MK Socket Outlet BS1363 Dismantled & Examined

An MK BS1363 double socket outlet is taken apart to see exactly how well it is constructed inside.

[fieldsofomagh]

Can't beat good home grown manufacturing at it's best.Good insight into socket construction.

[Spoif]

Here in Australia, we connect appliances to the mains with a wet sock on the live, and a rusty cart wheel spoke on the neutral.   A piece of wood or the rib of a cow is used to switch the power on and off.   Socket manufacturers generally supply a bucket with the plug, which is usually filled with brine before attempting to operate the switch.  As for Earth... ah, she'll be right.

[Graham_Langley]

Nice to see how they've designed out out cost while improving on the features and feel of the original Logic range. Pity the screws have gone, it means you can't dismantle one when a bit of grit gets into the switch. Many thanks for the video.

[phildxyz]

Many year ago (1960s) when my uncle was an inspector for the London Electricity Board he said that if the contractor had fitted MK they did not bother with any more inspection (apart from a whole installation insulation check with a megger) because they knew it would be quality! Not sure how true that is, but I never use anything other than MK in my house - why risk it for a few quid...

[donk]

If this didn't win some sort of design award I would be gobsmacked.

[simonparkinson]

I like the MK Logic Plus range. I use them on about 60% of jobs and the Crabtree white range on about 20%.

Something Crabtree have really got right is their shower pull cord switch.
You fit it to the ceiling joist with decent large screws, and THEN wire it up.
16mmsq? No problem! The design allows a nice radius for the conductors.
The terminal screws are angled so you don't shred your knuckles on the ceiling.
Some thoughtful person has even designed the neon in the lid, so you can insulation test all ways round.

[Tocsin-Bang]

Many moons ago I used to do a bit of house wiring, I only ever used MK. Made jobs easy and safe at the same time.

[Itisinthehand]

I'm just removing 50 year old MK fittings from a UK property. All working well with no sign of damage or fault. Good vid. You can see where the extra money goes.

[Stuntman]

Great video, definitely the best UK sockets you can buy. I have some pictures of sockets which have shockingly broken, all of which I have replaced with MK sockets of course. I should upload them for you all to see, just shows the danger of buying cheap ones not up to the job.

[SteveMonk]

Always been a fan of MK, it may be more expensive but as you have demonstrated it is far superior to the cheaper options in my opinion.

[TestECull]

American here. I've been watching most of your videos, quite fascinated with them. The UK plugs and sockets have my attention the most, as they would be useful to me. I do a lot of shadetree auto repairs and on occasion my power tools just wander off. Air compressors, usually, I've gone through a couple over the years and the perp can't be found. I think it would be a little harder to steal them if I fitted them, and my garage, with BS1363 plugs and sockets, as nobody else in the area would be able to use them and tracking down the person who pawned them off would be easy(Hey, uhh, did anyone pawn off an air compressor with a really funky plug that didn't fit anything recently?). Would also make it easier for me to use 240v appliances, which have a totally different socket over here that I don't have any of in my house at all.


Whereabouts would I get my hands on some quality BS1363 plugs and sockets over here? I tried looking on Amazon but all I found there was computer power cables and chinese deathdaptors.

[toadyw]

Thanks for the tear-down. I'd always wondered how the MK shutter worked, but too mean to destroy one to find out. The copper contact strips are (I believe) a hard copper alloy to give a firm and reliable sprung contact to the plug pins.
I've used MK for years and never been let down.

[turboslag]

Although this MK product is obviously good quality, I cannot help but think that their older versions were even better made, particularly the switch aspect. Although that pin blanking mechanism is an obvious improvement.

[PhilReynoldsLondonGeek]

If I'm replacing a socket, I fit only these or Hager Sollysta, another with 3-pin shuttering.

[warrengray]

Hi John any chance of doing similar vid about the MK D.S.S.O + USB

[kmcat]

Thank you I was asking about the MK socket in the least Video.

[Humannondancer]

I've just replaced one of these exact same sockets. The switch failed on one side likely due to debris getting into the very small gap on the top rear behind the switch placements, eventually leading to overheating after several years of use after a major redecorating project.
I may give MK a call to see if they're interested in breaking it down.

[sbusweb]

Even more cleverly... I believe they have early-make / late-break for the Neutral contact, in fact...

[echothehusky]

These are good but nowhere near as robust as the old MK sockets with the four plate screws. I tested a house recently with those fitted from new. 47 years ago. All worked without fault.

[callumBee]

For £3.73 from Screwfix only an idiot would spend less on something like this. No reason to go cheaper at that price...