Whats the best accesory brand

[zeroberto]

When I was starting out some 30 years ago It was pretty well drummed into me that the best to worst accessories to use were

first - MK
then - Crabtree
then nothing much to choose between the rest except for
last - any CEF own brand!

whats your rating now?

another 2 questions
1 - Crabtree still a step above most?
2 - anyone tried the new Hager range of sockets/switches. Local independent has them in and must say the look terrifiic with a decent build quality as well.

cheers

Z

 

[jay sean]

For me it has to be MK, the terminal screws ready to connect, cables are cut the same length and they look good against any colour of wall, dont use anything else at home, especially if I 'get them from work'

 

[Des 56]

When crabtree brought out their current socket design, I tried them and thought they were the biggest load of crap to come out of the company
I said then, and nothing has changed to alter my opinion,that I wouldn't use them in any of my installations

They went from No 1 to the bottom of the pile in one clean sweep

 

[Sparky Ninja]

MK all the way for me.

Never had a problem with their switches, they've always appeared to be the best.


however the 45amp pull cord by MK is an absolute dog. Very hard to use.
Crabtree's alternative is a million times better.

 

[Phil]

Go to agree on the mk front really. I like the sockets as the others and the fcu`s but I don`t like the light switches at all. I also use a lot of the elcctric ctr`s own gear, good gear and cheap enough too. got to say though it also depends on the job what I use and I always give them the option on the range of accessories and price accordingly.

 

[TPES]

Another for click mode too, my first choice at the minute, and customers like them and all the mini grid range is all interchangeable without messing about with the yoke, easy to swap and change switches.. Cant fault them

 

[Deleted member 26818]

Never liked MK lighting pull cord switches.
Allways seem to stick after a little while.
I've found that drawing on the contact surfaces of the ratchet mechanisim with a pencil will lubricate them for a while.

 

[brucelee]

I dont like the Mk switches for design and not easy to terminate when taking loops to switch or the skts very stiff to screw the terminal screws and the slots on the terminal screws of the sockets arent deep enough so damage easy never ever use them again unless asked for for the price i think they are useless

I used to like fitting legrand accessories and hager ccus when doing new build also we used to fit heritage brass skts with crabtree inserts on the larger more expensive this was yrs ago
ashley, volex to be honest the MK ones have been the worst i have ever fitted wouldnt reccomend them

 

[cadspark]

I've been using the new Hager Sollytsta range now for a few months. Good price and looks and so easy to wire in. I really like the loop in for neutrals on the switches which is handy when looping at the switch.
I also like Legrand but sometimes need deeper back boxes for their shallow design.
I used to be Crabtree all the way but when they started making their sockes abroad with those horrible terminals I dropped the brand apart from for Shower Pull cords. Just hope they don't change those.

 

[Dunc]

I use the Scolmore Click range of accessories. The only gripe I have about their gear is with the new 12 and 18 gang grid switches. Worst design ever in my opinion as the yokes are a dog to get to the right position for the front plate to fit properly without bowing at the screw points. If they adapted a couple of the MK ideas they'de be on to a winner. If the install is all white plastic I have used MK grids side by side with the Click Mode gear as the profiles are very similar and it ensures I don't have to mess around with the Scolmore grids. I personnally think the design is so bad that I will be asking questions at Elex when I go in September. I suppose it's horses for courses but I can't understand why anyone would rate the Crabtree accessories. Their CUs are good but the sockets and switches I've fitted were not to my taste to say the least!

 

[sparkdog]

I like Contactum for consumer units not sure if anyone else does.

 

[MarkieSparkie]

Absolute worse brand GET, lost count of the number (100s) of replacement single and double sockets I've had to replace on a call-out or PIR coding. Any heavy handed operation of the switches results in fracture or separation of the rear switch moulding or in a minority of cases popping of one or more of the moulding, self-tapping, fixing screws. :banghead: Usually the first signs of trouble are stiff switch operation, leading to permanent latching one way.
When doing a PIR, if I see a square corner socket plate, I remove it to check the brand and switch moulding integrity. I recommend the replacement at the earliest opportunity if it's an apparently sound GET model, just to cover my back if it should fail at a later date.

 

[SoulTy1066]

MK all the way for me.

Never had a problem with their switches, they've always appeared to be the best.


however the 45amp pull cord by MK is an absolute dog. Very hard to use.
Crabtree's alternative is a million times better.

Always used MK apart from 18 month on MOD job which was all Crabtree, it did a job but the terminals weren't the best.
But in say that MK's FSU are like this, also their 2 gang plastic switches are crap and look horrid too rather make one of these out of grid components (would cost too much though)
Has anyone used the new Ashley/Hager range? they have neutral connections in the switch plates?

 

[SoulTy1066]

A company i used to sub contract too use DETA brushed chrome accessories and the terminal screw would snap on at least 50% of them. They used these as an alternative to MK but if you needed to undo a terminal it meant you'd have to replace the accessory (not so cost efficient me thinks). When questioning the DETA guy at their stand at ELEX he point blankly told me that this never happened and there was a problem with them. Anyone else think they crap?

 

[RWJ]

Has anyone used the new Ashley/Hager range? they have neutral connections in the switch plates?

They're good like most hager stuff... Some like the look I personally have seen accessories I prefer more.

They do have a neutral connection in the switch.... But that's a whole different story/thread (That lasted 3 weeks, over three different threads running in to 100's of posts) and not one that I particularity want to dredge up.

 

[sparks_114]

On the whole I'd probably say MK is my preferred brand but I alternate between MK and Crabtree depending what it is and what it's for. Design wise I'd say the MK socket is sleek and doesn't shout about what it does. The Crabtree socket is more the sort of: "yes I am a socket right here giving you power". On the MK sockets I find the motion too short for the double poll switching. Not fond of the MK boards, prefer Crabtree or Wylex.