Rubber contra plug

The same earthed trailing socket as the plastic version, made in rubber. Electrically identical, mechanically a different product.

Why rubber costs twice as much

Plastic is rigid. Take a hard knock and it does not give, it cracks, usually right where the cable enters. A cracked housing that still works is more dangerous than a broken one that does not, because you cannot see it.

Rubber deforms and springs back. A trailing socket dropped from table height onto concrete, or stepped on, or caught in a door, generally survives without lasting damage.

Where that matters

In a grow room leads are rarely neatly fixed down. They cross floors, they get rerouted when the setup changes, they get pulled up by the cable, and there is regularly something beside them that can fall over. For that kind of use rubber is the sensible choice.

If your lead stays permanently in one place behind a cabinet, the plastic version does the same job for less.

Fitting

Fitted yourself, with the same rules as the other parts: brown is live, blue is neutral, green and yellow is earth, cut the earth core slightly longer, and clamp the strain relief on the outer sheath. And again: this female end belongs on the appliance side of the lead, never on the mains side.

Technical Specifications:

• Housing: rubber
• Type: earthed trailing socket (female)
• Assembly: fitted to your own cable
• Tougher than: the plastic trailing socket
• Counterpart: earthed plug

Frequently asked questions

Is rubber electrically better? No, electrically it is the same. The difference is mechanical: rubber deforms where plastic cracks.

When do I take plastic? When the lead sits in one place and nothing can hit it. It saves money.

Can this go on the mains side? No. The female end always belongs on the appliance side.

Is it waterproof? Nothing in the specification says so, so do not assume it. Keep connections out of the wet zone regardless.