Pop up electrical outlets are the latest kitchen appliance slowly becoming mainstream in homes across Australia. Helping homeowners connect, power and charge devices easily on their bench-tops adding convenience for a lifetime. But a big question is, are they safe and legal to use in kitchens? What happens with water, spills, liquid or grime? And what effects can this have? In this blog post, we’ll go through these points to help buyers feel more comfortable before installation.
Firstly, pop up electrical outlets are compliant and legal to install in kitchen bench-tops or islands in Australia, but they need to be installed away from sinks and taps (or other water sources). This varies state by state, generally 0.8m is the distance rule, so keeping them at least 1m away should cover you for all circumstances. We suggest you consult your local installer or electrician before fitting to verify.
Secondly, it is important to ensure the pop up socket model you purchase is Australian compliant with the required electrical standards. Some models purchased from other stores or online marketplaces such as eBay or Amazon may originate from international sources and not be locally compliant to electrical standards.
Thirdly, we recommend ensuring you have an RCD installed on the circuit in your kitchen that you plug your pop up power outlet into. This safety device will switch off the electrical circuit if there is current leakage or too high current draw – an overload. Most pop up power outlets will be fitted with an overload protector switch built in.
Lastly, some models of pop up power outlets have a liquid sealed top. This is useful as often spills of liquid may arise from areas other than the sink or water source. It’s important to note that these models generally only seal when closed – and so not when the outlets are extracted. Check the product information or data sheet for specifications on water seal protectiveness.
Disclaimer: The information on this page should be used as a guide only. We suggest doing your own independent research, or consulting your local tradesperson before installing a pop up outlet or taking advice.
For more information on “switches and sockets in wet areas”, please see this article by NSW Fair Trading
