Electrical Socket Outlet Installation Price
- Socket outlet replacement price (disassembly, installation): From 2,500 HUF
- Socket outlet installation (inserting to the well prepared place): From 2,500 HUF
- Socket outlet and its frame price: Average price ranges from 1,500 to 3,500 HUF
The cost of replacing sockets, outlets and switches depends on the existing setup. For example, if there's no installation box and the wall needs to be chiseled out to install a new one, the socket outlet installation price will increase in proportion to the extra work required.
If you want to add a power source to a new location, the electrical installation costs will include the labor and material fees for partially expanding the electrical network, which involves chiseling, tubing, or installing cable channels.
Socket Outlet Replacement and Wiring by Location
Indoor Socket Replacement
Generally, indoor socket replacement is the simplest task. In theory. In practice, poor-quality installation boxes or their complete absence can significantly complicate the situation.
When replacing or installing a switch, it's less critical if you secure it with claws in the installation box because the fixture is only subjected to light pressure when you turn the light on or off.
For sockets, however, the fixture must withstand continuous pulling and tugging. Electrical devices like toasters and hair dryers are constantly being plugged in and unplugged. Therefore, screw-based mounting is the most durable solution. The claws of the socket can lose their grip over time, and a loose outlet can create a dangerous situation.
In some cases, the best long-term solution is to chisel out the old installation boxes and replace them with new ones.
Here, for example, is a loose socket that kept coming out of the wall due to an improperly installed box:
The old installation boxes in the rooms were all chiseled out and replaced with new, screw-mounted ones:
The next step in socket outlet installation is to secure the fixtures with screws. This is indicated by the red arrow in the photo. During the process, a special miniature magnetic level is used to ensure the outlet is straight.
Finally, the cover plate is attached. Then, it's obviously essential to check that all conductors are live and working as intended—the phase, neutral, and ground wires.
Afterward, a painter or even we can repair any minor wall damage.
Bathroom Socket Replacement and Installation
When replacing or adding outlets in a bathroom, one of the most critical elements is the tile. Clients are always concerned about whether it will stay intact. Reassuringly, it is possible to work on tiles without causing damage, including chiseling out an existing installation box and replacing it with a new one.
In bathrooms and other areas exposed to water and humidity, the choice of fixing material is just as important as the correct IP rating of the fixture. Gypsum, for example, can absorb moisture, causing it to loosen and break. In these cases, it's necessary to use a special quick-setting concrete. The price of socket outlet installation will naturally be higher in these situations due to the significantly more expensive materials.
For illustration, here is a photo of an electrician job where I expanded a single socket location to a double, allowing for the installation of multiple sockets, recessed outlets:
Outdoor Socket Installation
For outdoor use, unless the location is specifically waterproof, you must install an outlet that is adequately protected against water. For partially protected areas, an IP44 rating is recommended. For areas fully exposed to rain or potential sprinkler spray, an IP55 rating or higher is suggested.
Outdoor Outlet Installation in Insulation
Installing an outlet in existing insulation requires a significantly different technique than usual because traditional installation boxes plastered in will not be durable, as shown in the following example.
The picture below shows the preparation of the socket location for a stable, purpose-built telescopic installation box holder. Gypsum should be avoided outdoors as it will inevitably crumble within 2-3 years due to moisture. The image shows a special quick-setting concrete base developed specifically for this purpose.
After preparation, the telescopic installation box holder is attached, followed by its matching gang box, which is leveled with a laser to make the fixture's installation easier.
Finally, the hole can be rebuilt with material from the cut-out insulation, and the outdoor fixture can be installed.
Electric Oven Socket Outlet Wiring
While an electric oven installation can be connected with a standard plug if the product comes with one, a combined stove is wired directly without an socket outlet due to its high power consumption.
Electric Vehicle (EV) Outlet
The wiring and installation of a surface-mounted outlet for an EV is significantly different from other applications. This is due to the relatively higher power consumption and the more specialized Residual Current Device (RCD) required by the charger.
Before any electrical work and installation, it is crucial to understand the manufacturer's instructions. These may recommend a 4mm² cross-section cable for voltage drop and other considerations.
Depending on the charger type, we must select the correct type of residual-current device (RCD), which is typically Type F or Type B. If the EV charger has adequate internal protection, a Type A RCD may also be suitable for the electrical system.
Burnt Socket Replacement
A burnt socket is typically caused by a loose connection or continuous overloading. These can happen at the same time.
A loose connection is an installation or assembly error or sometimes caused by the passage of time. Continuous overloading is the result of improperly sized fuses, or, in technical terms, circuit breakers. If the circuit breaker allows more current to pass than the wire can handle, it will lead to overheating and, eventually, burning.
The image below shows a burnt socket in a bathroom to which a washing machine was connected. You can clearly see that the plastic has already melted onto the right terminal at the wire connection point. Upon disassembly, it was also revealed that in addition to the charred neutral (blue) conductor, the phase conductor (black) was also broken. The fixture was sparking and tripped the breaker.
After installing the new fixture, everything worked perfectly, of course.
If you experience the above symptoms, always call a professional electrician! Sometimes it may be necessary to replace or splice the wires after cutting back the burnt sections.
Child Safety, Use of Child Proof Socket, Baby Proof Outlet
The child safety mechanism provides significant protection for children by preventing them from inserting objects into either hole individually. The latch only opens when pressure is applied simultaneously to both of the outlet's input holes.
This prevents a child from poking a paperclip, screwdriver, or other metal object into the outlet, and they remain protected by the child lock from dangerous live parts.
In daily use, premium-brand outlets with child protection are just as easy to use as normal outlets without protection. It's literally unnoticeable that a child lock is present, as the plug slides in so easily.
Many people are hesitant to use this extremely safe solution due to unpleasant experiences with low-quality child-safe extension cords. As a professional electrician, I can tell you that even I have trouble plugging my tools into such products. I have encountered some, where the plug wouldn't go in even when I stood on it with my full weight.
While you cannot add a child lock to an outlet afterward, you can buy outlet protector plugs for a few pennies, which are a perfect temporary solution. In case you contact me for a related electrical work, I'd be happy to recommend specific types.
Socket Outlet Errors and its Causes
| Error |
Cause |
Solution |
| Loose socket |
Typically caused by non-screw mounting, the absence of a plastic installation box, or a poor-quality installation box. |
Chiseling out poor-quality installation boxes, installing new ones, and securing them with screws. |
| Burnt outlet |
Loose connection, faulty fuse, improperly sized wire, or using high-power electrical appliances that should be directly wired. |
Installing an outlet that securely holds the wire, and ensuring fuses and wire cross-sections are correctly sized. Properly powering high-consumption devices as required by regulations. |
| Water-damaged outlet |
Condensation, insufficient protection against moisture and water. Improper installation of a recessed or surface-mounted fixture. |
Creating the surrounding environment with appropriate materials, sealing and insulating protective conduits against condensation, and using an outlet with the correct IP rating. |
| Doesn't work, no power |
Loose wire in the outlet, a burnt or loose connection along the circuit, or a tripped circuit breaker. |
Inspecting the entire circuit, starting from the outlet. |
| Physical damage, cracked cover |
Physical impact, old age, faulty connection leading to overheating and deformation or burning of the cover. |
Replacing the damaged parts or the entire outlet. |
| Neutral (N) and ground (PE) swapped, other anomalies |
Incorrect wiring during installation, which often goes unnoticed during daily use without an RCD (Residual Current Device). |
Correcting the connections and performing a test with an instrument. |
Feel free to contact me with any questions regarding our electrical and socket outlet installation services.