How a modular system is priced
| Component | What it is | Band we observe |
|---|---|---|
| Module, 6A switch | The functional unit | ₹90 – 400 |
| Module, 16A socket | Heavy-duty outlet | ₹180 – 750 |
| Module, fan regulator | Step or electronic | ₹350 – 1,400 |
| Module, USB charger | Integrated charging | ₹700 – 2,600 |
| Grid plate, 4 – 8 module | Metal support frame | ₹120 – 500 |
| Cover plate, standard finish | The visible face | ₹250 – 1,400 |
| Cover plate, premium finish | Metal, glass or textured | ₹900 – 4,500 |
| Metal back box | Recessed into the wall | ₹80 – 350 |
Buying observations, not official pricing. A quotation that prices only the modules will be roughly 30–45% short of the installed cost.
The switch plate schedule nobody writes
Most electrical problems in a finished flat are not technical. They are plates in inconvenient positions, too few sockets, and a bedside switch that controls the wrong light.
- Walk the plan room by room with the furniture layout, and mark every switch, socket and data point against where the furniture will actually sit.
- Count the modules per location and choose the plate size accordingly. Adding a sixth module to a five-module plate after plastering means a new back box and a patched wall.
- Two-way switching at the bedroom door and the bedside is the single most appreciated electrical decision in a flat. It costs a little more wire and a second module.
- Socket heights: 300 mm above floor for general, 1,100 mm above counter level in kitchens, and bedside sockets at 600 mm so a phone charger is reachable from the bed.
- Behind furniture: a socket behind a wardrobe is a socket you do not have. Mark the joinery outline on the electrical plan before it is signed off.
Smart switches, and the wiring they need
- Most smart switch modules need a neutral conductor at the switch box. Older Mumbai wiring frequently brings only the live and the switch wire. Check before promising automation; adding a neutral means re-pulling a cable through conduit.
- Retrofit smart modules that work without a neutral exist and typically require a minimum load, which LED lighting often does not provide.
- A smart system needs a hub or a reliable wireless network at every switch position. In a flat with thick concrete walls, coverage is not automatic.
- Keep manual control. A smart switch that only works through an app is a problem the first time the network is down and a guest wants to turn a light on.
- Decide automation at the wiring stage. Retrofitting after the walls are finished is possible but expensive, and the compromises show.
Cable management and commercial work
- On a commercial fit-out the wiring device is the small part. Cable trays, raceways, floor boxes and data infrastructure carry the real coordination burden.
- Floor boxes under workstation clusters need to be positioned with the furniture layout and coordinated with the raised floor or the screed depth.
- Under-desk raceways and cable spines should be specified with the workstation system rather than after it.
- Data and power separation matters for interference; keep them in separate compartments of the same trunking.
- Landlord fit-out manuals in Mumbai commercial buildings often specify cable classes, containment and testing. Read them before the electrical scheme is drawn.
Our independence
Greenbox is an independent design and build studio. We hold no dealership, distributorship or channel relationship with Legrand or with any other electrical manufacturer, and we accept no brand-linked incentives. We specify wiring devices on merit, buy through Mumbai suppliers at market rates, and pass through supplier invoices where we procure for a client.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my switch quotation cheaper than the final bill?+
Because modular systems are priced in three parts — modules, grid plate and cover plate — and quotations frequently list only the modules. Adding plates and back boxes typically brings the real figure 30–45% higher. Ask for all three to be itemised.
Do smart switches need special wiring?+
Usually a neutral conductor at the switch box, which older Mumbai wiring often does not have. Check the existing wiring before committing to automation. Adding a neutral means pulling a new cable through conduit, which is straightforward during a renovation and disruptive afterwards.
Is Greenbox a Legrand dealer?+
No. We hold no dealership, distributorship or channel arrangement with Legrand or with any other electrical brand. We specify on merit, buy on the open market and pass through supplier invoices where we procure for clients.
How many sockets should a bedroom have?+
In our schedules: two at each bedside, two at the study or dressing position, one for the television, one for the air conditioner on its own circuit, and one spare on the wall opposite the bed. The commonest regret in a finished flat is too few sockets in the wrong places.
At what height should switch plates be fixed?+
Around 1,200 mm for general switch plates, 300 mm for floor-level sockets, 1,100 mm above the counter in kitchens and 600 mm at bedsides. Mark them against the actual furniture layout — heights matter less than being on the right side of a wardrobe.