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We caught up with Kevin Oldfield, who has an amazing koi fishpond and over 40 years of experience with ponds. Having been a fan of our switch boxes for a while now, he showed us the different switch boxes he uses to keep his pond equipment running efficiently.
How did you get started with Matsuko?
I got one of the original switch boxes in 2016 and I had an issue with it, so I emailed the website. The guy responded and asked where I was located and said “I’ll pop down tomorrow and get it working again” so he arrived, got it working again, and gave me another unit as a backup. What I didn’t realise is that was the owner of the company himself! He didn’t say who he was, but just I thought that’s absolutely brilliant customer service.
You can’t argue with that customer care, can you! Which Switch Box do you use now?
I had the Switch Box Timer with PumpGuard originally, until I upgraded to a different variable flow pump which doesn’t use the pump guard, so then I purchased a normal Switch Box Timer. The functionality is great, you can use a switch box for anything – whether it’s the lights, a heater, or pumps. The air pump feature was really beneficial because I have an air pump running which can be costly to run, but with the switch box, you can set them to come on at different times of day or night which is more economical. Then I got another one for outside and then one for my indoor pond, before I knew it, I was asking for a switch box as my Christmas present, birthday present, Father’s Day present… you get the jist! I currently have 4 of the units set up.
How did you start your YouTube channel ‘A Koi Enthusiast’?
When the pandemic hit, I decided to start a YouTube channel, just to share my interests online. It really took off and I now have 2000 subscribers!
You can subscribe to Kev’s YouTube channel A Koi Enthusiast here.
It seems like it took off pretty quickly. What kind of things do you cover?
I get a lot of questions about pumps and equipment and things like that, but I found people were always asking me which switch box is best, so I did a video The Best Switch Box Controllers For Koi Ponds recommending Matsuko Switch Boxes. To me the Switch Box looks the part, it’s got a solid build and does everything you need it to do regarding ponds. You can control heaters, timers, you have the Pump Guard option and there is now the remote version, which shows the products are constantly evolving which is something I really like about this company.
What Matsuko appliances do you have connected?
I have a Matsuko switch box which controls a heater, filter, pump, plus you can set the timer – what more could you want from a switch box controller?
Other switch box controllers don’t have the digital display or timer, so that really sets Matsuko’s apart. While it is more expensive than others on the market, it is well worth the money. Its quality made, IP56 rated for outdoor use, can take a 3KW load, and overall is a brilliant piece of kit – I wouldn’t be without mine!
