Selection of switches and electrical installation: trivial or not?

Everyone who is building or renovating their home faces a multitude of decisions every day. Choosing building technology, materials, heating and cooling methods, later selecting floors, tiles, paint colors, lighting, and finally, other furnishings and furniture. Some decisions are made solely by the investor, while others are discussed with the builder or architect. Some decisions seem crucial from the investor's perspective, while others are left to the construction implementers. And that can be a shame. One of the still somewhat neglected areas is undoubtedly electrical installation and the selection of control elements – switches and sockets. The vast majority of Czech investors still do not consider that they can have something better than just the usual classic electrical installation. That they can demand more from their home – more comfort, lower energy consumption, and greater safety. And you can help them with that, or at least inspire them to think differently.

Although we have already sliced a couple of decades from the 21st century, some areas of perception change only very slowly. Just think, how many investors you help with building or renovating their home truly consider all the conveniences and gadgets that our time offers? When it comes to housing, there still exists a large number of investors who are willing to think, with a bit of exaggeration, only when choosing furniture. Before that, it’s just brick to brick, isn’t it? They do not think much about how modern technologies could significantly improve their living comfort, increase the utility value of the building, and ultimately reduce the costs of its operation. One of these technologies is undoubtedly what is called modern electrical installation. Yet, the manner of implementing electrical installation is one of those decisions that are difficult to change later.


Electrical installation no longer has to mean just wiring throughout the house and placing switches and sockets in the usual spots. Today, everyone can want something more from their electrical installation. “Ordinary” wiring can be replaced by bus systems or even wireless technologies based on RF signals. These “smart” systems can be easily programmed – whether it involves pairing devices with specific control elements (switches, remote controls, smartphone or tablet apps) or using various algorithms and preset functions (e.g., controlling devices based on time, outdoor light, house temperature, weather, or based on other criteria). The advantage of these programmable systems is their easy alteration or adaptation to new conditions over the course of living in the house. While a traditionally installed switch is permanently connected to a specific light fixture with wires, and any change requires cutting into walls and complex rerouting of wiring, adjustments in intelligent systems tend to be simple and are usually performed by a configuration specialist using just their laptop. This way, the house can develop alongside the demands and requirements of its inhabitants. If, over the years, external blinds for example are added, they can be easily integrated into the existing control system.

However, we can only speak of the easy adaptation and integration of additional devices and elements into a unified home control system if all the electrical systems in the house speak a “common language.” Today, many manufacturers of electrical installation systems have unified under the global KNX interface – including Hager. There are also manufacturers who still develop their own smart electrical installation systems, but in practice, there is almost no reason to use them. If we imagine controlling blinds with one system and remote, lighting with another, and yet another for heating and cooling in the house, the overall comfort of living in the house suffers at the very least. It cannot be confidently recommended to anyone to use a larger number of mutually incompatible systems. Moreover, the investor is then forever dependent on the products of just one specific manufacturer and may face problems over time with delayed supplies of older replacement parts or even with the termination of the given production program. In contrast, if an investor chooses one of the systems based on KNX, they can select or combine control elements from a whole range of manufacturers and have the assurance that all new items will always be integrable into the existing system.

If the investor opts for smart electrical installation, there are nearly endless possibilities before them. Controlling lighting, shading, heating, air conditioning and ventilation, security, or a range of other household appliances – voice almost any wish, and modern systems will help fulfill it. A whole range of functionalities can be programmed to increase the comfort of living. Others take over security functions in the home, and today’s focus is also on possibilities for reducing the energy consumption of the house, along with related reductions in energy costs. However, all these areas do not need to be purchased and resolved during the construction or renovation. Individual functions can be added anytime in the future and the possibilities of the system can be expanded as the needs or preferences and financial options of the household residents grow or change. Likewise, one can flexibly respond to the progress of modern technologies and integrate additional circuits into the house – for example, multimedia control.

The last, albeit the most visible decision that architects or investors make in the field of electrical installation, is often the very selection of brand and design of the end elements – switches, sockets, and other control panels. Although there are a whole range of manufacturers on the market and the number of design lines is almost limitless, applying reasonable criteria can lead to an acceptable amount of options for the final selection. Above all, it is not recommended to degrade a well-crafted interior with unattractive switches made of cheap plastics and poor mechanical properties that can be found on the shelves of DIY stores. Renowned manufacturers like Hager pay particular attention to quality materials and precise execution of mechanical parts. Thanks to this, the switch has a quiet and smooth operation, individual components fit together precisely and without gaps, and, last but not least, a long lifespan of the switch is ensured. As for materials, even plastic switches, if crafted from quality plastics, can look excellent and serve their function well for a long time. But, for example, berker switches from Hager’s portfolio are available in a whole range of interesting and functional materials – you can choose from glass, various metals, slate, concrete, wood, or even real porcelain.

And one more great help in selecting switches is brought to the market by Hager: thanks to the new design of berker switches, called one.platform, it is possible to leave the decision on the choice of switch design until the very last moment and up until the interior is practically finished. All lines of berker switches (except for the round series) use an identical mechanism. Therefore, the frame and internal flap of the switch can later be fitted to the already embedded mechanism in the wall, once the interior is completed, allowing for a responsible and on-location testing and selection from a variety of designs, materials, and colors. Likewise, it is easy to change the appearance of switches in the future by simply replacing the frame and internal flap without the need to change the mechanism as well.

Fortunately, the switch today is no longer an overlooked element. Well-chosen control elements can enhance the appearance and atmosphere of the interior, just as cheap and inappropriate switches can spoil the overall impression. What impression do you think a switch plays in an interior? We asked Katrin Grund, the founder of the design store MONOBRAND, at the end: “In my eyes, a switch definitely plays a big role,” explains Katrin Grund. “Although in reality, the choice of a switch belongs, in 90% of cases, to not very significant topics that investors would focus on. More time is invested in the careful selection of lighting than in choosing switches. But that is a shame! Often, however, a high-quality switching program such as berker series 1930 made from fine porcelain, berker R.1. made from the finest leather, or berker K.5 made from cool aluminum can complete and underline the artistic impression of the entire interior,” concludes Katrin Grund.