The Meridian Fire Rated Downlight range is getting a whole new suite of products over the next few months and starting with fittings for GU10 lamps.

The existing range of both IP65 fixed downlights plus IP20 fixed and adjustable fittings are retained, but made more contractor friendly with the addition of new Quick Fix tool-less connectors. In addition, there are new Open Body fittings designed for improved performance and ease of installation – again via the Quick Fix loop in/loop out terminal block. This range features ultra thin bezels and is designed for LED lamps only.

Available in white, chrome and satin chrome finishes, these ranges, built with all steel bodies, are resistant to 30, 60 and 90 minute tests and approved to BS476 pt21 Standards.

www.cedelectrical.co.uk.

The post New Meridian Fire Rated Downlights appeared first on Professional Electricians Wholesaler.

In this review George Robertson, a trusted ‘product tester’ for our sister title PE, gets acquainted with the Essentials range of switches and sockets from MK Electric.

As a brand, MK has always been considered the ‘gold standard’ of wiring devices, so when I was offered the chance to try out the MK Essentials range I didn’t need much convincing. I’m pleased to say I wasn’t disappointed.

MK Essentials is a range of switches and sockets that feature the usual hallmarks of MK quality and flair but are designed for those jobs where a smaller budget might be available. This has resulted in a well-designed range of white, curved, screwless accessories that honestly wouldn’t look out of place anywhere you fit them.

Multi-purpose

The range has everything you might need: single and double switched or unswitched socket outlets, (with or without USB ports); cooker controls (single or double, with or without neon indicators); LED dimmers; round pin switch-socket and unswitched socket outlets; and a range of grid plus and euro modules.

I was particularly taken with the switches in both wide rocker and small rocker types, which offer up to four gang, two-way switches on a single back box plate. More to the point, they’re all quick, easy and a delight to fit. The cover plate simply flicks off the back unit but, once in place, this is held firmly in position by four robust pins, while the screw holes on the main body allow enough lateral movement to get the units positioned correctly every time.

MK may have designed these as a ‘budget’ range but they neither look nor feel that way when you’re fitting them. If I have one small gripe, it’s that MK didn’t provide me with all the units necessary to replace the switches and sockets that my other half suddenly decided needed to be changed at home after she’d seen the quality of the ones I fitted! 

Value

Having checked the pricing point of the Essentials range at my local suppliers, I was pleasantly surprised. Anyone who knows me well will realise this isn’t something I’d say in jest when it comes to spending my own money.

I’d seriously recommend that other electricians have a look at the Essentials collection, as they could easily become your ‘go to’ accessory range for the future.

At the very least you’ll have the confidence that everything you fit will not only match correctly and look good, but it will also have that MK cachet behind it.

To learn more about the Essentials range from MK, visit: https://www.mkelectric.com/en-gb/Products/Pages/MK-Essentials.aspx

The post MK Electric Essentials range appeared first on Professional Electricians Wholesaler.

Cattano has today launched a new solution designed to help electricians fit socket plates correctly on the first attempt.

The SocketMate is a new product for an old problem. When electricians fit socket plates to back boxes, repeated adjustments are often necessary before the socket is level. By simply fitting a SocketMate, the electrician can be sure the plate is level first time, every time.

SocketMate is a spirit level which plugs into electrical sockets, which aims to simplify the socket-fitting process for the electrician. They can check the socket is level as they fit it – no need for repeated re-adjustments which saves time in every application — whether it’s a single socket installation, a full rewire, or a 1000-home new build project.

Peter Gaukrodger, Director at Cattano, comments on the reaction the product got when visitors at ELEX were given a sneak peek earlier this year: “We previewed the SocketMate at the ELEX show at Alexandra Palace in January and it was a great success. Electricians saw its benefits straight away just from seeing the product at a distance.”

SocketMate features include a contoured profile for easy access to the fixing screws, a lipped flange for easy extraction, and a central bevel above the vial, allowing the bubble to be viewed without the need to bend down. SocketMate is available to order from the Cattano website and is now being rolled out to stockists.

Cattano develops and distributes award-winning products for tradespeople. The company works with talented inventors, designers and manufacturers to produce innovations that save time and solve problems.

The post Cattano launches SocketMate appeared first on Professional Electricians Wholesaler.