Which sockets are better Legrand Or Schneider © Legrand mosaic

Brand overview

So, first, let's briefly talk about the main manufacturers of circuit breakers. As for foreign brands, the most famous are:

ABB. A Swedish-Swiss company that is rightfully considered a leader in the production of electrical products. Today, ABB circuit breakers are the highest quality, most durable and safe to use. As you understand, you will have to pay more money for such foreign products than for a domestic model. At the same time, the difference in price is small, so for home and apartment we recommend buying machines from the manufacturer ABB.

Among domestic manufacturers of automatic machines, the best quality is from such brands as:

KEAZ. The products of the Kursk plant are of average quality and about the same price. In the line of circuit breakers you can find a model for any rated current, at the same time the guarantee for the circuit breakers is 2 years, which additionally indicates the good reliability of the products.
I.E.K. A notorious, judging by reviews on thematic forums, is a Russian company that produces machines of dubious quality. The disadvantage of IEK products is that when the clamping screws are tightened, the plastic case may come apart. At the same time, the AVs hum, even if the load is far from critical. Despite their shortcomings, IEK circuit breakers are in high demand on the Russian and Ukrainian markets, which is due to the low cost of this manufacturer’s automation.
Contactor. The plant belongs to the Legrand company, so the quality of the products is an order of magnitude higher than that of other domestic brands. At the same time, the cost of Kontaktor automatic machines is approximately the same as that of products from European Union countries, therefore, it seems to us, it is better to already buy proven automatic equipment and be confident in its reliability.
DEKraft. A relatively young Russian company that produces electrical goods. The low cost justifies the not very good quality compared to global manufacturers. At the same time, decraft machines comply with all Russian standards and are even used in the construction of budget industrial facilities and mass housing.

I would also like to say a few words about products from China. Chinese circuit breakers EKF electrotechnica, whose direct competitors are IEK circuit breakers. Both companies have approximately the same price and similar quality. Oddly enough, China provides a 5-year warranty on its products.

Expert opinion

It-Technology, Electrical power and electronics specialist

Ask questions to the “Specialist for modernization of energy generation systems”

Guide to Legrand socket collections The mechanisms are available in 2 colors: white and aluminum, but electrical sockets can also be red, black, orange, green. Ask, I'm in touch!

Circuit breaker manufacturers

When choosing a product that is important to us, we want to know as much as possible about it: where it is produced, the manufacturing company, characteristics, features. Electrical equipment for residential switchboards is no exception. In this article I will talk about brands and brands of electrical panel automation.

Electrical wiring can pass a current of a certain strength through itself. For each cross-section of the core there is its own current. When the current exceeds, the wire may heat up (“may”, because the start of heating depends on many factors - the conditions of laying the wire, the mutual influence of neighboring wires, the cross-section of the core, etc.).

A circuit breaker (popularly simply “machine”) is designed to protect wiring from heat and short circuits. The circuit breaker does not protect the equipment itself.

If the current passing through a circuit breaker exceeds the circuit breaker's capacity, it will open the circuit behind itself, preventing negative consequences associated with heating and/or short circuiting.

There is a nuance: the shutdown current changes as the air temperature changes.

Since the wiring is designed for long-term use, it must be protected. Therefore, it is important to take a conscious approach to calculating the rating of the circuit breaker. Let me say briefly: you cannot exceed the nominal value of the machine.

And if they tell you that we will install a 25A circuit breaker on a cable with a cross-section of 2.5 mm2 that powers the sockets in the room, this is not true.

Did you know that a current of 30 A in this section will turn off the machine in more than 1 hour! And the cable and sockets are already heating up!

Manufacturers of quality circuit breakers

(The headquarters is indicated through a dash)

SIEMENS (Siemens) – Germany
ABB (ABB) – Germany
Schneider Electric (Schneider Electric) – France
Legrand (Legrand) – France
Hager (Haiger) – Germany
Schrack Technick (Schrack Technician) – Austria
Eaton (Eaton) – USA
General Electric (General Electric) – USA
ETI (Eti) – Slovenia

Now more about the manufacturers.

ABB

“ABB is a Swedish-Swiss company specializing in electrical engineering, power engineering and information technology. The company was founded in 1988 by the merger of the Swedish company ASEA and the Swiss company Brown, Boveri & Cie.

The concern's offices are represented in more than 100 countries around the world. Production facilities are located in Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Italy, France, Russia, Czech Republic, India, China, USA, Portugal, Brazil, Finland, Estonia, etc.

"(Material from Wikipedia).

ABB circuit breakers are truly high-quality equipment. Produced mainly in Germany. The price is a little higher than average. But there is undeniable quality, reliability and durability. Attention! Beware of fakes! Purchase ABB only from trusted suppliers.

Schneider Electric (Schneider electrician)

“Schneider Electric (transliterated into Russian as “Schneider Electric”) is a large French engineering company that provides the development and production of solutions in the field of energy management, as well as comprehensive energy-efficient solutions for energy and infrastructure, industrial enterprises, civil and residential construction facilities, centers data processing."

Just like ABB, Schneider Electric is a global brand that produces high-quality electrical equipment. The production of automatic devices and RCDs is concentrated in Italy, Russia, India, and Thailand. The price is lower than ABB.

Eaton

“Eaton is a company that provides solutions for the efficient management of electrical, hydraulic and mechanical energy. Eaton has approximately 102,000 employees. The company sells in more than 175 countries around the world. "(Material from Wikipedia).

EATON equipment was previously produced under the Moeller brand (German company). In terms of price - between ABB and Schneider Electric.

Hager

Hager Group GmbH & Co. KG is a German company, a manufacturer of low-voltage electrical equipment and building automation systems. The headquarters of the Hager Group is located in Germany, in the small town of Blieskastel. Founded in 1955. Number of employees: 10,500 people.” (Material from Wikipedia).

Hager mainly produces its equipment in France. Pricing policy: between Schneider Electric and ABB.

General Electric (General Electric)

“General Electric (in Russian “General Electric”) is an American diversified corporation, a manufacturer of many types of equipment, including locomotives, power plants (including nuclear reactors), gas turbines, aircraft engines, medical equipment, household and lighting equipment, plastics and sealants. The company, as of 2015, ranks ninth on the Forbes Global 2000 list of largest public companies, and was the world's largest non-financial multinational corporation, as well as a major media concern. In the Financial Times ranking by market capitalization it ranks 13th in 2015.” Material from Wikipedia).

General Electric produces circuit breakers in Hungary. The cost is between Schneider Electric and Eaton.

ETI Elektroelement (ETI)

ETI Elektroelement is a Slovenian electrical engineering concern. “ETI offers high-quality integrated solutions for control, signaling, switching, and protection of electrical circuits and equipment” (From the booklet about ETI).

The cost of ETI automation is between Schneider Electric and General Electric.
All proposed brands are global manufacturers, so choosing equipment from any of them will ensure quality, reliability and durability.
Personally, I prefer to work with circuit breakers from such manufacturers: ABB, Schneider Electric, Haiger, Yeti, General Electric .

What manufacturers do you most often use or have purchased for your property: home/apartment/office/boiler room, etc.?

Rating of the best manufacturers of automatic circuit breakers

It’s not worth talking about the manufacturer for a long time, Schneider Electric is one of the leaders in the electrical products market, and its electrical installation products are sold in all corners of the CIS and are known for their diversity, from super-budget “Hits” costing 35 rubles per switch to top-end “Odace” costing up to 3,000 rubles beyond the frame.

What kind of lighting do you prefer?

Built-in Chandelier

The new series is released under the slogan “Timeless Design” and there’s no arguing with that.

It has a strict square shape, but the products are available in as many as 10 colors! White, beige, aluminum, mother-of-pearl, champagne, mocha, stylus, emerald, steel, carbon (soft-touch).

Experienced electricians are already familiar with these mechanisms; they are used in the more expensive Schneider Glossa series; only the stamping on the back of the mechanism body differs.

The mechanism block is made of non-flammable (non-flammable) ABS plastic, which is significantly better than Chinese “ceramics” - pressed dust from production waste, glued with phenolic resins, absorbing moisture, dust and cracking when the contact is tightened. We see that the mechanism can be secured with both self-tapping screws and claws.

Made with high quality, we see standard “spring-loaded” contacts made of an alloy with increased conductive characteristics.

Contact with the wires is achieved thanks to lowering washers, preventing the conductor from twisting (as in Lezard Mira). Access to the screws is provided from the front plane, which is very convenient during installation.

We also see 10 amp mechanisms from the older Schneider Glossa. Having disassembled the mechanism, you can see that the contact pad of the switch has a pad made of a silver-containing alloy.

Recently, USB sockets have become a trend among many manufacturers. They are placed at home by the bed, in cafes at single tables. The socket has two outputs: 2A and 1A. However, there are some drawbacks; the cost of such a product, to put it mildly, is out of line with the general concept and amounts to 2,000 rubles, which is 25 times more expensive than a regular outlet.

Combined RG45 + TV socket. A brilliant solution that almost no one else has found. It is convenient to connect the TV to one outlet, saving resources and time on another box - an outlet.

To summarize, I really liked the series, inexpensive, beautiful, functional, available in ten colors. Has unique “highlights”. The quality is significantly higher than more expensive Chinese analogues. If you have a low budget and need to use a modular series, this is an ideal option!

Expert opinion

It-Technology, Electrical power and electronics specialist

Ask questions to the “Specialist for modernization of energy generation systems”

ABB and Legrand are the best circuit breakers. However, there are some drawbacks; the cost of such a product, to put it mildly, is out of line with the general concept and amounts to 2,000 rubles, which is 25 times more expensive than a regular outlet. Ask, I'm in touch!

Unica Class, Top, Pure – the company’s elite series

Let's move on to the elite products of Schneider Electric, starting with the previously discussed Unica line, or rather its expensive variety.

The Unica Top series of sockets and switches are made of natural wood (for example, beech or cherry) or metal. High-quality materials and stylish design are what makes it special. Most often, these electrical products are used in expensive hotels, as well as in apartments and houses, when there is extra money for such extraordinary luxury.

Unica Class is the premium collection of Schneider Electric. Frames and mechanisms are made not only from the usual wood and artificial stone, but also from glass, leather, natural stone and even steel. The main idea of the manufacturer is to bring some of nature into your home.

Unica Pure is made in similar motifs and from the same materials, the difference is in the design. You can see all the beauty of the series in the photo:

Speaking of prices, you will have to pay at least 200 rubles for sockets and switches, but the frames will cost much more - from 1200 rubles and more.

Design features of Legrand sockets and switches

Economy – Cariva

Budget – Valena Classic and Etika

Interchangeable Valena Life and Valena Allure

Premium – Celiane

Comfort – Galea Life

For office and public places – Mosaic

For surface mounting – Quteo

Waterproof – Plexo

Unica (Basic, Quadro, Chameleon, New Studio)

The range of electrical installation products from the Schneider Electric company includes 6 varieties of the Unica series: basic, Quadro, Chameleon, New Studio, Pure, Top and Class. The first 4 lines belong to the middle price segment, the rest are premium. In this part of the review we will talk about less expensive models.

Unica Basic is a very common series that has found its application for domestic purposes. Schneider Electric Unica is familiar to most electrical installers because... often used when arranging the electrical network of houses and apartments. There are 6 color options, the colors “Ice Blue”, “Bronze” and “Cream” look especially unusual.

Prices are reasonable for the population:

Sockets from 200 rubles;
Switches from 205 rubles;
Frames from 75 rubles.

The Schneider Electric Quadro series is very similar to the line discussed above in appearance, but the main difference is the absence of a decorative insert and, most interestingly, the bright unusual colors, of which there are 12. All palettes are shown in the photo:

Prices for electrical accessories start from 270 rubles for switches and sockets.

Unica Chameleon is one of the richest series in color palettes. You can make a combination of 2 key colors and 20 different frames. There are such unusual colors as gold, purple, apple green. The work of the Spanish designers was a success, and the Unica Chameleon is not only attractive in appearance, but also reliable in the best traditions of Schneider Electric.

The cost of switches and sockets without frames starts from 200 rubles, frames cost from 110 rubles and above.

Unica New Studio is a new series of sockets and switches, distinguished by a completely unusual approach to design. It is important to note that New Studio frames can be replaced with classic Unica frames. There are even more colors and combinations: 4 colors of buttons and 16 types of frames. There are so-called subseries (Mono, Color and Metal). The latter are a little more expensive since the frames are made of metal.

Prices are still reasonable: sockets from 230 rubles, switches from 240 rubles, frames from 50 rubles and up to 700 rubles for the Metal series.

Flaws

He is essentially alone. This is the price. The cheapest Shcnider socket will cost you at least $3.5 including the frame. If you want to install a different mechanism, cover and frame, then the price can easily jump up to $40 per option. And if we were talking about replacing one outlet in an apartment, then the amount would not be so prohibitive, but if when repairing outlets you need to install a hundred, then not everyone will be able to shell out even $3,500 for everything. But they are really worth the money. Both in terms of functionality and reliability, and in terms of aesthetic qualities.

If you want electrics that look simpler, but are not inferior in reliability and functionality, then you should choose reliable French Legrand sockets, which perfectly combine quality and an attractive price.

How to install Schneider sockets, video.

The video clearly demonstrates how easily Schneider sockets are installed.

Peculiarities

Schneider sockets differ significantly from their competitors in that they are completely dismountable. We will describe each detail separately.

Metal support Metal support for Schnider socket
attached to the socket separately from the rest of the socket;
has a metal thickness of more than 1 mm, very hard.
Socket mechanism. Schnider socket mechanism
1. Holds the fork firmly, preventing it from accidentally falling out under any circumstances.
Inside are bronze contacts that are resistant to oxidation, guaranteeing excellent connection throughout its service life.
Overlay (frame). It is made of high-strength heat-resistant plastic and is attached to the socket mechanism with latches. Comes in a variety of colors and shapes Schnider Aluminum Frame Schnider Glass Frame Schnider Stone Frame Schnider Wooden Frame

Comments:

Frustrator

Schneiders are my favorite sockets. With any model there is no work, but only pleasure. All contacts, all terminals, bolts, nuts. Everything rotates, secures and latches perfectly. No Legrand was lying around

Danil

Frustrator, that's understandable. If you compare prices, you can't expect anything else. Schneider is more expensive than ABB and much more expensive than Legrand.

Photo instructions for installing a socket

Having seen the outlet in person, you will understand that there is not much to understand there. The instructions are given so that you understand how easy it is to install Schneider sockets.

We connect the calipers so that the grooves coincide

We disassemble the Schnider mechanism for further installation

Connecting the Schnider mechanism with wires

We insert the mechanism into the caliper

We put a cover on the mechanism

We put a decorative frame on top.

Merten - a real German assembly

Well, concluding the review of sockets and switches from Schneider Electric, the Merten series (made in Germany), which is divided into:

Merten Antique is an ideal solution for classic interiors. The materials are decorated with gilding, and the rich brown color will complement the expensive interior of the room.
Merten M-Plan - strict design and high quality materials, 5 colors (cream, white, aluminum and anthracite).
Merten M-Pure – minimalism in a combination of colors such as brilliant white, anthracite and aluminum.
M-Pure Deco – for lovers of natural materials. The housing of electrical accessories can be made of wood or steel.
Merten M-Elegance - natural materials combined with bright colors, of which there are up to 8.
Merten Artec - suitable for classic, strict designs where there is no place for creativity and bright colors.
Merten M-Creativ is an excellent solution for creative individuals. You can make a bright individual design yourself that will not be found anywhere else.
Merten D-life - laconic design and natural materials have achieved recognition of this series by many designers who often use this line of sockets and switches in their projects.

Speaking of prices, they start from 420 rubles for sockets, 550 for switches and from 200 up to several thousand for frames (especially in the M-Elegance and Antique series).

We reviewed Schneider Electric sockets and switches of all known series that are found on the Russian market. As you can see, the range is quite large and you can choose the appropriate type of fittings based on price, material and design!

Schneider Electric Or Legrand Which is better Legrand plexo