Click Mode Drop in Quality?

[CG_Sparks]

Hi everyone, just wanted to ask if any other sparks who use scolmore click mode have recently noticed a drop in the quality of their accessories?

In the last couple of months I've had a switches fail on a USB double sockets, a couple of light switches not fully clicking in to turn lights on/off, cross threaded terminal screws out of the box on fused spurs and now today a brand new double pole fused spur for a towel rail, not switching the neutral at all and left open circuit. I might have to change to Hager or something if things carry on...

 

[Mike Johnson]

Did not think Click could get any lower on quality, but looks as though they have managed.

 

[Dustydazzler]

I have found almost all brands seem to be getting rubbish

did a kitchen recently 12-13 chrome double sockets the customer got from Wickes and near all of them the terminal screws were absolute sh!t soft, when tightening down the heads literally just breaking off.

 

[Mike Johnson]

Did they have a manufacturers trade mark or name on them?

I have given up on Wickes, they have changed their faulty goods policy, if you buy ten of something and one proves defective you have to send back all ten for a re-fund and then argue that one or two have been used, you fit one or two before you find the defective item, it's a bad policy designed for Wickes convenience not the convenience of the customer.

 

[brianmoooore]

Did they have a manufacturers trade mark or name on them?

I have given up on Wickes, they have changed their faulty goods policy, if you buy ten of something and one proves defective you have to send back all ten for a re-fund and then argue that one or two have been used, you fit one or two before you find the defective item, it's a bad policy designed for Wickes convenience not the convenience of the customer.

Buy a new pack, remove one from the pack, replace with the faulty one, return pack as faulty and receive refund.
Had similar with a pack of four LED lamps from Toolstation recently, brought only the faulty one back and performed this little pantomime on the desk in the store.

 

[Mike Johnson]

Bit difficult when the ten items where 4.8M long decking boards.

 

[brianmoooore]

Bit difficult when the ten items where 4.8M long decking boards.

Complicates things a bit, but I'd still do it the same way.

 

[Dustydazzler]

Couldn't see a a brand on the actual socket, they are all fitted now but I have suggested due to the rubbish terminal screws and most of the heads just shearing off that I come back at some stage and replace them. all the screws are tight and testing was fine but if someone comes to change a socket as some stage they will need to cut the cables and re-strip so not the end of the world.
I have found a lot of materials the quality is just getting rubbish now. Like cable that is a pain to strip, to trunking that just crakcs and shatters when you attempt to cut it etc

 

[LukeD]

Couldn't see a a brand on the actual socket, they are all fitted now but I have suggested due to the rubbish terminal screws and most of the heads just shearing off that I come back at some stage and replace them. all the screws are tight and testing was fine but if someone comes to change a socket as some stage they will need to cut the cables and re-strip so not the end of the world.
I have found a lot of materials the quality is just getting rubbish now. Like cable that is a pain to strip, to trunking that just crakcs and shatters when you attempt to cut it etc

Theres me just fitted out an apartment with Click ! . I found a few issues some silly but still what I would not expect .The terminals are not colour coded . OK...some will say , why necessary ? The screw head issue is so true. But i find i never nip them up in one go. I tighten them then go back to them once they "have cooled" . They tend not to sheer as much .

 

[Mike Johnson]

Only reason these rubbish accessories exist is because people keep buying them, understand the public buying them, but no reason for an electrician to perpetuate this problem IMO.

 

[loz2754]

I've never had any issues with Click Mode accessories and I highly rate them for a mid range product.

 

[freddo]

We have had a few click mode products where the terminal screws have been tightened so hard in the factory that an impact driver was needed to loosen them. The fan isolators are no longer modular either.

We moved to click from crabtree after the quality of the capital range got so bad and the terminals got too small, the switched fused spur terminals were a joke, the early versions had nice big round terminals.

 

[nicebutdim]

We moved to click from crabtree after the quality of the capital range got so bad and the terminals got too small, the switched fused spur terminals were a joke, the early versions had nice big round terminals.

Crabtree instinct caught my eye and appear to have well laid out terminals, but I've not seen them in the flesh as no one stocks them locally.

 

[brianmoooore]

Crabtree instinct caught my eye and appear to have well laid out terminals, but I've not seen them in the flesh as no one stocks them locally.

Really? I've almost exclusively used Crabtree domestic plate fittings for 45 years; first the 2000 series, then its replacement, the 4000 series. The 4000 series was revised bout a dozen years ago, with the appearance from the front staying the same, but with completely redesigned insides, and I don't think the change was made to improve reliability.
Generally reliability has been good, with the main problem being with intermediate switches, which become very stiff to operate.
Moved away from them about seven years ago, when there was some supply problems and I was (incorrectly) told, by a Crabtree rep, that the 4000 series was being discontinued.

 

[nicebutdim]

I think Screwfix sell some Crabtree accessories, but I don't know of any local wholesales carrying stock - certainly not the newish Instinct range. Capital always struck me as a robust, dependable range (similar to MK Logic), but seems quite dated now.

 

[Dustydazzler]

Does anyone use Legrand accessories anymore, fitted hundreds back in the day of flat pack new builds.

 

[Mike Johnson]

Does anyone use Legrand accessories anymore, fitted hundreds back in the day of flat pack new builds.

Being of French origins they are more available in main land Europe, they may have lowered their distribution as I don't see them very often in the UK now.

 

[brianmoooore]

Alongside the Crabtree domestic stuff, I used Legrand for all 'IP' rated sockets and switches. Originally the range with the square edged light grey rockers, and then the later versions with the darker grey rockers.
It wasn't unusual to find the early type of switch with the complete rocker missing and no other damage when doing routine testing or maintenance, so I still have a stock of brand new switches with no rockers in my store room.

 

[nicebutdim]

Does anyone use Legrand accessories anymore, fitted hundreds back in the day of flat pack new builds.

Synergy white moulded is great, but no one stocks them.

 

[Alla Musica]

Hi everyone, just wanted to ask if any other sparks who use scolmore click mode have recently noticed a drop in the quality of their accessories?

In the last couple of months I've had a switches fail on a USB double sockets, a couple of light switches not fully clicking in to turn lights on/off, cross threaded terminal screws out of the box on fused spurs and now today a brand new double pole fused spur for a towel rail, not switching the neutral at all and left open circuit. I might have to change to Hager or something if things carry on...

For the light switches, would you please try uninstalling the module from the faceplate and taking the module apart, and put them back together again? One day I was playing with the Click switches and water spilled on them by accident. I took the modules apart to get rid of the water before reassembling the switch again and it seemed the action felt even somehow better than it came.

I have now installed these switches onto the wall. Although they haven't developed any faults so far, I'll look out for you.