Kitchen Grid Switch - replace with chrome/stainless

[garmcqui]

Hi all,

I'm in the process of buying a newbuild house and the builders have unfortunately put in this grid switch in the kitchen:

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• garmcqui
• 25 Jul 2014
• 1

I want to replace the white switches with chrome or brushed stainless items. However, I'm not sure where I can get one of these, or even what I need to look for.

The switches are for Fridge/Freezer, Dishwasher and Extractor Fan and there looks like 3 fuses below? What do I need?

Personally I don't know why they didn't just fit a double gang one?

Thanks,

Gareth

 

[AndyPRK]

Was it worth posting the picture ? Lol

Or do you have a bigger one

 

[RF Lighting]

If you post a clear photo we can tell you the make and model, then you just buy a replacement plate in whatever finish you like.

 

[garmcqui]

haha yes, apologies for the quality of the photo, it was cropped from a much larger photo of the kitchen as a whole.

I will try to get another higher resolution photo of the switches next time I'm in, should be in the next few days.

Just started to worry as I'd been looking at a few suppliers sites and didn't see anything like it...

Will keep you posted, thanks!

 

[JohnW2]

If you post a clear photo we can tell you the make and model, then you just buy a replacement plate in whatever finish you like.

It sounds as if he may be hoping to replace the switches with metal (rocker) ones, not just the faceplate:

I want to replace the white switches with chrome or brushed stainless items.

Kind Regards, John

 

[RF Lighting]

I took that to be the switch plates and sockets throughout the house, rather than the switch modules within the grid...

 

[JohnW2]

I took that to be the switch plates and sockets throughout the house, rather than the switch modules within the grid...

Maybe - I would imagine we'll get clarification in due course.

Kind Regards, John

 

[AndyPRK]

You would imagine he wants to replace all the accessories
And is having difficulty finding a replacement for the grid.


RF is of course thinking of a nice cheap option for the grid

 

[garmcqui]

Haha now you've confused me!!!

I'm talking about replacing all the communal switches/sockets with something like this:

I'm not sure if that entails swapping the rocker switches or just the faceplates. I thought they came as a unit?

 

[AndyPRK]

Yes the light switches and sockets will come as one unit (generally)

But that grid switch will be made up from modules

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I'm in the process of buying a newbuild house and the builders have unfortunately put in this grid switch in the kitchen:

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• garmcqui
• 25 Jul 2014
• 1

If you wanted you could really kick up a stink about that.

 

[alan333]

Screwfix have some grid switch options, maybe have a look there and see if anything matches?

 

[garmcqui]

If you wanted you could really kick up a stink about that.

Why?

 

[garmcqui]

As requested, here are some bigger pics of the grid switch...

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• garmcqui
• 6 Aug 2014
• 1

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• garmcqui
• 6 Aug 2014
• 1

There are fuses in the bottom three modules, the spurs below the worktop aren't fused.

Thanks...

PS: I'm still interested as to why ban-all-sheds said I could kick up a stink? We have our 7 day snagging visit tomorrow so if there's something to be said I'd rather do it then...

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Sorry - somehow I missed your reply from last week...

Two, possibly three issues:

1) There is a valid point of view that as grid switches are not rated at more than (at best) 20A they are not suitable for use on socket circuits which are > 20A, e.g. a 32A ring.

2) If it's a ring circuit then a bank of grid switched appliances will produce a concentrated load at one point on the ring, which might imbalance it.

3) You say "the spurs below the worktop aren't fused" - do you mean that the appliances have to be hard-wired to flex outlet plates, not plugged into sockets? At best that's an inconvenience. You could argue that cutting the plug off an appliance invalidates the warranty (it doesn't, but you could argue it if you wanted to.)


And it's the wanting which is key. These are all grey areas, and you'll find just as many people who want or are in favour of grid switches like that arguing that it's OK to use them. You would have to really want to be shot of them to start arguing with the builders that the Wiring Regulations have been contravened.