{"id":806,"date":"2026-04-29T16:17:43","date_gmt":"2026-04-29T14:17:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.budapestlights.hu\/?page_id=806"},"modified":"2026-04-29T16:26:12","modified_gmt":"2026-04-29T14:26:12","slug":"too-few-outlets-in-the-apartment","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.budapestlights.hu\/en\/too-few-outlets-in-the-apartment\/","title":{"rendered":"Too few outlets in the apartment"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Here\u2019s how you can expand them safely<\/b><\/h3>

An average Hungarian household today runs <\/span>15\u201320 electrical devices at the same time<\/b> \u2013 from phone chargers to air conditioners and robot vacuum cleaners. However, most apartments were designed in a time when <\/span>1\u20132 outlets per room were considered more than enough<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>

The result? <\/span>Power strips plugged into other power strips, extension cords running along the walls<\/b>, and an electrical system that is constantly overloaded – quietly but steadily increasing the <\/span>risk of fire<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>

If you also feel that there are <\/span>too few outlets in your home<\/b>, we\u2019ll now show you <\/span>how you can solve this safely and permanently<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>

Why are there so few outlets in older apartments?<\/b><\/h5>

Panel apartments and older condominium flats were designed according to the needs of the <\/span>1960s\u20131980s<\/b>. At that time, the electrical appliances in a typical household were limited to <\/span>a television, a refrigerator, and a few lamps<\/b>. Accordingly, most rooms were equipped with <\/span>only 1\u20132 outlets<\/b>, and sometimes the <\/span>entire apartment ran on a single electrical circuit<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>

Since then, the world has changed dramatically. <\/span>Kitchen appliances, dishwashers, microwave ovens, laptops, monitors, routers, and smart home devices<\/b>\u2014the list grows longer every year. The electrical wiring in older apartments simply <\/span>cannot keep up with modern demands<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>

The hidden dangers of extension cords and power strips<\/b><\/h5>

Power strips and extension cords may seem like the most obvious solution. They are cheap, easy to obtain \u2014 and <\/span>extremely dangerous if used regularly and for long periods<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>

Overload:<\/b> An average power strip can handle <\/span>3680 W<\/b>. If a radiator, an electric kettle, and an iron are running on it at the same time, the load can easily exceed this limit.<\/span><\/p>

Loose connections:<\/b> The connections in power strips can loosen over time, which may lead to <\/span>overheating and even fire<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>

Daisy-chaining:<\/b> Plugging one power strip into another is <\/span>one of the most common causes of apartment fires<\/b>. The circuit breaker does not always trip in time because the total load may be <\/span>right at the limit<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>

If you regularly use <\/span>3\u20134 power strips in your home<\/b>, that\u2019s not a solution \u2014 it\u2019s a symptom. The real solution is <\/span>installing additional outlets and, if necessary, creating new electrical circuits<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>

How many outlets are needed in an apartment? \u2013 Room-by-room guide<\/b><\/h5>

Based on modern standards and practical experience, the following number of outlets can be considered appropriate today:<\/span><\/p>

Kitchen:<\/b> 6\u20138 outlets \u2013 major appliances (oven, dishwasher, cooktop) should be on <\/span>separate circuits<\/b>
<\/b>Living room:<\/b> 6\u20138 outlets \u2013 for the TV wall, computer, chargers, lighting<\/span>
<\/span>Bedroom:<\/b> 4\u20136 outlets \u2013 on both sides of the bed, near the dressing area, possibly for a TV<\/span>
<\/span>Bathroom:<\/b> 2\u20133 outlets \u2013 for a razor or hair dryer (<\/span>only with proper IP protection<\/b>)<\/span>
<\/span>Hallway:<\/b> 2 outlets \u2013 for a vacuum cleaner or shoe dryer<\/span>
<\/span>Terrace\/balcony:<\/b> 1\u20132 outlets \u2013 <\/span>outdoor-rated<\/b><\/p>

Of course, every apartment is different, so the <\/span>exact requirements can only be determined through an on-site assessment<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>

Installing a new outlet \u2013 how does the process work?<\/b><\/h5>

Many people are hesitant about adding new outlets because they think it involves <\/span>major demolition work<\/b>. In reality, the process is usually more manageable:<\/span><\/p>

On-site assessment<\/b> \u2013 A qualified electrician evaluates the existing electrical network, the available capacity in the distribution panel, and your specific needs.<\/span><\/p>

Circuit planning<\/b> \u2013 If the existing circuits are already heavily loaded, a <\/span>new circuit must be installed from the distribution board<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>

Wall chasing and wiring<\/b> \u2013 Depending on the wall material (brick, concrete, or drywall), the wiring is either <\/span>installed inside the wall<\/b> or routed through a surface-mounted cable channel.<\/span><\/p>

Connection and outlet installation<\/b> \u2013 The outlet is replaced or a new one is installed, followed by checking all electrical connections.<\/span><\/p>

Measurement and testing<\/b> \u2013 This includes <\/span>insulation resistance measurement, load testing, and testing the residual current device (RCD\/FI relay)<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>

Installing a single outlet can take <\/span>as little as half a day<\/b>, while upgrading outlets throughout an entire apartment may take <\/span>2\u20133 working days<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>

Outdoor outlets \u2013 terrace, balcony, garden<\/b><\/h5>

With the arrival of spring and summer, the demand for <\/span>outdoor outlets<\/b> increases. Garden lighting, electric lawn mowers, grills, and pool pumps all require a power source.<\/span><\/p>

Outdoors, <\/span>only outlets with IP44 or higher protection rating<\/b> should be used, and the circuit must be protected by a <\/span>residual current device (RCD\/FI relay)<\/b>. Installing an outdoor outlet is <\/span>not a DIY project<\/b>: improper insulation or grounding can cause <\/span>electric shock<\/b>, especially in wet or rainy conditions.<\/span><\/p>

Why should you entrust outlet expansion to a professional?<\/b><\/h5>

According to regulations, <\/span>electrical work must be carried out by a qualified electrician<\/b>. DIY solutions\u2014such as \u201cI\u2019ll rewire it myself\u201d\u2014are not only <\/span>dangerous<\/b>, but can also create problems with insurance. In the event of fire damage, the insurance company may <\/span>refuse compensation<\/b> if they determine that the electrical system was modified improperly.<\/span><\/p>

A professionally installed electrical circuit ensures that the system <\/span>operates safely and reliably for many years<\/b>\u2014without the need for power strips and extension cords.<\/span><\/p>

If you live <\/span>in Budapest or the surrounding area<\/b> and would like to make your home\u2019s electrical system <\/span>safer and more modern<\/b>, feel free to contact me.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Profi seg\u00edts\u00e9g a villanyszerel\u00e9sben, Budapesten \u00e9s Pest megy\u00e9ben! <\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tViber<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tWhatsapp<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tPhone<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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H\u00edvjon minket bizalommal: <\/strong><\/h3>

+36-20-397-9668<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Here\u2019s how you can expand them safely An average Hungarian household today runs 15\u201320 electrical devices at the same time \u2013 from phone chargers to air [\u2026]<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-806","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.budapestlights.hu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/806","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.budapestlights.hu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.budapestlights.hu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.budapestlights.hu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.budapestlights.hu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=806"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/www.budapestlights.hu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/806\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":822,"href":"https:\/\/www.budapestlights.hu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/806\/revisions\/822"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.budapestlights.hu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=806"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}