Outlets by Forbes & Lomax — Invisible

The Invisible Plate Outlet by Forbes & Lomax is a North American receptacle on a transparent acrylic plate. The Invisible Lightswitch was inspired by the glass plates of the 1930s and is built so the wall finish appears to run behind the outlet without interruption.

Established in 1987, Forbes & Lomax is a UK-based heritage electrical brand recognized by architects and designers for refined switch and outlet design.

• Can I order online? Yes, if you know the gang count, the device type and your insert colour, and the plate is 2 gang or under.
• What should I confirm? Junction box depth. Your electrician will know what is there.
• Who decorates the inner plate? You or your decorator, as part of the wall finish and before the acrylic top plate goes on. Allow for it in the schedule rather than at handover.
• When should I request a custom quote? Phone, data or cable TV inserts, 3 gang or more, mixed plates, or anything you are unsure about should be confirmed by our sales team in order to ensure compliance and compatibility. Please reach out to us at contact@cassonhardware.com.
• Can I install it myself? No. Line voltage, licensed electrician only.

Full specifications and installation requirements are below.

Outlets, toggle switches, rotary dimmers and push buttons can be mixed on the same plate. Multi-gang plates are supplied to accommodate as many devices as required. Contact us with your device schedule for anything beyond the configurations above.

Insert Colours

Inserts are available in Black, Gray, White, Light Almond and Oyster. Insert colour is chosen separately from the fittings finish and does not have to match it.

• Oyster: not available with Phone, Data or Cable TV inserts.
• Gray: not available with USB-C.

Plate widths for each gang count are listed under Specifications below.

Each unit ships with two plates, and the inner plate is the point of the system. Paper or paint it to match the wall and the finish appears to continue unbroken behind the outlet. This work is done by you or your decorator, not the electrician.

• Inner plate: primed aluminium, supplied ready to be papered or painted.
• Wallpaper: the inner plate can be used as a template to cut a piece to fit.
• Over stone or tile: the inner plate can be faux painted to match the surrounding surface.
• Top plate: transparent acrylic with bevelled edges, secured without visible fixing screws. It goes on after the inner plate is decorated.
• Sequence: the inner plate is decorated as part of the wall finish and left to dry before the top plate is fitted. Allow for it in the schedule rather than at handover.

• Supply: line voltage, for conventionally wired installations.
• Circuit rating: 20 amp, accommodating standard 15 amp plugs.
• Tamper resistance: the Duplex and Duplex GFCI receptacles are tamper resistant as supplied.

• Electrician: must be installed by a licensed electrician, in accordance with appropriate electrical codes and regulations.
• Junction box depth: recessed at least 1/8" below the finished wall surface so the plate sits flat. Refer to the Junction Box Assembly Diagram below.
• Existing boxes: check the recess depth before ordering.
• Plate finishing: the inner plate is decorated and dry before the electrician arrives. Refer to Prepping the Plate for Installation above.
• Wall box: do not paint or paper over it, in case the outlet needs to be accessed later.
• Areas of application: light-duty commercial, residential.

Plates of 3 gang or more, mixed device plates, and Phone, Data or Cable TV inserts are quoted by our sales team. Send the following to contact@cassonhardware.com and we will price it against your schedule.

• Model and gang count for each position
• Insert colour
• Fittings finish
• Whether the plate combines outlets with switches, dimmers or push buttons
• Wall finish behind the plate, and whether it is paper, paint, plaster, stone or tile
• Junction box depth on site

Plate Sizes

All plates are 4.53" (115 mm) high. The top plate is 3 mm acrylic and the inner plate is 1 mm primed aluminium.

Larger multi-gang plates are made to order. Contact us with your device schedule for a quote.

• Plate: transparent acrylic top plate with a primed aluminium inner plate.
• Housings: the outlet, switch and dimmer housings are the same as those used on the metal plate range. Only the plate differs.
• Fittings: the finish applies to the screws. The plate itself carries no metal finish.
• Living finish: Unlacquered Polished Brass darkens and develops a patina with handling and exposure. This is intended and not a defect, and variation between pieces is normal.
• Lacquered finishes: Nickel Silver, Brushed Stainless Steel, Antique Bronze, Lacquered Brushed Brass and Matte Brass hold a consistent colour and will not change.
• Matte Brass: carries a baked lacquer coating that resists fingerprints.
• Care: wipe clean with a dry, non-abrasive microfiber cloth. Avoid chemical or alcohol-based cleaners.

Available Fittings Finishes

• Unlacquered Polished Brass
• Nickel Silver
• Brushed Stainless Steel
• Antique Bronze
• Lacquered Brushed Brass
• Matte Brass (made to order)

Aged Brass is not offered on the Invisible range.

• Wall-plates: conform to UL 514D, certified to CSA C22.2 No. 42.
• Outlets: conform to UL 498, certified to CSA C22.2 No. 42.

Review and ensure all certifications are applicable for your local code.

Product Sheets

• Outlet Product Sheet
• Outlet Insert Colours
• Plate Dimensions
• Forbes & Lomax Brochure

Installation & Assembly

• General Instructions for Electricians (Outlets)
• Junction Box Assembly Diagram (Outlet)
• Invisible Plate Installation Notes

Care

• Plate Cleaning Guidelines
• Sustainability Statement