That MK Rapid Fix socket thing

[timhoward]

Just curious, is anyone routinely using these? CEF were complaining that no one was buying them.
I had been obstinately in the "that's great but far too expensive to become my default socket" camp.
Until this week.
Faced with 2nd fixing kitchen sockets under cabinets and with my knees in a lot of pain, I thought "what the heck" and bought 10 of them. As expected they were fitted in no time.

So when working at arms reach and maybe if socket is feeding a spur I've decided they have their place and I reckon I'll keep a few to hand. I might even eventually help the price come down for the rest of you! Time to stop being an electrical snob....and bring on the FCU version please....

 

[Dustydazzler]

I have fitted one , think I paid around £6.60

so if you are just fitting 2 or 3 on a job then no problem

if i were fitting 30 or 40 as part of a re-wire or new build then they just aren't cost effective enough yet

 

[littlespark]

Only any good on new wiring… with decent length of cable.

Old stranded stuff, or it’s solid core been twisted together in the past… then there’s no time advantage.

 

[Dustydazzler]

Only any good on new wiring… with decent length of cable.

Old stranded stuff, or it’s solid core been twisted together in the past… then there’s no time advantage.

Same with any wago / lever connection ,if you have old twisted up cores then you will have to cut off the twisted bit and re-strip a nice new straight bit

 

[nicebutdim]

I have fitted one , think I paid around £6.60

so if you are just fitting 2 or 3 on a job then no problem

if i were fitting 30 or 40 as part of a re-wire or new build then they just aren't cost effective enough yet

That's about the height of it. I looked at these recently when buying Logic Plus 2g sockets.

Best price I could find was £29.49 for a box of 5 from Screwfix, against £29.99 for a box of 10x K2747WHI. £90 vs £176 was a bit much for me, although I could still regret this as the job isn't 2nd fixed yet.

 

[timhoward]

Agreed - too pricey to fit en-masse. But I'm beyond caring about the extra cost for smaller jobs now!

 

[pirate]

I'm keen to try them, and as only an occasional installer i don't really mind the cost. Yesterday I was fitting a microwave sensor in a bin store, and the socket in the communal entrance was earmarked as a possible supply point, but the isolator in the "electrical room" didn't switch it off. I had plugged my socket tester in, expecting it to stop buzzing when i switched the isolator off (prior to checking for dead properly). Long story short, said tester told me "missing earth" and the MFT told the same story. On further investigation, the cable feeding the socket was wired to the live side of the isolator, and the earth wire was unsleeved, about a foot long, and merely tucked into the sleeving covering another earth wire in the back box, so hardly a reliable connection. All fixed, but tester still very unhappy. Took the socket off again, put on a spare and all was fine. Dodgy socket, dodgy wiring, and all done by a previous owner who liked a bit of DIY...

 

[Dustydazzler]

Agreed - too pricey to fit en-masse. But I'm beyond caring about the extra cost for smaller jobs now!

Small jobs are fine if you are happy to go a bit posh , and extra £30-40 on materials is neither here or there for me anymore I just buy what I want and bill the customer accordingly

 

[Electric Magic]

That's about the height of it. I looked at these recently when buying Logic Plus 2g sockets.

Best price I could find was £29.49 for a box of 5 from Screwfix, against £29.99 for a box of 10x K2747WHI. £90 vs £176 was a bit much for me, although I could still regret this as the job isn't 2nd fixed yet.

You can get them at 5.34 Inc vat at Edwardes if you buy 10 or more

 

[nicebutdim]

You can get them at 5.34 Inc vat at Edwardes if you buy 10 or more

And £19+ VAT for delivery to NI on orders under £200.

Regardless, it's still close enough to twice the price that I wouldn't be buying them in bulk.

 

[Electric Magic]

And £19+ VAT for delivery to NI on orders under £200.

Regardless, it's still close enough to twice the price that I wouldn't be buying them in bulk.

Apologies hadn't noted you're in NI

 

[nicebutdim]

Apologies hadn't noted you're in NI

If only I could fail to notice, also

 

[Electric Magic]

I don't use them myself (yet) on the basis that they'd only save me about 2 minutes a socket and hence are worth about £2 to me and cost £3 more than my go to sockets (Click Mode).

 

[Vortigern]

Just done two domestic re-wires in Bristol with them. Around 25-30 sockets per. Never even looked at the price. It was a new re-wire. I think the time saved on labour costs just about balances the extra cost in this case. Also, as is often the case, when you have to remove them and/or replace them, nice and quick. I like the fact they are a much more reliable connection than stupid screws which I have always not liked. No torque considerations either. I think they are a step forward personally. As mentioned above, when you have to get in kitchen cupboards and reach over counters they are worth their weight in saving the back pains.

 

[GBDamo]

Pretty much all been said.

They have their uses, confind spaces, but too pricey for big jobs.

 

[IAmSparkytus!]

First time I've seen these and I'm intrigued...

• Are the MK version the only type out there?
• Do they only come in white?
• Is it only sockets that are available? What about spurs?
• Do they have test points?

 

[nicebutdim]

No idea about other manufacturers, but to the best of my knowledge MK so far only offer K2747 with lever connectors and only white moulded. They do have test points.

Managed to grab 10 of these on ebay yesterday for £3.70 a piece and should soon be able to form an opinion about them.

 

[timhoward]

First time I've seen these and I'm intrigued...

• Are the MK version the only type out there?
• Do they only come in white?
• Is it only sockets that are available? What about spurs?
• Do they have test points?

Only aware of white double sockets, no single sockets or spurs etc.
Test points, yes, though a little care is needed as the N test point is above the Live connections and the L test point is above the N connections!

 

[dougalthedog]

Surely these don't only come in white? Searching but can't find any other option or a fused spur. They might be more popular if there was a better range.

 

[Dustydazzler]

I believe a single 13a socket and swi/fue/spur will be available early next year, presumably only in white to begin with