BG isn't much of a cut above the cheap Chinese Ebay tat, I'm afraid. Certainly not British...... Buy MK if you want decent reliable quality and some assurance around safety.

In fairness, I have just replaced a whole collection of British General sockets with LAP equivalents. The LAP sockets are slightly better in terms of finish and positive switching action, but the British General ones were truly awful to begin with, and certainly not a benchmark of quality (look to MK if you want that!)

Would not install this rubbish.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoZ1_aEDPos

Although I`ve fitted many ordinary sockets with MKs, I just don`t think it`s worth disturbing the wiring to fit an unknown brand

Good find. Now just waiting for someone to find a black nickel one to match all the plugs and switches in my house! :smile:

Wonder if you can fit these into a shallow box

BG isn't much of a cut above the cheap Chinese Ebay tat, I'm afraid. Certainly not British...... Buy MK if you want decent reliable quality and some assurance around safety.

Says "Masterplug" in blurb Argos page - are BG and Masterplug one and the same?

Wouldn't agree the LAP brand is crap either to be fair' I think you'll find the quality between the different brands are very similar if not equal.

Heat added though decent price :smiley:

Those dimensions measure depth from front plate.

I paid my electrician £35 each for these in March been looking for some to replace one I managed to melt. Not the sockets fault, it was a cheap Chinese travel adapter. Thanks op

​Picture 3 shows they are low profile as the the other poster stated the dimensions will be from the front of the plate or switch not the size of the backbox

Would explain why the picture states fits 25mm box then.

Even so, wherever possibly I'd always use a 35mm box for a socket outlet, 25mm can more often than not be tight for 2 (or 3) sets of cables.

In fairness, I have just replaced a whole collection of British General sockets with LAP equivalents. The LAP sockets are slightly better in terms of finish and positive switching action, but the British General ones were truly awful to begin with, and certainly not a benchmark of quality (look to MK if you want that!)

Although I`ve fitted many ordinary sockets with MKs, I just don`t think it`s worth disturbing the wiring to fit an unknown brand

Nothing wrong with LAP had plenty of their stuff & not a single problem or fault

good find op, heat added

Great price, hot from me.

Can anyone recommend a brand of switches/sockets that do a brushed steel finish that are of decent quality? I'd happily pay a little more for greater quality.

Anyone recommended any which do QC/Fast charging - at least 2 A per USB socket rather than 2.1A shared?

USB outlets are always on. Be aware and consider implications before fitting.

I have fitted in 25mm box ring main if your neat with wiring OK .... but 35mm better if not retro fitting

White ones are back in fashion now!

Would not install this rubbish.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoZ1_aEDPos

Useful product at moment this type of thing, but the thing with this is USB will be quickly outdated and replaced.

Best price I've seen for these. Bonus that they are 25mm. Finally bit and bought

don't think British General is any good and with USB chargers I would be a little hesitant in purchasing a budget price item.


(My local electrical store stopped supplying British General stuff)

Used LAP sockets and their LED light bulbs with no issues at all. Still think these are a waste of time and how would you explain to your phone/tablet manufacturer if this caused your device to malfunction as most will question this now as technically you should only use genuine chargers supplied or approved by the manufacture.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Electrical-Masterplug-Brushed-Switched-NBS22UG/dp/B00ITWLAA0/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1482327184&sr=8-7&keywords=usb+plug+socket

v.similar (identical?) product - £16.50 on Amazon for a 1-pack. Heat from me!

The other version is significantly cheaper

http://www.argos.co.uk/product/5586220

I had these fitted in my kitchen recently, they are rubbish. Had two single isolation switches with exactly the same fault, basically they'll switch on but not switch off (despite the switch being in the off position), no good for my under-cupboard lighting. Also one of the two-gang mains sockets (without USB), the left plug socket, you just couldn't put a plug in anymore, it just wouldn't go in. The other sockets in the kitchen seem ok so far, but they don't really get used very much. Three failures in three months is very bad. The only positive is that they look quite nice, but they are cheap Chinese rubbish (or at least it seems like they are). Mine were branded BG (look identical to the above), but to be fair the company I bought them from on Ebay didn't quibble when it came to replacing the faulty ones.

No, BUT they are "premium" and pricy, and you get what you pay for. I know I'd trust them to maintain at least some minimum standards like "the good old days" at the expense of high costs vs the budget brands working to a price at the expense of quality. :wink:

As I mentioned before - avoid screwfix and if you want proper quality sockets that deliver the stated power via USB go for the powerknight brand from 7dayshop - have 6 or 7 in the house they are excellent ! ..... a wee bit pricey but you wont need to return these
Powerknight from 7dayshop

Haven't installed this particular one but the ones I bought in Screwfix all said a 25mm (shallow) box is OK but that wasn't true and I ended up having to buy a 10mm spacer. Luckily it doesn't look too bad in my white kitchen but it could look awful elsewhere.

What's so wrong with ScrewFix?


The implications being what exactly?

30% more expensive than the OP for half the product (i.e. a single pack rather than twin pack...... I had a feeling recently that Wickes had gone expensive and this proves it to me.

I was replying to someone who had asked about Other brushed steel ones. When I bought them they were all on a different offer, I also prefer that they are screwless.

I bought several of their sockets a year ago - a good test is the Raspberry Pi2 - there were colored boxes constantly on show (they appear when not enough currrent is provided to the device ) - with the Powerknights - not a problem with any of them - returned the screwfix ones - I read on a forum that the screwfix models werent providing even half the stated output - I dont have the link to hand but it is out there .....

I've recently renewed all my switches and sockets with this same brand, not had a problem with them and seem very good quality for the price . The matching sockets and switches are very cheap on electrical showroom website, plus free delivery.

That have a go DIY'ers trying to cram these into insufficiently seized back boxs can very easily break their ring final and then have a 2.5mm heating element running around their house waiting to burn it down when enough current is demanded !!

why don't the USB plugs have a switch!?!?!?

I am 20 years NICEIC approved contractor and owner of an electrical contracting company

Some of the comments are a joke

BG are fine

MK are overpriced and not that premium these days

Schneider are the best of the best (pro tip)


LAP are amazing....

Well you may be unlucky but always buy your parts from somewhere reputable in case you have to return it

I have fitted a lot of BG and never had any issues

LAP is good I bought one to try from Screwfix for £17 very please and quality

LAP ones were 3.1A also

I would not touch these with a barge pole. Would only install the MK ones and they are very expensive. Read up on these, it's not worth the risk.

I'm amazed people are prepared to pay so much for metal plug sockets when plastic ones can be had for pennies.

Have you tried checking if that socket has gotten married? I believe that's a common problem.....

Premium? Are you aware of the recalls on their consumer units, RCBO's and 100A switch disconnectors due to fire risk?

I know, we need MK for all the posh people

​have a look at your earth on your plug. I had the same issue with it not accepting a plug and discovered it was a slightly wobbly earth in a cheap plug causing the issue.

​no think that was just the socket. I went with my electrician to the wholesaler to choose a style of socket. That was the RRP listed in the catalog although I didn't see it separately itemised on my bill.

I wouldn't buy MK Dis Boards! Merlin Gerin for that, surely!?!? Also part of Schneider! :wink:

Bit of Albany and Grosvenor Rope Edge for the posh people, right? :wink:

No deal! You can buy them all year round at electrical online for £6 each!

Ooooooh. Outside rockers. Niche..... personally I always liked a hospital install!

Showing as £29.99 for me.

Deal ended but 2 white ones in B&Q are £15, other finishes are reduced too.