USB power socket: is it worth installing?
In the right spots, yes. A USB socket earns its place where you charge phones, tablets or earbuds every day, and your 3-pin outlet stays free for something else. This is practical advice, not an agency rule.
Where it helps most:
- Bedside. Charge your phone overnight and keep the 3-pin outlet for a lamp or fan.
- Desk. Cut the tangle of adaptors behind your monitor and printer.
- Kitchen counter. Charge a phone without giving up the outlet you need for the kettle.
It adds less where spare sockets are already within easy reach.
Before you buy a USB wall socket, check the product itself:
- USB outlets. How many there are, and whether they suit the cables you use.
- Stated output. The output printed on the product or its box. Compare it with what your devices' chargers state.
- Socket type. Whether it is a 13A switched socket with USB, so you keep a normal 3-pin outlet too.
Our guide to socket ratings explains what 13A means.
Who can swap a socket
A USB socket swap means replacing a power point. The Energy Market Authority (EMA) says electrical work at home should be carried out or supervised by a Licensed Electrical Worker, and that includes adding, extending or replacing power points. EMA says electrical work in an HDB flat needs a Licensed Electrician, the class of LEW approved for loads of up to 45kVA. Every LEW carries a licence card with a photo, name and licence number, so check it before work starts. Licences can also be checked on EMA's ELISE portal.
In an HDB flat, HDB's renovation guidelines for electrical works say additional 13amps power points and extension of wiring need no HDB permit. Embedding wiring in reinforced concrete slabs, beams, columns, walls, wall plaster or other finishes is not allowed, and SP Services Form CS/5H endorsed by HDB must be submitted for testing of the new wiring. Upon completion of any electrical renovation work, HDB asks you to apply to SP Services for testing through your LEW. In practice, new wiring runs in surface trunking, above a false ceiling or behind carpentry.
The Consumer Product Safety Office (CPSO) gives similar advice: always engage a Licensed Electrical Worker for electrical installation, maintenance and repair work, and check the worker's credentials. To compare companies that list this service, see socket installation.
Smart plugs
A smart plug sits in an existing socket, and your appliance plugs into it. You pair it with an app, then switch the appliance on or off from your phone or set a schedule. There is no wiring to change, so you can set one up yourself.
Use smart plugs for light loads such as a bedside lamp, a standing fan or a phone charger. Do not use them for heaters, kettles or aircons. This is practical advice, not an agency rule.
A smart plug does not add an outlet. If you keep running short of sockets, the CPSO's tips on electrical hazards warn that overloading wall socket outlets can cause fire hazards, and suggest installing additional ones if needed. See our guide to power strip overload.
Buy safe products
Check the product first. The CPSO's page on the SAFETY Mark says Controlled Goods must carry the mark before they can be sold in Singapore, and each mark has a unique 8-digit registration number. An appliance with a 3-pin plug carries two SAFETY Marks, one on the appliance and one on the plug. You can check a mark on the CPSO's Register of Registered Controlled Goods. Products that are not Controlled Goods do not need the mark. Our post on the SAFETY Mark on electrical products has more.
Watch the plug type as well. The CPSO's page on types of mains plugs suitable for use in Singapore says Schuko 10A/16A plugs are not suitable for use here, so pass on a smart plug or charger that comes with one. The 13A 3-pin fused plug suits most appliances, and the 3-pin plug should carry a SAFETY Mark.
If a socket stops working, see our guide on a socket not working before you call an LEW.
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See electrical companies in the directory with their published prices, the areas they say they cover and their sources.
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FROM THE HOMEZYPRO DIRECTORY
Published power point installation rates
For the most common unit (per job), the lowest published power point installation rates from 7 companies run from S$28 to S$90 per job (middle rate S$75), for one 13A socket point. The middle figure is a real published rate, not an average. Each figure is one company's own advertised rate with its conditions, not a quote.
See 9 published power point installation rates and sources
| Company | Service as listed | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skyteam Electrical Pte Ltd | Additional wall sockets (3-pin, 13A) | S$28 per job | skyteamelectrical.sg |
| AVV Engineering Pte Ltd | Replace Power Socket | From S$30 per job | avvelectrical.com |
| Electrician24 Singapore | Power Point Installation | S$60 to S$120 per job | electrician24.sg |
| Yong Jin Solutions Engineering Pte Ltd | Power socket installation | From S$60 to S$130+ per point | yongjinelectrical.sg |
| Mr Electrician Pte Ltd | Single Power Point | S$65 | mrelectrician.sg |
| Saikon Contractors | Single 13A socket | S$75 per job | saikon.com.sg |
| Lito Electrical Service | Additional power socket point | From S$80 per job | litoelectrical.com |
| 81 Electrical | Double power point (13A x2) | From S$90 per job | 81electrical.com |
| Spower Electrician Services | Supply and install single or double 13A power socket (non-conceal) | From S$90 per job | spower.com.sg |
9 companies in the directory publish a power point installation line. 7 of them price it per job, and their lowest published rates run from S$28 to S$90 per job, with S$75 per job as the middle company's published rate. The scope as printed is one 13A socket point, so check what each price covers.
The lines are worded differently. One prices additional 3-pin, 13A wall sockets at S$28 per job, and one prices replacing a power socket from S$30 per job. One prints S$60 to S$120 per job, another from S$60 to S$130+ per point, and one shows S$65 printed without a unit. Others start from S$80 per job for an additional power socket point, and from S$90 per job for a double power point or for supply and installation.
A USB socket adds the cost of the part. Our guide to power point installation cost covers pricing in more detail.
Questions
Do USB sockets use power when nothing is charging?
Some do, but only a little. Some USB sockets draw a small amount of power even when nothing is plugged into the USB outlets. How much varies from product to product, so check the specifications on the product or its box before you buy.
Can a USB socket fast-charge a laptop?
Only if the product states an output that suits your laptop. Check the output printed on the USB socket or its box, then compare it with the rating on your laptop's own charger. If the socket's stated output is lower, keep using the laptop charger in the 3-pin outlet.
Can I fit a USB socket in the same wall box?
Usually, yes. Most USB sockets are made to replace a standard socket in the same wall box. The Licensed Electrical Worker doing the job should confirm that the existing box and wiring suit the product before fitting it, and tell you if anything else is needed.
Are smart plugs safe for a water heater?
No. High-load appliances such as a water heater should not run through a smart plug. Keep smart plugs for lighter loads such as lamps, fans and phone chargers. If you want more control over a water heater, ask a Licensed Electrical Worker what suits your home rather than adding a plug-in device.
Do smart plugs need a hub?
Not always. Some smart plugs pair straight with an app over your home Wi-Fi, while others need a separate hub. The product details should say which, so check before you buy. If you already use a hub for other devices, check that the plug works with it.
Can a tenant install USB sockets?
Yes, but ask your landlord first, since the sockets are part of the property. If they agree, the swap should be done by a Licensed Electrical Worker. A smart plug needs no wiring, so it is a simpler option for tenants who want app control without changing any sockets.
- Energy Market Authority (EMA)
- HDB's renovation guidelines for electrical works
- CPSO's tips on electrical hazards
- SAFETY Mark
- types of mains plugs suitable for use in Singapore
Prices come only from the sourced company rates in the HomezyPro directory, shown with each company and its source.
Practical guidance for planning a home job in Singapore. Company prices come from the HomezyPro directory, each linked to its source; rules and safety points link to the agency or manufacturer that sets them. This is not a site inspection, a quote or professional advice for your home.
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