Waterproof socket with bonus rant.

In the comments others have mentioned they siliconed it, but did it up the sides and along the top so it shed water at the sides, but could drain out below if any did get through.

Big Clive

Is there a particular sealant you would recommend instead of the standard acid-cure stuff for applications like this? Polyurethane maybe? I wish that stuff was more readily available, I've been using it with cars for years and it's fantastic.

Matt Tester

This way to the egress --->

Michael Thompson

You can't keep moisture out of an enclosure like this. Even the temperature difference from the front to back of the box when mounted in or on a masonry surface will be large enough to create condensation inside the box or a conduit attached to it. It will come in through the device itself. The drainage holes are the best way to mitigate water damage and should be drilled. Minimize ingress, maximize egress.

Peter Argyropoulos

Also, not a big fan of those snap-in plugs... hard to see how they really keep moisture out, especially on the top.

Michael Gilchrest

they've had similar laws in the states for sometime. In the states, a homeowner can do his own electrical work provided he obtains the correct permits from the city ($50-$100) and passes an electrical inspection from the city (a city inspector comes out and looks at their work to verify code compliance). It would not be acceptable for someone to hire an unliscened electrician to do electrical work for them, however. Personally, i think that is very reasonable. Home owners (mostly) have no idea what good electrical work is and the difference between a qualified electrician and handyman joe can be death....

Michael Gilchrest

On a more serious note please please rant more often.😀

In Ireland, the electrical regulations are strict with regular ads on TV about requiring a Registered Electrical Contractor (REC) for any domestic electrical work. Like Clive mentioned, a person who works on high voltage equipment on business premises for a living is not permitted to do any domestic wiring. An REC is also only allowed to sign-off on its own electrical work, e.g. you can't add a circuit and hire a REC to check over and certify the work. I think the only exceptions include replacing a socket, switch or light fitting where the existing wiring remains intact.

Seán Byrne

Looks great. I like the way the cover tends to lock in the open position as well.

Paul Schuur

i have an extension reel with the same clips on, they don't seem to stay shut very long. Mowing the lawn and I have to re clip them shut several times

mark barratt

i take it this is an ebay find? Just wondering as it seems perfectly designed for one of our liquid filling lines at work as it would seal even when plugged in whereas current ones are always getting the cover broken off due to not fully closing when in use.

I just changed my own GFCI. It seems to have passed the smoke test. Here comes the law!!!

Never thought of that, very good point though! Suppose it would be bad luck if they worked out you could open the shutters then poke something else into those at the same time.

Gavin Stirling

That's right, back in 1992 when I was first year in high school (aged about 12) we we're all given plugs and a short length of cable that had been prepared for wiring. I had been wiring plugs (and more!) for a year or two before that lesson. There was also "easy wire" plugs on the market to make it easier for some people.

Gavin Stirling

Unfortunately the BG backbox has a serious flaw which allows water ingress, to which many online reviews will testify. It’s that the wall mounting screw holes share the main cavity. Water will run down the back of the box and wick it’s way in around the screws. The supplied rubber screw covers won’t stop it. If you look at other brands of weatherproof box you will see that there is a separate cavity at each corner for the mounting screws, and water that gets in here can’t enter the main cavity. A rubber grommet is needed on rear cable entry. Regarding the wire colour change, I approve of Brown, Blue and Green/Yellow to match the colours used in plugs for many years. It didn’t make sense to me that they were different (Red, Black and Green/Yellow).

Gadgetman

Just an aside, many of these sockets/cases are available in kit form, complete with an RCD equipped plug. This avoids the need for Part P compliance as the kit is, in effect, just an extension cable. I have two at home; one in the back garden and one by my font door. The LED is useful as I can see if the RCD has tripped without going indoors to check. I'm not promoting this item over others, it's just an example. <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/British-General-Weatherproof-Masterplug-Switched/dp/B004KL0A8W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1548674800&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=waterproof+socket+kit" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.amazon.co.uk/British-General-Weatherproof-Masterplug-Switched/dp/B004KL0A8W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1548674800&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=waterproof+socket+kit</a>

A point on the child proof plugs, if you don't supervise your kids properly (because you think you have child proofed your home and don't need to bother), the child proof plug can be pulled out, inverted and re-inserted to expose the phase connectors, thereby defeating the built in safety.

The Tinkering Shed

One of my kids not only managed to breach the little shutters but actually pulled off a big chunk of the socket face exposing the terminals inside. This was thanks to the leverage allowed by the (flawed?) design of the night light that was fitted to that socket. I'll send a photo (and failed unit) if you're interested.

Gavin Stirling

Thanks for the video Clive. I like the clear plug. British plugs and sockets are safe until those naughty Chinese import their naughty fake implementations. e.g. Death Daptors, fuseless moulded plugs etc. John ward recently made a video about fake fuses and cables. <a href="https://youtu.be/InpT_QMXaZ8" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/InpT_QMXaZ8</a>

Nuts 'n' Proud

I think they are neon. Bright little orange lights, could be led I guess

Neil Tonks

I have this model on the side of my shed. Seems quite robust. Think it's been up at least 2 years ( possibly even longer) seems to be pretty water tight, although only gets used to cut the grass and hedge. The neon lights do glow through the smoked plastic front. Looks quite spooky. The clips on the bottom seem to be holding up, but as I live right on the south coast, the weather isn't as harsh as up north. Good unit, wasn't expensive. Would buy another

Neil Tonks

I guess because anyone can do electrical work as long as you get it certified by a qualified electrical contractor.

If the powers to be really want to increase safety etc, why don't they stop selling electrical fittings to the public, no license no sale...

Richard Boyce

In the US I think all of the regulations for electrical, and plumbing and any licensed trade are directed and dictated by the insurance industry. All boils down to the idea that insurance companies do not want to pay claims. I had to do a complete house rewire to appease the insurance company.

Outside 3 phase lines are Tagged Red, White, Blue on the phases. Usually Rual electrification is 7,200v phase to ground &amp; 12,470v phase to phase. Wye primary, Delta Secondary. (Indiana)

Every time. Every freaking time... When one of you guys talks about the British plug I know it’s coming! A five minute diatribe about how superior your plug is compared to the rest of the world.... However I do find it interesting that in British schools they taught children how to wire plugs because I guess a long time ago appliances didn’t have plugs on them when you purchased them for some reason(at least that is what I heard)??? However in all seriousness I do love your videos Big Clive.

Lostngone

Hello Big Clive, rant on.. You have a valid point to share and share you must. (Inside the building) United States Color code for 277/480 VAC 3-phase is (currently is supposed to be) Brown, Yellow, Orange &amp; Green (Ground) . 120/208/240 VAC 3-phase is Black Red Blue, &amp; Green(Ground) . White is Neutral. 120/240 VAC Single Phase (Center tapped transformers for small loads) Red, Black, White Neutral, Green or Bare for Ground. Rual Electrificaton Coperatives have Circular grounding, completely self protected transfomers hanging on the utility poles.

As for approval to do work. There is allowance for a layman doing there own handyman electrical in their house and plumbing, however gas definitely requires a gas fitter. In most multi family residences, you can seriously run afoul did insurance and the condo board. Full trade electricians and plumbers with liability insurance are still the preferred option and due have to take a decent amount of trade schooling and apprenticeship to become qualified, which is reassuring.

Vaughn B.

Quite the robust cover for this outside use cover, though I am not sure how robust the switches and LED would hold up with any trapped moisture. Outside “in use” water resistant covers here in Canada at least are somewhat similar, however the exterior rear surface boxes typically will be either a threaded cast sink metal box where water proof EMT connector can be fastened into somewhat more securely that this knock out system (which seem odd in that they aren’t the same piece of plastic to be bashed out with a hammer for watertightness). The preference nowadays where conduit is buried would be grey PVC conduit, which can go into a box with slip glue in fitting or threaded to glued slip adaptor to make for a truly water proof fit to the box. As for the cover, they are quite similar except for the outlet not having a built in faceplate and the cover would incorporate several option for decora, older style plugs and even switches. As for the swing down cover they tend not to seal the doors overly much with a gasket, but use an extended hood a part of the backplate (similar to this one), white the hinged cover overlaps steering any water around the cover and out an open slot or two on the bottom of the cover.

Vaughn B.

Would be interesting if you were able to set up a test area to see just how long it would last. Setup a box that sporadically goes to extreme temperatures high and low and occasionally throws water at it. See how long until it trips a fuse or RCD...

Adam 'RDL' Taylor