Adsibob Posted May 16, 2023 Share Posted May 16, 2023 My sparky installed an external socket made by British General. It didn’t survive long enough for me to use it. Maybe somebody knocked into it, or maybe the outdoor temperature changes cracked the plastic, but it died. Screwfix refunded me the £9.95 purchase price but have refused to pay towards the electrician’s charges to replace the unit. Lesson learnt: don’t buy cheap! The next cheapest unit (at about £26) is Knightsbridge but I’ve never been happy with any sockets I’ve bought from them. They have all had some aesthetic design flaw or make an annoying noise when in use that just smacks of poor engineering. The next price up (at least in Screwfix’s catalogue) is MK Masterseal. Expensive, about £42! Wondered on people’s thoughts of these brands? was I just unlucky with BG, or is this a genuinely sh*t brand? Thoughts on Knightsbridge and MK? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelvin Posted May 17, 2023 Share Posted May 17, 2023 I doubt outdoor temp change will crack the plastic. It’s been hit by someone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyT Posted May 17, 2023 Share Posted May 17, 2023 I use both, MK master seal and BG, I generally find people can’t figure out how to open them and damage the lid. one you show them to press where is says press the light bulb moment is there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProDave Posted May 17, 2023 Share Posted May 17, 2023 No problems with any BG outside socket that I have ever fitted including the one on my own house. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adsibob Posted May 17, 2023 Author Share Posted May 17, 2023 So it’s clear that the MK Masterseal has a higher impact resistance rating, but is that worth spending an extra £61.40 for? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gone West Posted May 17, 2023 Share Posted May 17, 2023 7 hours ago, Adsibob said: So it’s clear that the MK Masterseal has a higher impact resistance rating, but is that worth spending an extra £61.40 for? Not comparing like with like as one is single pole and the other is double pole. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adsibob Posted May 17, 2023 Author Share Posted May 17, 2023 26 minutes ago, Gone West said: Not comparing like with like as one is single pole and the other is double pole. I’m afraid that doesn’t mean much to me. What does the extra pole mean in tens of cost benefit analysis? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gone West Posted May 17, 2023 Share Posted May 17, 2023 Just now, Adsibob said: I’m afraid that doesn’t mean much to me. What does the extra pole mean in tens of cost benefit analysis? It means both poles are switched so is potentially safer. I'm sure MK must make SP versions. We need @ProDave to explain in more detail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProDave Posted May 17, 2023 Share Posted May 17, 2023 Without a doubt double pole is safer. Why are you looking at sockets with an RCD built in? Your RCD protection should be at the consumer unit, having more than one RCD is not safer, but it becomes pot luck which one trips. So assuming you don't need an RCD because your wiring is already protected by an RCD in the CU and you want DP switching the choice becomes: https://www.screwfix.com/p/british-general-ip66-13a-2-gang-dp-weatherproof-outdoor-switched-socket/67928 £8.99 https://www.screwfix.com/p/knightsbridge-op9n-ip66-13a-2-gang-dp-weatherproof-outdoor-switched-socket/841vf £17.99 https://www.screwfix.com/p/mk-ip66-13a-2-gang-dp-weatherproof-outdoor-switched-socket/98279 £29.99 for me it's the BG. You would have to break that 3 times more often than the MK for the MK to become better value. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adsibob Posted May 17, 2023 Author Share Posted May 17, 2023 26 minutes ago, ProDave said: Why are you looking at sockets with an RCD built in? The socket will mainly be used for lawn mower and other tools. I naively assumed that to be safe, I needed RCD protection in case I cut the power cable for the lawn mower. But the house was just rewired from scratch, so does that mean we will have RCD integrated on all power sockets at the consumer unit? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProDave Posted May 17, 2023 Share Posted May 17, 2023 45 minutes ago, Adsibob said: But the house was just rewired from scratch, so does that mean we will have RCD integrated on all power sockets at the consumer unit? You should have if the electrician has done it properly. It has been a long time since they became mandatory. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyT Posted May 17, 2023 Share Posted May 17, 2023 No point in paying for 2 RCD in series. They only Have a 7% failure rate🤪 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adsibob Posted May 17, 2023 Author Share Posted May 17, 2023 Thanks guys, you’ve saved me a lot of money! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted May 17, 2023 Share Posted May 17, 2023 13 hours ago, ProDave said: No problems with any BG outside socket that I have ever fitted including the one on my own house. +1. No problems with the BG one I fitted to the wall outside. Saying that I haven't wired it up yet... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gone West Posted May 18, 2023 Share Posted May 18, 2023 22 hours ago, ProDave said: https://www.screwfix.com/p/british-general-ip66-13a-2-gang-dp-weatherproof-outdoor-switched-socket/67928 £8.99 @ProDave Thanks for the heads up. I've just bought four to replace mine, one of which the face plate had warped and one switch wasn't usable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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