MES products

**ians** · 30-Jun-21, 06:48 PM

I have been using this brand for a long time ... never had any issues with it ( in saying that I have havent used 4x4 grid plates for light switches) .. on this project I am 90 % complete ... we were going to strip everything and replace with the Iconic range ... that turned into a fail ... you cant buy half the ICONIC range in SA ... no D/P isolator switches ... no shaver units etc.

MES came to the party and offered to sort out the grid plates ... so we decided to stick with the product ... 2 weeks later I enquire about the 6 way grid plates ... and thats were the wheels fell off.

I was told the new grid plates had been delivered to the wholesaler ... so that was one of my stops today ... got back to the workshop to assemble everything ready for tomorrow ... and imagine that ... the switches dont operate because new grid plates supplied are also rejects ... the holes are too small for the switch module .. so what happens ... when you try switch on the light ... the switches stick in the middle.

Poor show MES ... clearly these 4x4 grid plates are all rejects and should be recalled ... all of them.

They were made aware of the issue 2 weeks ago and acknowledged the problem and indicated that the adjustment to the mould was required.

In the mean time there is a temp. solution ... you have to take a big screwdriver and reamer the hole to enlarge it ... but it distorts the grid plate ... the other way would be to machine a piece of steel you could hit into the hole to make it bigger.

Some of you will remember the problem we had with clipsal socket outlets many years ago ... they gave us a TEE bar with a round shaft ..which you would hammer into the earth socket to make it a little bigger ... so that you could get the plug top out the socket ... other wise you had to wedge a screwdriver in behind the plug top.

**Derlyn** · 01-Jul-21, 06:01 AM

Adjustment of that mould aint gonna happen quickly. Quite a job to change a mould. Even bigger job communicating with the Chinese.

Peace out .. Derek

**ians** · 02-Jul-21, 08:33 AM

Time to use MES for hit and run projects only.

I am not a big fan of crabtree ... they like the antiques of the industry ... also with a bad track record of flashing out the switches ... I know they have addressed the issue with a shield inside the switch ... but it doesnt have a nice switch operation (feel) ... for industrial applications its fine.

Clipsal dont stock a full range anymore and with the S2000 is discontinued ... its just a matter of time of they will exit the market ... unless they relaunch the S2000 range again ... at a price to compete with junk like MES and lesco and the like.

CBI ... not a bad entry level switch ... with a decent clip action and not too difficult to operate like the clipsal copies ... because they dont supply wholesalers ... a budget switch bought at the most expensive outlet ... Builders ... takes it out of the contractors budget.

By the way ... talking about CBI and builders ... the ASC units are back in stock ... @ R400 ... was a good seller at a reasonable price R349.

How did this problem evolve ... the demand for cheap junk ... customers want cheap cheap ... its great for contractors ... @R650-R850 for a callout to replace a R15 single lever switch ... its momey for jam.