Not Enough Outlets in Your Condo, Kitchen, or Room?
You finally moved into your dream condo. The view is perfect. The location is ideal. But after a few weeks, you notice something frustrating: there aren't enough outlets.
Your phone charger fights with your laptop for the one outlet near your desk. The kitchen has two outlets for five appliances. And forget about plugging in a floor lamp where you actually need it. Sound familiar?
This guide shows you how to add more outlets to your condo, kitchen, or room without major renovation, and features real installations from premium developments like One Shangri-La Place, Ayala Land properties, and Two Roxas Triangle.
The "Not Enough Outlets" Problem
Modern life demands more power than ever. Between smartphones, laptops, smart home devices, kitchen appliances, and entertainment systems, the average Filipino household needs far more outlets than what developers typically provide.
Kitchen
Rice cooker, microwave, airfryer, coffee maker, blender fighting for 2 outlets
Living Room
TV, sound bar, router, lamp, phone chargers with outlets in wrong spots
Bedroom
Bedside lamp, phone, laptop, humidifier sharing one wall outlet
⚠️ The Dangers of "Octopus Wiring"
When you don't have enough outlets, you end up daisy-chaining extension cords and power strips. This "octopus wiring" is the #1 cause of electrical fires in the Philippines, according to the Bureau of Fire Protection. In 2024 alone, over 2,000 fires were caused by electrical problems like overloaded circuits and loose connections.
Why Philippine Condos Have So Few Outlets
If you've wondered why your condo seems to have outlets in all the wrong places (or not enough of them), here's why:
1. Built to Minimum Code
Developers build to minimum electrical code requirements to save costs. The Philippine Electrical Code requires outlets every 12 feet along walls, but this bare minimum doesn't account for modern device usage.
2. Designed Years Before Turnover
Your condo's electrical layout was designed years before you moved in. Technology and lifestyle needs change faster than construction timelines. What seemed adequate in 2018 feels outdated by 2025.
3. No Customization Options
Unlike houses, condo buyers rarely get to customize electrical layouts. You get what the developer decided, even if it doesn't match how you actually use the space.
4. Open Floor Plans
Modern condos favor open layouts with fewer walls. Fewer walls means fewer places to put outlets. That beautiful open kitchen-living area? Great for entertaining, terrible for power access.
Your Options for Adding More Outlets
1. Extension Cords and Power Strips
The most common solution: buy more extension cords and power strips. It's cheap and immediate, but creates a mess of cables and potential fire hazards.
✓ Pros
- Cheap (₱200-500 per strip)
- Immediate solution
- No installation needed
- Easy to find anywhere
✗ Cons
- Fire hazard when overloaded
- Ugly cable clutter
- Trip hazard
- Not a permanent solution
2. Hire an Electrician to Add Outlets
Have an electrician install new wall outlets. This involves cutting into walls, running new wiring, and potentially patching/repainting. For condos, you may need building management approval.
✓ Pros
- Permanent solution
- Standard wall outlets
- Clean finished look
- Increases property value
✗ Cons
- Expensive (₱3,000-8,000 per outlet)
- Requires wall damage and repair
- Needs condo management approval
- Takes days to complete
- Fixed position, can't move later
3. Mainline Power Track (Recommended)
Mainline Power Track is a modular system that mounts on your wall, under cabinets, or along baseboards. You can add, remove, or reposition sockets anywhere along the track without an electrician.
How It Works
The track connects to a single power source (one existing outlet or junction box). From there, you can snap sockets into place anywhere along the track's length. Need power on the other side of the room? Just slide the socket over. Need more outlets? Add more sockets.
Perfect for Condos
- No wall damage: Mounts on surface, no cutting into walls
- One connection point: Uses existing outlet or junction box
- Renter friendly: Can be removed when you move out
- Condo approved: No major renovation permits needed
Fire Resistant Materials
Made from CYCOLOY™ CE3510 by SABIC, a premium PC/ABS blend used in automotive and aerospace applications. Passed IEC glow-wire and flame spread tests with no ignition or flame propagation. DEKRA certified to IEC 61534-1 standard.
✓ Pros
- Unlimited outlet positions
- Reposition sockets anytime
- No wall damage
- Fire resistant certified
- Professional installation included
- Can take with you when you move
✗ Cons
- Track visible on wall
- ₱5,990-6,340 per meter
- ₱1,600 per socket
Solution Comparison
| Solution | Cost | Installation | Outlets | Condo Friendly? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extension Cords | ₱200-500 | None | 4-6 per strip | Yes, but fire risk |
| New Wall Outlets | ₱3K-8K each | Major (wall work) | 1-2 per location | Needs approval |
| ⭐ Mainline Power Track | ₱6K+/meter | Surface mount | Unlimited | Yes |
Real Installations in Philippine Condos
See how residents of premium condos solved their outlet problems with Mainline Power Track:
🏢 One Shangri-La Place: Kitchen Outlets
The owners added Mainline Power Track in their kitchen to get more sockets for their appliances. Now they can use their rice cooker, airfryer, and coffee maker at the same time without unplugging anything.
One Shangri-La Place Kitchen
Power track installed to add more outlets for kitchen appliances
🏢 Ayala Land Property: Room Outlets
This Ayala Land resident added Mainline Power Track in their room. Now they can move and add outlets anywhere along the wall. No more reaching behind furniture to plug things in.
🏢 Two Roxas Triangle: Whole Condo Solution
These owners went all in. They installed Mainline Power Track throughout their entire condo. Now they can add and reposition sockets anytime, anywhere in their unit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I install Mainline Power Track in a rented condo?
Yes. The track mounts on the wall surface and connects to an existing outlet. When you move out, you can remove the track and take it with you. No permanent modifications to the unit.
Do I need condo management approval?
In most cases, no. Since Mainline Power Track doesn't require breaking walls or major electrical work, it's considered a minor modification. However, we recommend checking with your building admin just to be safe.
How many outlets can I add to one track?
You can add as many sockets as you need along the track. The system is rated for 32A at 250V AC, which handles multiple high-power appliances safely. Our team will assess your electrical capacity during the free ocular inspection.
Is it safe to have that many outlets?
Yes. Mainline Power Track distributes power along the entire track length rather than concentrating load on a single outlet. The fire-resistant materials (CYCOLOY™ CE3510) passed international glow-wire and flame spread tests. It's actually safer than octopus wiring.
How much does it cost to add outlets to my condo?
Mainline Power Track costs ₱5,990-6,340 per meter plus ₱1,600 per socket. A typical room installation (2-3 meters with 4-6 sockets) runs ₱18,000-30,000 including professional installation. Compare this to ₱3,000-8,000 per wall outlet with an electrician.
Can I move the sockets after installation?
Yes! That's one of the main advantages. Sockets twist and click into place anywhere along the track. Rearranging your furniture? Just slide the sockets to their new positions. No electrician needed.
🔌 Ready for More Outlets?
Stop fighting over power strips. Mainline Power Track lets you add unlimited outlets anywhere in your condo, kitchen, or room. No wall damage, no major renovation.
📍 Service Areas
Mainline Power Track is available for installation in Metro Manila, Laguna, Alabang, and Pampanga. Contact us for a free ocular inspection to assess your condo, kitchen, or room.
📚 Sources
- Bureau of Fire Protection: 2024 Fire Incident Statistics
- IEC 61534-1: Powertrack Systems Standard
- DEKRA Certification: International Safety Testing
- Philippine Electrical Code (PEC): Residential Outlet Requirements