Looking for a low profile power cord

Daily Life, Swiss News and General Topics
1
Hi, I've been looking (online given the coronavirus) for a low-profile power/extension cord. In one of my bedrooms, there's only one power outlet and I need to put some furniture in front of it, but I'd like to not have a huge gap between the furniture and the wall. I had previously bought one (from Jumbo I think) that sticks 4cm away from the wall, similar to this one:

https://assets.mmsrg.com/isr/166325/...ee_786_587_png

But for this room, I need a more low-profile one. Does something like that exist in CH? I've found what I needed in on German online stores, but nothing for CH. Something like the following would be ideal (courtesy of Amazon in the US):

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon....AC_SL1500_.jpg

Any help/tips would be greatly appreciated - thanks!

2
What type is your power outlet/ wall socket?

Check the photos here

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AC_pow...Swiss_SEV_1011

and if the socket is Type 13 (recessed), this may be a solution.

https://www.digitec.ch/en/s1/product...cables-5909555

Although it may be similar to the Jumbo pic you provided.

I am speculating the German ones fit because the German wall sockets are recessed, as, apparently, all Swiss ones starting in 2016 (from the Wikipedia page).

3
the digitec link is pretty cool. Not seen one of those before.

4
If it's not recessed, you can replace it with one that is.

Tom

5
Thanks 3Wishes for getting the thread back in shape

6
yes, but only 1m.

7
Doesn't get much flatter than this:

https://www.digitec.ch/de/s1/product...dapter-6817546

Search for "Flachstecker Schweiz" ("fiche plate suisse") for more options. Also, look at the bottom of the digitec page that I linked (under "Das könnte dir auch gefallen") for several more examples, including power boards. Of course, you can make your own by swapping plugs on an existing, standard power board.

8
I don't know how huge the furniture is, OP wants to put in front of the socket. 1m can be well enough.

9
We were looking for the same thing, and found this in local Migros DIY

https://produkte.migros.ch/max-hauri...cker-clip-clap

Murphy says that there will always be furniture in front of the power sockets, wherever they are !!

10
I got those. Cheaper here .

They are still bulkier than the digitec one.

Murphy does not live with me. I only got one single socket behind a furniture.

11
Thanks for the help (and cleaning up my original post). To answer some questions:

It's Type 12, but as st2lemans said I could replace it with a Type 13. Is that a pretty easy swap to do? I'm not an electrician but am happy to do it if it's straightforward and just involves replacing the front plate.

The following would work really well:

But apologies for my lack of knowledge here, but how does that attach to an existing cord/power strip?

Again, thanks all for the help - you have my hopes up that I'll be able to sort something out.

12
That's just a plug, which you would need to wire to whatever it is that you want the plug attached to. Either replace the plug on the appliance you want to connect, or replace the plug on an extension cable or power boards (for maximum utility). Simply cut the old plug off, strip the insulation off the two or three wires that you see, and wire them to the new plug. It really is very simple.

Also, look at the other suggestions from digitec on that page. They have power boards with flat plugs already wired, too.

13
@22 yards: Ok, that's probably more than I know how to do and the other suggestions on digitec seem like they would work well. I think the main issue is converting the Type 12 to Type 13 - hoping that's an easy conversion.

14
in some cases i cut a hole in the furniture

15
The thought crossed my mind, but wife gave a hard no.

16
Next time, don't ask her.

Tom

17
If you don't know how to connect a plug to a cable, you should not fiddle with the socket and put a heavy furniture in front of it after.

There are so many people who know how to do this - me included - I'm sure you will find a mate who will do this for you.

Rather safe than sorry?

PS: Landlord and insurance will be grateful.

18
Right, like curley said.

If you can change a power socket, you can definitely rewire a plug.

19
Here is a flat one that is an extension cord, sold on Coop Bau & Hobby's website.

https://www.bauundhobby.ch/maschinen...0t13/p/4942589

20
Yes, it's dead easy; just depends whether you're up to giving it a go! It also rather depends on whether you have the space in the wall for the recessed part of the socket. You should do, but you need to check.

Step-by-step instructions:

You don't need a socket tester. Just plug an appliance like a vacuum cleaner or a light into the old socket and make sure it doesn't work once the circuit breaker/fuse in the fuse box has been flipped.

You probably have a 3-in-1 outlet, whereas the video shows a double socket. I'm sure you can work this bit out!

You should google electrical wire colours in Switzerland. They have changed several times and with the large imported work force, some bizarre foreign colour coding also sometimes appears—so check, don't assume, which colour is live and which neutral. The earth should generally be clear.