MK Logic Plus vs Hager Sollysta - which one should I choose?

[Alla Musica]

If you ask the public you will get a different answer!

• Most folks on this forum will go for better quality (so less call-backs to fix things), coupled with a reasonable cost.
• Most non-electrical friends of mine chose solely on looks!

Same - I'm also aiming for better quality (rather than look) and that's why I keep asking about durability / reliability.

As a foreigner in the UK, I do find the qualities of British wiring accessories truly amazing (despite its slightly archaic look - I do like the look though!). Back home in China, I'm already using 13 Varilight V-Pro white plastic dimmers (I brought all of which with me on returning to China). The oldest one has been in service for over 4 years, and not even one scratch on the faceplate!!! The newest ones are in my profile pic, installed a year ago.

 

[pc1966]

Back home in China, I'm already using 13 Varilight V-Pro white plastic dimmers (I brought all of which with me on returning to China).

Wow - that is a lot of light-controlled rooms/areas!

The oldest one has been in service for over 4 years, and not even one scratch on the faceplate!!! The newest ones are in my profile pic, installed a year ago.

The Varilight V-Pro is also my go-to choice for dimmers, as much due to the (relatively) good behaviour with LED lamps.

 

[Alla Musica]

I would imagine that our switched sockets & fused plugs would be more of a novelty!

How standardised are socket outlets in China? (i.e. is there one type that is used most places)

Yes - fused double- / triple-pole switches would be truly a novelty! I've also thought of USA switches - unfortunately the faceplates don't match in size, and the switches aren't designed for our voltage (220V)!

Unfortunately, Chinese and British plugs / outlets are not interchangeable so I'm less interested in switched outlets so far.

In China, a standard outlet would look like below:

Bi-pin at the top, and tri-pin at the bottom.

The bi-pin at the top suits both flat pins (Chinese standard) and round pins (EU unearthed bi-pin).

However, there seems to be no exact standard on how far apart these two should be apart.

 

[Alla Musica]

Wow - that is a lot of light-controlled rooms/areas!

The Varilight V-Pro is also my go-to choice for dimmers, as much due to the (relatively) good behaviour with LED lamps.

I'm a bit OCD so I'm having all the lights in the bedrooms dimmable. So I started with 3 in the master bedroom, one in the second bedroom in 2019.

As you said they worked really well with dimmable LEDs, and so in the same year I added another 2 in the master bedroom.

In 2020 on return following the COVID I added another 2 in the second bedroom.

In 2022 I added 3 to the living room as I wanted a bit of ambience there! Too many gangs within just four backboxes meant it was impossible to give each gang one independent dimmer so I grouped them by their purpose (general lighting, or, decorative), i.e. collective dimming + independent on/off.

Been enjoying it!

 

[nicebutdim]

My first choice these days is Scolmore Click for solid reliable quality at a good price. I've lost faith in MK products in general as they have let slide the quality of many of their products.

I'm not a fan of MK distribution, which are no longer MK/Honeywell products, but can't fault their standard accessories.

 

[Alla Musica]

I'm not a fan of MK distribution, which are no longer MK/Honeywell products, but can't fault their standard accessories.

Ah, no wonder I don't see MK consumer units anywhere..

 

[nicebutdim]

Ah, no wonder I don't see MK consumer units anywhere..

There are plenty around and they're still made under license with MK name attached.

They have a few traits which make them less than popular with installers, but nothing that would affect function. At one time MK boards would have been quite popular, but many other brands are on offer that perhaps serve different target markets better. Some brands offer better quality, price or ease of installation, while a few brands manage to hit more than one of these objectives.

MK distribution has kept up to date with all technological advances, but competing brands would be more likely to appeal to installers.

 

[baldelectrician]

I used to use MK about 20 years ago but switched to Hager over 15 years ago

The quality is good, I also like that they now do dimmer frames that let you put other dimmer modules inside- that way you can have a Varilight or Bell dimmer inside with the Hager frame- nice touch.

I find the quality of the sockets particuarly good- the safety shutters require equal pressure on all 3 terminals to allow them to open, the neons on the DP switches are actually LED's and are also internally wired

The acessories have all the terminals facing up for ease of wiring, all in better design and higher quality.

 

[Alla Musica]

I used to use MK about 20 years ago but switched to Hager over 15 years ago

The quality is good, I also like that they now do dimmer frames that let you put other dimmer modules inside- that way you can have a Varilight or Bell dimmer inside with the Hager frame- nice touch.

View attachment 111063

I find the quality of the sockets particuarly good- the safety shutters require equal pressure on all 3 terminals to allow them to open, the neons on the DP switches are actually LED's and are also internally wired

The acessories have all the terminals facing up for ease of wiring, all in better design and higher quality.

Wow, thanks for sharing the DIY dimmer parts!

With regards to your switch to Hager - was it the Sollysta series that you switched to?
Before that, was it the Logic Plus that you used to have? (Sorry I'm simply curious, especially when these things date back to.)

 

[baldelectrician]

Wow, thanks for sharing the DIY dimmer parts!

With regards to your switch to Hager - was it the Sollysta series that you switched to?
Before that, was it the Logic Plus that you used to have? (Sorry I'm simply curious, especially when these things date back to.)

I used to use GET acessories, now defunct.
I kept away from MK as they were relying on their name.
I used MK consumer units for a couple of years and left them when they moved the manufacture from UK / Europe to the far east- went from NO faulty MCB's to 2 a month (less than 0.25% to 12.5%)

I use Sollysta acessories

 

[Alla Musica]

I used to use GET acessories, now defunct.
I kept away from MK as they were relying on their name.
I used MK consumer units for a couple of years and left them when they moved the manufacture from UK / Europe to the far east- went from NO faulty MCB's to 2 a month (less than 0.25% to 12.5%)

I use Sollysta acessories

Sorry for the late reply.

Do the terminal screws in the Sollysta series hold the wires tight? Unfortunately Amazon reviews keeps failing the MK Logic Plus series for their terminals...

 

[baldelectrician]

Sorry for the late reply.

Do the terminal screws in the Sollysta series hold the wires tight? Unfortunately Amazon reviews keeps failing the MK Logic Plus series for their terminals...

Yes, the terminal screws are also captive so they don't fall out

 

[pc1966]

Unfortunately Amazon reviews keeps failing the MK Logic Plus series for their terminals...

Recently some of the screws seem overly tight - maybe partly intentional so they don't shake loose during transport but they seem to have gone too far the other way. You need a properly sized screwdriver to avoid chewing any tight ones, ideally 4.5mm but 4mm blade is OK.

And yes, you should not need to have a perfect driver for a terminal!

 

[Risteard]

Both are of decent quality.

MK state that over 80% of the products they sell in the UK and Ireland are made in the UK.

I'm of the opinion that Sollysta is more aesthetically pleasing, but that's subjective opinion.

Logic Plus can be purchased pretty much anywhere, wheras Sollysta isn't so widely stocked or used and for that reason it's more difficult to comment on its long term reliability.

Definitely a vote for Hager Sollysta for me. Use lots of it. Don't rate MK at all.

 

[loz2754]

Sorry for the late reply.

Do the terminal screws in the Sollysta series hold the wires tight? Unfortunately Amazon reviews keeps failing the MK Logic Plus series for their terminals...

The terminal screws in MK Logic Plus have always been hard to turn in my experience.
Scolmore Click accessories hold the wires very well with minimal tightening of the screws.