THPG Porcelain Button

THPG Porcelain Button

From £65.00

Porcelain fittings were common in the 1920s, when wall-mounted switches started becoming more affordable. These small rocker switches have a beautiful soft, glossy finish and two contrasting brass screws. The finish is a slightly creamy off-white, which complements matt painted walls as much as period wallpaper.

NB: These switches are meant to be fitted into European back boxes, not standard British rectangular ones.

Click on the “What you need to know” link for essential product details, dimensions, fitting info and more.

Apart from switches, THPG offer a selection of wiring products and functions that can be combined with these frames, such as audio speaker inputs, TV/SAT sockets and network sockets. Contact us for information on other options if you can’t find what you’re looking for.

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IMPORTANT

Because of its round backplate shape, this switch doesn’t fit the regular British square or rectangular wall boxes. The corners of the back box (or the hole the switch is going into) WILL SHOW.

It is perfectly possible to fit a European-style round back box, which the backplate will cover. We sell these boxes here. But this will require electrical work and decorating/plastering to make good the new wall box.

Please be aware that we don’t accept returns of this product after 14 days if you find that the necessary installation/decorating work is too extensive. We kindly ask that you and your electrician make sure that they are aware of the back box incompatibility before ordering this product.

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What you need to know

What’s in the box?

This switch set consists of an insert (including button rocker and faceplate with brass fixing screws), and a round frame.


(Click image to enlarge. Pictures for illustration only. Number of gangs and/or finishes might vary)


What does an electrician call this?


Where is this used in the home?

A 1-gang 2-way switch is commonly used for controlling a single light source from one or two places. A 1-gang intermediate is used as the middle switch of three, controlling a single light source (for example in a hallway).


 

Installation

THPG button switches are easy to install, but remember, they don't fit onto standard British back boxes! Just follow the step-by-step pictures below or go to our THPG toggle switch installation page, which are installed in a similar way. IMPORTANT: Don't over-tighten the brass screws, it could cause the porcelain centre plate to split.


Wiring


Step-by-step


(Click gallery to enlarge. Number of gangs and/or finishes might vary)


Please refer to our Installation section for more installation advice, manuals and helpful videos.


 

Dimensions

Does this cover a standard british back box?
No, a 70mm round back box is required. Check the available options below.


How deep does the back box need to be?
This insert is quite deep, it needs at least 40mm. Check the available options below.


Recommended products:
Kaiser back box for hollow walls, 49m Kaiser back box, hollow wall, single, 49mm
Kaiser back box for solid walls, 46m Kaiser back box for solid walls (single, 46mm)
Spelsberg double back box Spelsberg double switch back box, hollow wall

The concept

A recessed button and a soft round backplate, combined with the unusual switch material, make this design stand out and add a quirky retro touch to any interior.

Porcelain hasn’t always been unusual though. From the beginning of the electrical age and several decades to follow, the porcelain and ceramics industry was the most important provider of electrical technology: Casings, switch pieces and housings were made from this attractive material that, apart from its aesthetic qualities, has tangible technical benefits: it insulates and is extremely tough.

Together with its sibling, the Porcelain Rotary, we’re bringing this stunning material back into UK homes.

Vintage inspiration for a contemporary homes

THPG Porcelain Button from Swtch

The source

THPG have brought together a producer of electro-technical switches from Westphalia and a producer of electro-technical porcelain from Thuringia. The result is this porcelain switch system: it is both functional and pleasant in three ways: to the eye, to the touch and to the ear

All porcelain parts originate from Schierschnitz in Thuringia, where electro-technical porcelain has been produced since 1913. The porcelain is moulded under a pressure of 35-40 MPa into metal mouldings, then glazed and sintered at a temperature of 1320-1330° C.