Electrical Sockets - What Make

[brightspark]

Jeez. I really need to follow my own advice...

Fitting sockets to the new summerhouse and I had a spare MK double socket so figured I may as well use that. NOOOOOO..... as per my previous experiences with MK, the terminals are like having a needle-width screw in a bucket. No way to get the cables snug even after twisting them (which I hate doing), so in the bin and a couple of BGs ordered from Amazon.

How can a company like MK continue to get this so wrong?

there utter crap and a pig to fit as the conections are in the middle . right where the cables enter the box . no way to make them off neatly in a curve like standard other makers of sockets . the only sockets and accessories i use is scolmore click. good quality

 

[dobbslc]

Jeez. I really need to follow my own advice...

Fitting sockets to the new summerhouse and I had a spare MK double socket so figured I may as well use that. NOOOOOO..... as per my previous experiences with MK, the terminals are like having a needle-width screw in a bucket. No way to get the cables snug even after twisting them (which I hate doing), so in the bin and a couple of BGs ordered from Amazon.

How can a company like MK continue to get this so wrong?

I have an Mk consumer unit and hate it! Nothing fits well and the MCB's will not stand straight no matter what you do. Bit crap really.
And as you say the terminals are made of cheese on their accessories, I use BG now.

 

[mtt.tr]

I have an Mk consumer unit and hate it! Nothing fits well and the MCB's will not stand straight no matter what you do. Bit crap really.
And as you say the terminals are made of cheese on their accessories, I use BG now.

Been using bg for a few years, annoyingly no complaints

 

[Kram]

Just seen this thread and before opening I thought Id say how crap MK are, but its already been said I think they might use a self tapping type screw to avoid proper factory tapping? After screwing once they are not tight. Terminals also at a silly angle.
What ****** me off most was that their single socket didnt physically fit into one of our boxes, so I had to get die grinder out and trim the excess plastic. Wasnt happy, wont buy them any more.

Much prefer BG which the terminals pull up and clamp the cable rather than the screw being the clamp much better surface area and contact on the wires.

However Ive swapped a few to USB double sockets. BG are rated 2.4A each and a bit slow I find.

Got a cheapy from The Range, rated 3.6A shared between the two ports, and its quick. I should really measure it. I went out tonight and bought a surface mount box and another one , so I can have it as an extension lead, for charging phone by my chair. Probably breaking a few rules there as box will be on floor, but seems adequate to me.

 

[grim_d]

No, im afraid mk truly are ****e

We've had this before on here...

Hundreds of MK sockets/switches fitted without a single issue.

It makes me wonder if there are a couple of supply streams and one factory is better than the other.

 

[Kayos]

We've had this before on here...

Hundreds of MK sockets/switches fitted without a single issue.

Modern MK is not the same as old MK

 

[mtt.tr]

Only mk that's still good is thier fcu and cooker isolator

 

[grim_d]

Modern MK is not the same as old MK

As I'm a pup, the hundreds of MK I've fitted have been modern, within the last few years.

Genuinely not a single issue, no tight screws, no issues with clamping.

Ok they are a bit tight in the box with 3 sets of cables but not so much as to consider it an issue.

 

[dobbslc]

You've probably got the fake ones and they're better that'll the genuine!

 

[Miranda]

Used to use Tenby until they disappeared a few years ago.

Wired the annexe with all MK and, tbh, had no real issues.

 

[J1nx]

think u'll find MK is now FRENCH owned.....Le Grande....also complete shxte.....

MK is owned by Honeywell isn’t it? An American company?

As previous posts, I’ve had boxes of double sockets, all marked ‘Made in UK’ and no real issues, maybe a couple of iffy switches but not enough to really remember, had a few more failures of their light switches tbh.

EDIT:
I was curious enough to google it, Wiki says…

In 1966 the company floated on the stock exchange and became MK Electric Holding Company Ltd. The company later became a subsidiary of Honeywell International in 2005 when its parent company Novar plc was acquired. Its factory in Southend-on-Seaproduced its one hundred millionth socket in 2014.[3]

 

[TechnicAl]

When I bought a load for the shed I intended to buy BG from Toolstation.....they were the dearest so I assumed the best..........they didnt have enough so I got Crabtree......they were good. I hadnt bought any for years so I was amazed how cheap they were £2 or £3.........how do they do it for that..........Im sure I paid more back in the 80s or 90s

 

[Blobber]

Back in the 80s there really was some rubbish about like Volex and a few others I cant remember, MK, Crabtree and Ashley were the go to makes then, it all changed a lot when I think it was the NHBC wanted a 10 year warranty on wiring accessories so all the manufacturers quality came on in leaps and bounds so MK had to drop the prices, I still wouldnt use MK out of choice though

 

[skotl]

As I'm a pup, the hundreds of MK I've fitted have been modern, within the last few years.

Genuinely not a single issue, no tight screws, no issues with clamping.

Ok they are a bit tight in the box with 3 sets of cables but not so much as to consider it an issue.

I don't disbelieve you, but I also don't understand the difference in experience. I've binned the latest MK socket in a rage so can't pull it out to photograph but there are three main problems I found:

1. Odd angle of the screws, aiming back into the wall
2. Cheese-metal used for screws so, compared with 1 (and 3 leading to multiple attempts) there's nothing left of the screwhead by the time you've finished
3. Screws seem to occupy around 1/3 of the clamp area, so it's almost impossible to get the cable sat in a way that gets it clamped

I've definitely not fitted hundreds of sockets like you, but of the maybe ~ten attempts in the last 3-4 years, all have been a disaster and then I've had no problem replacing them with either LAP or BG kit. I genuinely don't think that I have successfully fitted an MK socket in that time - all have been binned during installation.

Never again though.

 

[brightspark]

I don't disbelieve you, but I also don't understand the difference in experience. I've binned the latest MK socket in a rage so can't pull it out to photograph but there are three main problems I found:

1. Odd angle of the screws, aiming back into the wall
2. Cheese-metal used for screws so, compared with 1 (and 3 leading to multiple attempts) there's nothing left of the screwhead by the time you've finished
3. Screws seem to occupy around 1/3 of the clamp area, so it's almost impossible to get the cable sat in a way that gets it clamped

I've definitely not fitted hundreds of sockets like you, but of the maybe ~ten attempts in the last 3-4 years, all have been a disaster and then I've had no problem replacing them with either LAP or BG kit. I genuinely don't think that I have successfully fitted an MK socket in that time - all have been binned during installation.

Never again though.

i havent fitted hundreds if fitted thousands over 50 years . have fitted a complete house with the mk ones the punter bought and they are crap to fit. i refuse to fit them now

 

[jerrytug]

Just fitted a couple of these in a boat, the USB's are well placed so they don't interfere with 240 plugs.
Decent cable clamp screws you can get a bite on. Plenty of room for fat wires.
Plastic quality is equal to old school MK's in my opinion.

'British General' is the Chinese made brand, bought unseen on Amazon, I got lucky as they did not drive me mad.

 

[grim_d]

I don't disbelieve you, but I also don't understand the difference in experience. I've binned the latest MK socket in a rage so can't pull it out to photograph but there are three main problems I found:

1. Odd angle of the screws, aiming back into the wall
2. Cheese-metal used for screws so, compared with 1 (and 3 leading to multiple attempts) there's nothing left of the screwhead by the time you've finished
3. Screws seem to occupy around 1/3 of the clamp area, so it's almost impossible to get the cable sat in a way that gets it clamped

I've definitely not fitted hundreds of sockets like you, but of the maybe ~ten attempts in the last 3-4 years, all have been a disaster and then I've had no problem replacing them with either LAP or BG kit. I genuinely don't think that I have successfully fitted an MK socket in that time - all have been binned during installation.

Never again though.

That's what I'm saying, I don't understand the disparity!

Screws are brass, brass is soft, are you using a parallel tip screwdriver?

Are you pigtailing your cores?

There's no arguing that the plate clamp style terminals are better but proper core preparation makes screw clamp types a non issue.

I've never had a LAP product that wasn't junk unfortunately but BG never give any issues though in fairness I think I've only used them for outdoor sockets.

I guess its just differences in people though, like tools, for example I largely think snap-on are overpriced uncomfortable carp, others would sell their teeth for a socket set.

 

[skotl]

That's what I'm saying, I don't understand the disparity!

Screws are brass, brass is soft, are you using a parallel tip screwdriver?

Are you pigtailing your cores?

There's no arguing that the plate clamp style terminals are better but proper core preparation makes screw clamp types a non issue.

I've never had a LAP product that wasn't junk unfortunately but BG never give any issues though in fairness I think I've only used them for outdoor sockets.

I guess its just differences in people though, like tools, for example I largely think snap-on are overpriced uncomfortable carp, others would sell their teeth for a socket set.

Yep - definitely a parallel tip driver.
I don't like pigtailing cores but did on this occasion as it's a ring, but had similar problems with a single run on a spur (no surprise if twinning up on a ring won't work).

Oh well - life's too short and it's not as if MK is cheaper, so I'm happy to write it off to experience, albeit I'm still bemused that such a massive manufacturer can't get these basics at least a little better.

 

[The Artilleryman]

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

29 sockets and 15 light switches, SWMBO wondered why it took me over 2 months to do them and then to add insult to injury, serious grief from my physio (knackered knees).