.

Not every outdoor electric plug point is going to face the same amount of exposure, though. Even in the wet season, a wall-mounted power point installed on a patio or terrace isn’t as likely to get watered down as one in a pool pump house, so outdoor socket fixtures are built to meet a range of IP ratings that include:

·   IP53 protection against limited dust ingress and water spray from less than 60° vertical;

·   IP54 protection against limited dust ingress and water spray from any direction; and,

·   IP66 complete protection from dust ingress and high-pressure water jets from any direction.

For safe, dependable outdoor use in either residential or industrial environments, these are the most resilient electrical power points Australia has to offer.

The Final Word

At the end of the day, regardless of whether you suspect that you have a bad socket, or are looking at new trim for a remodelling job, safe, reliable power sockets are at the top of everyone’s list. You only want power points and fixtures that are suitable for the current rating and location where they’re needed, and you want them to have the flexibility to serve a range of powering and charging purposes that are conducive to today’s standards.

Full-featured power point plug outlets allow you to get the most out of the power infrastructure in your home or business. They’ll give you a level of safety and flexibility that you wouldn’t have imagined possible with your existing cabling, and with an aesthetic that compliments their surroundings perfectly.