Electrical Sockets - What Make

[indy4x]

In the process of finishing off one of our bedrooms, new plaster, flooring, etc

Originally I was fitting MK brushed stainless sockets as rooms were being finished but that was a few years ago.

Last room I did I used LAP stuff from Screwfix as the MK ones were unavailable.

Have been disappointed with the LAP stuff, it's poorly finished and have had a few failures

Can't get MK locally, any recommendations on alternatives?

Crabtree I have used in the past, other brand I can get is British General, are they any good?

 

[brightspark]

I use click polar brilliant sockets and gear . never had one go faulty yet and reasonably priced they do brushed chrome and polished as well https://www.click4electrics.co.uk/click-polar-white-socket-outlets-c-328_516_345_28/shop round for prices

 

[mtt.tr]

I like bg, sockets have nice terminals.
I do like click, we used to use their grid stuff and also their metal clad

 

[Brad93]

We’ve used MK, curved face, plain white. Well made and had no issues. b&Q or screwfix stock them normally.

 

[mtt.tr]

Only use mk for FCU's they have a worryingly large amount of hard to tighten terminals almost feel cross threaded

 

[Brad93]

Only use mk for FCU's they have a worryingly large amount of hard to tighten terminals almost feel cross threaded

Not had that myself, but could be a different style.

 

[brightspark]

We’ve used MK, curved face, plain white. Well made and had no issues. b&Q or screwfix stock them normally.

there horrible to fit the screws are tight and all; 3 connections in the middle at the bottom . it makes them difficult to push back and refit after the cables have been made off for the conventional positions of the terminals in other makes of sockets

 

[Brad93]

there horrible to fit the screws are tight and all; 3 connections in the middle at the bottom . it makes them difficult to push back and refit after the cables have been made off for the conventional positions of the terminals in other makes of sockets

What do you expect for £1.30 odd a socket haha. We like the look of them.

 

[mtt.tr]

Not had that myself, but could be a different style.

Was on an office fit out about 5 years ago i would imagine now, had it then and still occasionally find it

 

[brightspark]

Not had that myself, but could be a different style.

there all the same. tight screws having to fit loads each day its a ball acher and time wasted. if you were fitting them for a living you would soon change your mind and would notice the difference

 

[mtt.tr]

there all the same. tight screws having to fit loads each day its a ball acher and time wasted

Last week i gave in and bought a macallister 3.6v screwdriver, complete game changer still need a final crank by hand but saved the wrist ache from the crap screws.


Makes me angry mk used to be brilliant.

 

[mtt.tr]

@brightspark

https://www.screwfix.com/p/mac-alli...uKwKRvSvGqBxVJ7ypYBoC3GsQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Gave it to my friend who does far more than i do currently, he loves it

 

[8ob]

In the process of finishing off one of our bedrooms, new plaster, flooring, etc

Originally I was fitting MK brushed stainless sockets as rooms were being finished but that was a few years ago.

Last room I did I used LAP stuff from Screwfix as the MK ones were unavailable.

Have been disappointed with the LAP stuff, it's poorly finished and have had a few failures

Can't get MK locally, any recommendations on alternatives?

Crabtree I have used in the past, other brand I can get is British General, are they any good?

Its not the dust and crud from the renovation killing off the sockets is it? The sparks had to change a load of sockets/switches in my last house because of the dust etc from the building work.

Bob

 

[angellonewolf]

Last week i gave in and bought a macallister 3.6v screwdriver, complete game changer still need a final crank by hand but saved the wrist ache from the crap screws.


Makes me angry mk used to be brilliant.

^^^^^mk used to be top class they where worth the extra money as there price got cheaper they moved to just same old carp as the others

 

[sg66]

there horrible to fit the screws are tight and all; 3 connections in the middle at the bottom . it makes them difficult to push back and refit after the cables have been made off for the conventional positions of the terminals in other makes of sockets

Just discovered that issue changing the sockets in our dining room.

 

[brightspark]

the other sockets I wont fit are the flat plate ones the boxes have to be set back at least an 8th of an inch or the plate wont go back so on refits there useless as most boxes are slightly stuck out . conventional plates have a bit of overlap and can be fitted no problem

 

[mtt.tr]

the other sockets I wont fit are the flat plate ones the boxes have to be set back at least an 8th of an inch or the plate wont go back so on refits there useless as most boxes are slightly stuck out . conventional plates have a bit of overlap and can be fitted no problem

Likewise, seen loads caulked on to hide the whopping great gaps from the **** poor plastering

 

[skotl]

I have similar bad experiences with MK sockets, as mentioned above (and I actually started my own thread on it several months ago). Terminals, screws and screw heads were tiny, and got stripped.
Threw them in the bin and replaced with LAP and all good.

 

[DAPPH]

When we rewired with 48 double switched sockets 12 yrs ago we purchased a cheap plate .... after six or so failed i purchased 25 MK's obtained from our local electrical wholesaler . One thing I did do was hand dress a CK gold flat screwdriver bit to get the best fit so I can use my L shaped ratchet screw driver to tighten the screws .

 

[hunter27]

Replaced an existing socket with a new LAP USB socket yesterday and was surprised how close the L & N connections were together. Only about 6mm gap between them. Wouldn't like to connect one live.