Convert4 Socket

Well perhaps - but that is based on your presumption that there is something "dodgy" or otherwise inferior about them.

Also the OP is presumably installing them for their own convenience, not for the benefit of some future owner.

The main criticism of conversion sockets are that they don't look as nice as proper chased in flush mounted ones. Also because there is the possibility that they may be installed as a replacement for a double socket that was on the end of a spur cable, they must also include a fuse, so that in those circumstances the 4 new sockets become a "fused spur" and not an unfused spur where 4 sockets not not be acceptable. This then imposes a slight restriction on the user in that they can't plug it lots of high current loads without risking blowing the fuse. However, if that were to happen it has still "failed safe" even if it is annoying.

In terms of safety, so long as they are decent enough quality accessories, they are fine.

Yup of all the fusing time graphs of that type, that one is the hardest to make sense of - not least because the log section of the plot has additional "half" marker lines between some of the main divisions just to confuse you.

The two lines do show a a spread or range of tolerance. So for example with a 13A fuse, a load of 30A could blow it in under a second but equally could take over 6 mins!

So they are not "the most highly optimised" devices for overload protection, but they do work well for fault protection since even in the worst case, a load of a 100A or more will open one in well under a second.

I may well be wrong but I thought they were a variant of power strips and power strips were not supposed to be permanent fixtures. I also thought power strips were notorious for poor quality and not recommended for high amperage appliances. Maybe I am prejudiced and/or misinformed.

The appearance would be the main issue for me. I've a couple of surface mounted double sockets and they're on my list . . .

Is that because they're 4 sockets? I used a spur for a double socket but didn't fuse it . . .

I'd forgotten about the hidden ones. That's another few sockets. :)

Umm, 400/60. Wait a second, whilst I take my socks off, to help with the counting.

Yup, you can take a spur from a ring circuit in 2.5mm^2 T&E to feed one single or one double socket. Although the MCB will have a higher nominal trip current than the maximum cable rating (typically 32A vs at best

When you go to more sockets, then you can no longer rely on the configuration to provide the overload protection any more, and you need to protect the spur's single cable to from overload.

If it were a long term load, then yes it won't do it any good. But for a kettle in domestic use, its hardly going to notice as it will be a very short duration overload.

We used to have a double socket in a kitchen cupboard - originally for a pair of air pumps, to feed an air ring-main, to supply our marine and tropical fish tanks, without the buzzing noise being in the living room!

The fish tanks are long gone (3 kids instead) and the spur has been repurposed to supply the fan of a wet-system, kick-space heater.

No, IME these are closer in construction quality to a normal socket. They are designed for permanent wiring (and that is the only way you can wire them), and don't suffer from the undersized faceplate that allows plugs to be inserted upside down etc. They are also proper switched sockets.

Indeed many are pretty naff

I think the answer is to actually look at what you are planning to install so you can assess the quality.

You do have a lot in your kitchen, Yes I have the a lady, but Microwave, fridge and washing machine and kettle and toaster are all there is there.

Brian

Fair comment.

In the last year alone I've acquired a coffee machine and a sandwich grill, which I wasn't expecting. And lost three sockets from having a new boiler installed in the wrong place.

Owain

Thanks!