G'day! You're in the shed, the garage, or on the patio, and you need to whack in a new power point or a light switch. But you're staring at a solid brick or concrete wall. You can't just cut a neat little hole like you do in plasterboard. Trying to do that is a recipe for a proper dog's breakfast of a job.

So how do you get a safe, professional, and schmick-looking finish? You need the go-to solution for every tradie in the country: a mounting block. And when it comes to electrical gear in Australia, the one name you see on every worksite is Clipsal.

The Clipsal mounting block is the fair dinkum standard. It's the little plastic box that makes a hard job simple, safe, and look a million bucks.

So, What is a Mounting Block, Exactly?

A Clipsal mounting block (or 'surface mount block') is a tough-as-nails, insulated plastic base. It's designed to be screwed onto the surface of a solid wall first.

Your licensed electrician then runs the conduit (that grey pipe) neatly into the block. The block itself has a flat face, providing a perfect, secure base for them to wire up and attach the power point (GPO) or light switch.

It does two critical jobs at once:

1. It provides a solid, flat base on a rough or uneven surface (like brick).
2. It safely houses the electrical connections behind the switch, protecting them from dust, moisture, and accidental bumps.

Why Do Tradies Swear By Clipsal?

You can get mounting blocks from anywhere, but ask any pro and they'll tell you they stick with a trusted brand. There's a reason you'll find Clipsal mounting blocks at every decent electrical wholesaler:

• Built Tough for Aussie Conditions: They're made from high-impact, durable plastic. They don't crack if you look at them wrong, and the outdoor-rated ones are UV-stabilised, so they won't get knackered and go brittle after one harsh Aussie summer.
• 100% Compliant: You know they meet our strict Australian Standards. A pro won't risk their licence on a dodgy, non-compliant bit of kit.
• The Full Range: Clipsal makes a block for every single job – standard single or double-gang blocks, slimline versions, and even special corrugated mounting blocks designed to fit perfectly onto the wavy profile of your Colorbond shed.

Where You'll See Them Used

A Clipsal mounting block is the workhorse for any "surface-mount" electrical job. You'll see them in:

• Garages and workshops with brick or concrete walls
• On the side of your house for a weatherproof outdoor GPO
• Inside your shed on the corrugated iron wall
• On weatherboard or other cladding
• Any job where the wiring is run on the surface inside conduit

The CRITICAL Safety Warning: This is 100% NOT a DIY Job!

Righto, let's get dead serious for a sec, because this is the most important part of the whole article.

You, as a DIYer, can walk into any hardware store or electrical wholesaler and buy a Clipsal mounting block. That's fine. You can even screw the empty block to your shed wall if you're feeling handy.

But the absolute second you need to run the 240V cable to it and wire up the power point or light switch, you MUST STOP.

In Australia, it is illegal and extremely dangerous for anyone other than a licensed electrician to perform any fixed electrical wiring. A simple mistake can lead to a fatal electric shock or a house fire, and it will void your home insurance in a heartbeat. Don't be a galah – it's just not worth the risk.

A Professional Job Needs Professional Gear

A licensed electrician will always use high-quality, trade-grade fittings to make sure the job is safe, compliant, and built to last. They won't risk their reputation on a flimsy, non-compliant block or a dodgy switch.

As one of Australia's most comprehensive electrical wholesalers and suppliers, Schnap Electric Products stocks the lot for the professional installer. They've got a massive range of high-quality Clipsal mounting block options, from standard blocks to corrugated and weatherproof models. On top of that, they provide all the compliant, trade-quality switches, GPOs, conduits, and wiring that a qualified professional needs to do the job right. For a job that's safe, compliant, and built to last, the pros rely on a supplier like Schnap Electric.