Mainline track system

[studentspark]

http://www.mainlinepower.co.uk/

Anybody put this in before.
Been asked to put in lots of sockets for a home studio. Thought this might be a better solution than sockets, but never felt the quality of it.

Is it a robust product ?

Thanks

 

[RF Lighting]

I think I priced some up for a job and it costs an absoloute fortune. Just use standard dado trunking. It's almost as versatile, it's a lot cheaper, and it looks better too IMO.

 

[RF Lighting]

Yuk!

or

 

[studentspark]

Actually I think the mainline looks cleaner.
Dont like the light on the socket, must admit.

That Dado you like is a particularly chunky one isn't it !

You could get the plumbing in that as well.

Appreciate your thoughts though, Thanks

 

[Taylortwocities]

Looking at the installation manual
http://www.mainlinepower.co.uk/images/stories/installation/Mainline_Installation_Manual.pdf
Your problem is going to be total load.

The track is rated at 32amps but there does not seem to be a method of making this part of a ring final.

You'll need to run a separate radial circuit from the consumer unit. To get max 32amp you'll need to run that in 4mm² cable.

If its off an existing ring you'll have to limit the current to 13amp and that may not be enough for all those sockets.

Dado trunking does not have this restriction.
Also, with Mainline you only get the power option. With Dado trunking you can have data,/telephone sockets in separated compartments.

 

[bernardgreen]

One of my clients had a similar system in one of their laboratories. It was replaced with dado and conventional sockets after less than a year of use.

The sockets must make contact with three bus bars when fitted to the rail. How are the bus bars protected from small fingers and other things that could be pushed into the rail where the sockets fit.,

 

[viewer]

From the pictures, the mainline looks like it will be a pig to keep clean.

 

[SimonH2]

That Dado you like is a particularly chunky one isn't it !

You could get the plumbing in that as well.

There are some "rather large" trunking systems around.

As my last place, we used MK Premier which is a lot more compact. Just be aware that there's very little space behind the socket box inserts if you use the 40mm deep version. Still room for data cables if you are careful how you tuck them into the space available - but if using more than a handful then you want the 50mm deep version.

I also found it made a handy shelf for "bits and pieces" since it has a flat top.

 

[RF Lighting]

You can just use 100x50mm PVC trunking with socket inserts if it's small trunking you're after.