Wiring accessories may be among the most familiar products on an electrical installation, but that does not mean the category stands still. Dogan Dogan, Product Manager – Wiring Accessories at BG, examines the next generation of wiring accessories.
As contractors look for ways to complete work more quickly and efficiently, manufacturers are increasingly examining how established products can be redesigned around the practical realities of life on site.
The latest trends are being shaped by common demands – greater flexibility, simpler installation, easier maintenance and the ability to adapt products to changing customer requirements. For electricians, innovation is increasingly valuable when it removes complexity rather than adding it.
Modularity is playing an important role in this evolution. Rather than relying solely on fixed, pre-configured accessories, modular systems allow installers to build the combination required for a particular application. Individual modules can also be replaced or changed as requirements evolve, helping installations remain adaptable. And, for wholesalers, a common modular platform can simplify product selection and reduce the need to hold every possible finished combination in stock.
It’s these trends that are behind the launch of BG GridLite, a new screwless, clip-in modular switching system that represents the first stage of a wider development across the BG wiring accessories portfolio.
Making installation easier
At the heart of GridLite is a simple principle – reducing unnecessary complication for the installer. Traditional modular systems can involve separate fixing components and the challenge of assembling multiple parts before an installation is complete. GridLite takes a different approach with a screwless clip-in system and a unique yoke-free construction.
Modules simply push into place, eliminating the need for fiddly fixing screws. The yoke-free design also means modules can be fitted either way up. Modules can be wired before the faceplate is fitted helping to streamline installation.
Engineered for modern lighting applications, GridLite’s single-width modules are rated at 20A, while standard switch modules fit 16mm back boxes, helping installers minimise rework where existing back boxes can be retained.
GridLite has been developed by listening to what installers want from a modular switching system and they wanted a solution that is quicker to install, easier to adapt and flexible enough to suit a wide range of applications.
Flexibility built in
One of the defining benefits of modular systems is the ability to create bespoke configurations. Customers increasingly expect wiring accessories to provide more than basic switching, with requirements varying according to the building, room and application.
GridLite offers standard, intermediate and retractive switches, key switches, touch dimmers, blank modules and USB-C charging modules. This enables installers to configure accessories for a project rather than working around a limited number of fixed combinations. The compact single-module touch dimmer occupies the same footprint as a standard switch, while up to three modules can be installed on a single square plate.
With GridLite, each module can be removed and replaced independently without removing adjacent modules or replacing the complete device. This makes maintenance and future alterations simpler.
One platform, multiple finishes
While functionality and ease of installation remain central to product development, aesthetics continue to be important across domestic, commercial and specification projects.
GridLite has been designed to integrate across BG’s established wiring accessory ranges, including White Moulded, Nexus Metal, Flatplate Screwless, Evolve, Metal Clad and Part M.
Using a common modular platform across multiple accessory finishes allows installers to configure a consistent system while giving customers freedom over the final appearance.
For wholesalers, the approach can also simplify conversations at the trade counter, with a common platform offering greater consistency across functions and finishes.
The start of a wider change
The GridLite launch is not intended to be an isolated product development. It represents the first stage of a wider move towards a fully modular, yoke-free screwless switching system across the BG Wiring Accessories portfolio.
The new modular approach will also begin to be introduced across BG’s existing plated switch ranges. The transition will take place as a running change, with existing switches gradually moving to the updated modular design as new versions filter into the market over the following months.
As updated products become available, GridLite and the subsequent developments to BG’s plated switches will together establish a broader common approach to modular switching.
Innovation with a practical purpose
For the electrical industry, product innovation does not always need to mean radical change. In wiring accessories, small improvements can have a meaningful impact on the time and effort required to complete a project.
Screwless clip-in modules, independent replacement and a yoke-free construction are all examples of design decisions intended to make life easier on site. The move towards a broader modular platform also recognises the importance of flexibility as customer requirements and buildings change.
The development of GridLite therefore reflects a wider trend in wiring accessories – moving towards products that are simpler to install, easier to adapt and capable of providing more choice from a common platform.
As the system is progressively rolled out across BG’s portfolio, the focus remains on practical innovation – delivering products designed around the needs of installers while providing wholesalers with a flexible and increasingly consistent switching solution. The best innovation is often the innovation that solves a problem without making the product more complicated.
Further product details can be found here
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