Cra*tree

[grumpyjohn01]

Has anyone else noticed how utterly terrible the latest Crabtree basic range of accessories has become? I took some FCUs back today as they were simply atrocious, no better than generics. Its a shame as I have used them as my go-to for many years but am now looking for another brand for van stock etc any recommendations for value for money?

 

[Mike Johnson]

Things change with the passing of time, once Jaguar where a top of the range car. ?

 

[mattg4321]

Things change with the passing of time, once Jaguar where a top of the range car. ?

When was that?

 

[grumpyjohn01]

Once upon a time Grabtree was top range liked the shape of the sockets. I even preferred it to the MK logic range.

Indeed, I have a NOS FCU from circa 2004, put it next to a current one and the quality difference is very obvious..Superficially they look the same from the front but everything is worse about the 2021 item, terminals, layout, grade of plastics used, overall weight, metals used, general feel and heft.
I'd happily pay more for a return to previous standard because I have thousands of Crabtree accessories out there in hundreds of installs and its nice to provide continuity to customers and an assurance of quality.

 

[Mike Johnson]

When was that?

Just before they stopped making the E type.

 

[grumpyjohn01]

Once upon a time Grabtree was top range liked the shape of the sockets. I even preferred it to the MK logic range.

Btw does your username refer to Clun castle?

 

[Colin Jenkins]

Indeed, I have a NOS FCU from circa 2004, put it next to a current one and the quality difference is very obvious..Superficially they look the same from the front but everything is worse about the 2021 item, terminals, layout, grade of plastics used, overall weight, metals used, general feel and heft.
I'd happily pay more for a return to previous standard because I have thousands of Crabtree accessories out there in hundreds of installs and its nice to provide continuity to customers and an assurance of quality.

Hello GrumpyJohn. I have found exactly the same as you have. I don't understand why two well-established decades-old UK brand names have decided to significantly reduce quality to save a few pence on an electrical accessory. I won't use either of them anymore, and will never return to them. Sad.

 

[timhoward]

Btw does your username refer to Clun castle?

Wondered same!

 

[telectrix]

think the last time i used MK sockets, they were 15A round pin. brilliant for stuffing extra wires in with the pins when TVs came witout fitted plugs.

and mother had a bayonet adapter in the light. bulb one side, iron in the other. dad had plenty of fuse wire from Woolies.

 

[brianmoooore]

Rot set in for Crabtree when 4304/4306 changed from round terminals to rectangular ones.. Fixing screws also changed from plated brass to plated steel around the same time.

 

[Rockingit]

Click and Hager for me, never had an issue. Click is great for modular switches, Hager you get backed-off terminal screws (or always used to, been a while since I've bought a new box).

 

[grumpyjohn01]

think the last time i used MK sockets, they were 15A round pin. brilliant for stuffing extra wires in with the pins when TVs came witout fitted plugs.

and mother had a bayonet adapter in the light. bulb one side, iron in the other. dad had plenty of fuse wire from Woolies.

I've got one of those for occasional use when no other power is available and don't want to trail leads around site!

 

[pc1966]

Another vote for click mode. Very reliable. Used to fit BG as standard, but would get the odd faulty switch, high resistance through sockets etc. Never have that problem with click.

A friend of mine replaced all accessories in her new home with BG metal ones for aesthetic reasons. Generally they looked fine but about 2 out of 20 odd were faulty in some way which is not very impressive. Though I think one was a dimmer that stopped after one bulb blew. Again, not very good...

 

[7029 dave]

Btw does your username refer to Clun castle?

No it refers to 7/029 imperial cable, but without the slash.?

 

[grumpyjohn01]

No it refers to 7/029 imperial cable, but without the slash.?

Hence the avatar...!
?

 

[ipf]

A friend of mine replaced all accessories in her new home with BG metal ones for aesthetic reasons. Generally they looked fine but about 2 out of 20 odd were faulty in some way which is not very She was nealyimpressive. Though I think one was a dimmer that stopped after one bulb blew. Again, not very good...

A few years ago a family friend decided to do the same, a big kitchen. Just bought a load off the cuff and decided to have a go. I was asked to take a look by her son. A few back box/frame earth problems but it wasn't a bad effort........considering she was touching eighty years of age.