Why sticking to one brand matters

Published on 23 July 2026Time to read: 3 minutes

When using pluggable electrical installations, always choose components from a single manufacturer. That's the advice from Casper Bontenbal of Isolectra. "It helps prevent risks and avoids uncertainty about who is responsible if something goes wrong."

Casper Bontenbal is Strategic Alignment Officer at Isolectra, the distributor of Wieland pluggable installation systems. He openly acknowledges that the company has an interest in recommending Wieland. "Of course we do," says Bontenbal. "But more importantly, i want to help installers avoid unnecessary problems. Many installers don't realise the risks of combining products from different manufacturers."

Compatible doesn't always mean the same
Bontenbal points to a recent project in a government office building in which Isolectra was involved. The electrical installation, including the lighting fixtures, was designed around Wieland components. The installer assumed the luminaires were fitted with connectors from the same manufacturer. That assumption turned out to be incorrect: the luminaires contained a visually similar connector from another brand.

"The installer investigated the issue and it became clear that they had done nothing wrong," Bontenbal explains. "They had never been informed that the luminaires contained components from a different manufacturer. Even so, it caused delays something neither the installer nor the client wants."

According to Bontenbal, several similar connector systems are available on the market. "In practice, that can lead to confusion and may affect the inspection and approval of an installation."

Who is responsible?
Combining components from different manufacturers requires documented proof of compatibility and compliance with applicable standards, such as NEN 1010.

"Electrical installations are assessed on safety and correct application. If compatibility and compliance cannot be demonstrated, an inspector may reject the installation, as I've seen happen on multiple occasions. And then what?" According to Bontenbal, the consequences can be significant.

"If you combine components from different manufacturers and a problem occurs, the party that assembled the system is generally responsible for ensuring the installation functions correctly and complies with the relevant standards. In some cases, that means opening ceilings or dismantling parts of the installation to resolve the issue. That can become an expensive exercise, and unfortunately it's something we encounter regularly."

For that reason, Bontenbal recommends using a complete pluggable installation system from a single manufacturer. "Naturally, I would recommend Wieland. But the principle is more important than the brand. Whether you choose Wieland or another manufacturer, make sure all the components in your installation come from that one brand. That way, responsibility for the product lies clearly with a single manufacturer."

Always lock every connection
Bontenbal has one additional recommendation: always use the locking mechanism on every connector within a pluggable installation.

"If someone accidentally pulls on the installation, an unlocked connector may come loose. That can damage the installation and undo the work you've already completed. We see this happen regularly. By locking every connection, you significantly reduce that risk."

Want to learn more?
If you would like to know more about selecting the right pluggable installation system or have questions about compatibility and compliance, feel free to contact our team. We're happy to help.

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