Can I Plug a Surge Protector Into Another Surge Protector
Power Strip Dos and Don'ts: What Is and Isn't Safe to Plug In
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Many homes (specially older ones) contain few electrical outlets. This tin can be quite inconvenient with all of your appliances and electronics that require a direct power source. What'southward the solution? Most people would say, "Utilize a power strip!" While a power strip is a smart solution for providing ability to several types of household electronics, information technology cannot be used safely for everything.
Below, we'll provide you with some "dos and don'ts" nigh power strips so that you tin exist sure yous're using them safely and correctly in your home.
DON'T use a ability strip every bit a surge protector.
While most surge protectors look like power strips, not all power strips are surge protectors. If you want to protect your office equipment, domicile theater system, or gaming console from power surges, make certain yous are buying a power strip that is designated as a surge protector. (Here are some ways to tell the divergence). Y'all can also hire a licensed electrician to install a whole home surge protection organization to safeguard your home'south electronics, appliances, and vital circuits.
DON'T plug high-capacity appliances into a power strip.
High-chapters appliances demand to depict a lot of power through an electrical excursion to work. Keep in listen that an appliance does not need to be large in size to draw large amounts of power.
Here are some examples of high-capacity appliances that you should not plug into a power strip:
- Refrigerators
- Washing machines and dryers
- Sump pumps
- Space heaters
- Portable air conditioners
- Microwave ovens
- Toasters
- Coffee makers
- Blenders
- Slow cookers (Crockpots)
- Rice cookers
- Hair dryers and other electronic hairstyling tools
Then why is it a problem to plug these high-powered devices into a power strip? If an appliance exceeds the power strip's load (ampacity) rating, this will overload the power strip. When something overloads a ability strip, the circuit billow volition trip, and there's a possibility that an electrical burn down will get-go. Bottom line: if you don't know how to mathematically determine what will or won't overload your power strip's load rating, information technology's wiser non to risk a house fire.
DO use a ability strip for "gadgets" and "calorie-free-load" electronics.
You tin safely use a power strip for plugging in things similar:
- Computers
- Phones and tablets
- Lamps
- Digital clocks
- Stereos
You can plug these items into a power strip without the risk of overloading it.
Do check to see if your power strip can be used indoors just.
Many power strips are designated for indoor utilize only. The same goes for extension cords, cord lights, and many other electronic devices. Always check the packaging to verify where it's condom to use your electronics. If you use an indoor-but power strip outdoors, this can damage the power strip and potentially damage any y'all plug into information technology later.
DON'T "daisy concatenation" power strips and extension cords—but don't.
In that location are engineers and electrical experts online that will tell you lot that you can safely plug ability strips together ("daisy chain") or use power strips with extension cords. While this is technically possible, nosotros want to stress that to do this safely, you would demand to understand how to practice the math. The reality is that most people practice not, and even the smartest folks make mistakes. Information technology'south besides important to note that you may be violating electric or fire codes that utilise to you by daisy chaining, which could make you lot responsible for any accidents that occur equally a outcome of information technology.
For these reasons and for your safety, nosotros recommend taking the following precautions.
- Simply plug in an extension cord into a power strip if the power strip has been hard-wired into the electrical organisation. Otherwise, avoid plugging an extension cord into a ability strip.
- Only plug ability strips straight into a wall outlet. Practise not plug a power strip into an extension string or another power strip.
The reality is that the misuse of power strips and extension cords result in over iii,000 home fires, fifty deaths, and 250 injuries in the U.S. annually. Electricity is not a wise area of your life to take risks without all-encompassing noesis, training, and feel.
Does your home need more outlets?
If your home'south electrical system is sorely outdated, yous can rely on the Columbus electricians at My Electric Works to set up upwardly additional circuits and outlets in a way that's rubber and up to code. Reach out to the states today online, or give us a phone call at (614) 515-4520.
Source: https://www.myelectricworks.com/blog/2021/march/power-strip-dos-and-don-ts-what-is-and-isn-t-saf/
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