Popup kitchen sockets - which one to buy?

[Yazar]

Any recommendations on kitchen pop up sockets? Most common seem to be the Sensio PowerPods, are these good and any other makes to consider??

Thanks

[Griff Boy]

The sensio ones are as good as any and they now have two built in USB chargers as well. I've got one and it works great.

[Yazar]

Have come across evoline ones whilst browsing and decided to go for them, as the functiomal design is better.

Now need to shop around for price as the ones I want are extortionately priced for what is an extension lead!

[xstian]

I hate to say it, but I have yet to see any that are any good. The pop-up mechanism are often stiff and not very user friendly, I would imagine these would get worse if any thing is spilt over them. Also you lose cupboard space underneath, or the cornflake box falls over and you can't get the socket to go down with out empting the cupboard. They are unsightly when they are up with things plugged in, which is usually most of the time.

IMO they are a gimmick and a step backwards in design. The only time I may consider using them is on a island that has a breakfast bar at each end. Normally I would just fit the sockets on the side od the island.

[mrsshpub]

You can get double sockets with a pair of USB chargers between the sockets.

[mrsshpub]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

This is the one we've got.

The descriptions says "If no device is connected, the transformer shuts down and power is not supplied to the USB ports. Once a device is plugged in this activates the amplifier and power is supplied to the required USB ports"

[harveys]

I bought the evoline black top a few years back. I paid around 500 for three.

Structure is rigid. Design simple.

[Mr Pointy]

mrsshpub said:

anonymous said:

[redacted]

This is the one we've got.

The descriptions says "If no device is connected, the transformer shuts down and power is not supplied to the USB ports. Once a device is plugged in this activates the amplifier and power is supplied to the required USB ports"

So they are permanently connected & cannot be switched off. Just what you want when you go on holiday & come back to find your house gone up in smoke.

Just read the reviews of that unit: numerous examples of them going bang when first connected, getting hot & not tripping the RCB or just packing up after a short time. I would be very wary of fitting them.

Edited by Mr Pointy on Monday 2nd February 15:42

[andy43]

xstian said:

IMO they are a gimmick and a step backwards in design. The only time I may consider using them is on a island that has a breakfast bar at each end. Normally I would just fit the sockets on the side od the island.

I looked at the pop up things but wasn't convinced either. Flat plate double socket in black nickel effect on the side of our black island - cheap, works, virtually invisible.

[mrsshpub]

Mr Pointy said:

So they are permanently connected & cannot be switched off. Just what you want when you go on holiday & come back to find your house gone up in smoke.

Just read the reviews of that unit: numerous examples of them going bang when first connected, getting hot & not tripping the RCB or just packing up after a short time. I would be very wary of fitting them.

I've now read the reviews on Amazon & it seems there's a suggestion that there may be fake Connekt Gear products in circulation. Ours came from CPC (not Amazon) & it does have an RoHS Certificate of Compliance.

[scenario8]

I don't really 'get' them either.

[Mr Pointy]

mrsshpub said:

I've now read the reviews on Amazon & it seems there's a suggestion that there may be fake Connekt Gear products in circulation. Ours came from CPC (not Amazon) & it does have an RoHS Certificate of Compliance.

RoHS (Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances) compliance is only to to with the materials a product is made of, not its electrical safety. It just strikes me that having any fixed, permanently powered electronics hidden in the walls of a house is asking for trouble. USB chargers cost peanuts & can be unplugged when you go out or replaced when they fail.

Just because you can put a USB PSU inside a wall socket doesn't mean it's a good idea to do it.

[Yazar]

xstian said:

They are unsightly when they are up with things plugged in, which is usually most of the time.

That's the thing. The one I'm getting doesn't need to be up when things are plugged in, it has a rocker lid so wires can exit when it's down.

[Yazar]

scenario8 said:

I don't really 'get' them either.

It's actually not for an island but into a worktop. I have a choice of chasing multiple sockets into the party wall and so reducing it's sound proofing capability, or finding something that drops for from wall cupboards/flat on worktop/pop up/other.

The Internet is full of peoole who make lots of holes in the party wall and then later moan about hearing the neighbours

[RevHappy]

Evoline are a decent bit of kit, they can be configured in different ways as well. Even used them for our desks, with power, USBs and Cat6.

[tvrforever]

Any experience of the Varilight products USB mains charging sockets http://varilightnews.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/usb-ch... ?

[catfood12]

Think long and hard before choosing these and cutting the hole. They are an expensive and unsightly crumb trap and spilled drink drain. Put some regular sockets somewhere instead.

[sidekickdmr]

When we installed our last kitchen we had 4x pop up sockets installed, infant the pop ups were the only sockets in the whole room.

Worked fantastically!

the only thing i would say, is it worked so well for us as we had built in everything and are very minamilitic, so if you need kettle, toaster, microwave etc plugged in all the time it can look a little unsightly.

But id fit them again tomorrow in a heartbeat!

[Pheo]

tvrforever said:

Any experience of the Varilight products USB mains charging sockets http://varilightnews.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/usb-ch... ?

I'm a bit cautious about these USB Sockets personally:

http://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/mediafile/...

http://www.righto.com/2014/05/a-look-inside-ipad-c...

[Yazar]

Pheo your links are regarding sub standard/counterfeit items.

Varilight is a huge well known brand sold in screwfix et al , so personally would take what they say at face value and unlikely to be any issues as long as bought from reputable source.