What are the best pop up sockets for kitchen worktops? In this post, we'll go through what to look out for and how to select the correct one for your space.
It is important to choose the best pop up sockets for your kitchen worktop, as it'll likely be in use for many decades! The four things to consider before you purchase are:
- Features and your functionality requirements
- Quality and durability
- Water / spill resistiveness
- Design, colour, style
Features
The first step to finding the best pop up electric socket is determining which features you need for your space. The options include which ports, what lifting mechanism and what level of water seal.
Port options include two or four power sockets, USB-A, USB-C or both, wireless charging on the top, RJ45 data (for offices) or video HDMI ports (also for offices)
- The V14 range has the most port options - as they comes with 4x power sockets, 1x USB-A, 1x USB-C, wireless charging top and 2x RJ45 data ports. Note, ports that are unneeded can be blanked.
- USB-C is great for the latest devices and USB-A is suitable for older ones.
- The wireless charger on the top is the Qi standard. The Qi standard is the universal wireless charging standard across all devices including Apple, Samsung, Google, Xiaomi, Android etc...
- RJ45 ports are passthrough ports that can be used for telephone, internet and more. Each port has a 1.8m Cat6 cable coming from the bottom and a male RJ45 plug for connectivity and easy patching. If you don't know what this means, you don't need to use it or connect the port - or you can blank it with a plastic cover (ask us - they are free and hide the port easily).
- HDMI ports are an option on some models, perfect for boardrooms.
The method in which the product raises out of the bench-top can be one of three ways:
- Manual lift up - requiring the raise and lower using your hand force.
- Gas strut lift up - raises automatically with a press, but requires manual retraction to close. This is similar to an office chair lifting mechanism.
- Motorized lift up - raising and lowers by the push of a button - electronically operates with a motor.
Generally speaking, the manual lift up types are the lowest cost, and simplest units. The motorized lift up models are more premium and include wireless charging functionality. You can learn more here: how do pop up sockets work?
Water seal: All models are designed to handle light spills. Some models including the V3 range include a sealed top that prevent water from entering and damaging the unit when closed. These models with water-seal functionality are preferable, but not required for kitchen installations. We recommend installing pop up sockets at-least 1m away from a sink or water source. If you do spill liquid on the unit, and it is open or does not have a water seal, we suggest disconnecting from power and letting it dry. Learn more below at point #3.
Quality
When installing a pop up power outlet for your kitchen - you need it to outlast every other fixture and fitting. It's important you purchase one that is quality designed and durable to last. At Modern Power Solutions, this is our focus.
Minor quality related things to look out for include:
- The quality of the lifting mechanism
- The surface finish of the product, scratch resistance, colour consistency etc...
- Stability of product when fully extracted
Modern Power Solutions is a speciality manufacturer of pop up sockets - meaning this is all we do. We don't have a long list of products that distract, so we are able to put heavy focus on making sure our pop up units are perfect - and the best available in the market. We continuously take customer feedback, and refine our range for improvements. We've been doing this now for nearly 10 years!
Water Resistance
All models are designed to handle light spills. Some models including the V3 range include a sealed top that prevent water from entering and damaging the unit when closed. These models with water-seal functionality are preferable, but not required for kitchen installations. We recommend installing pop up sockets at-least 1m away from a sink or water source. If you do spill liquid on the unit, and it is open or does not have a water seal, we suggest disconnecting from power and letting it dry.
Design
Lastly, the colour, style and design of the pop up socket should be considered to align with your space. For example, if you have a darker kitchen worktop - a black coloured pop up electrical unit is likely preferred. Sizing may also be a consideration for tighter spaces.
Getting one that aligns with your space is important - as remember - it will be in your kitchen for a lifetime.
Modern Power Solutions - for a lifetime of convenience.
