Can You Plug a Power Strip Into a Surge Protector
Power Strip Dos and Don'ts: What Is and Isn't Prophylactic to Plug In
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Many homes (particularly older ones) comprise few electrical outlets. This can be quite inconvenient with all of your appliances and electronics that crave a direct ability source. What's the solution? Most people would say, "Employ a power strip!" While a power strip is a smart solution for providing power 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" about power strips so that you can be sure you're using them safely and correctly in your home.
DON'T use a power strip every bit a surge protector.
While most surge protectors look similar ability strips, not all ability strips are surge protectors. If you want to protect your part equipment, dwelling house theater system, or gaming console from power surges, make sure you are ownership a power strip that is designated as a surge protector. (Here are some means to tell the divergence). You tin can also rent a licensed electrician to install a whole home surge protection system to safeguard your home's electronics, appliances, and vital circuits.
DON'T plug loftier-chapters appliances into a ability strip.
High-capacity appliances need to depict a lot of power through an electrical circuit to work. Go on in mind that an appliance does not need to be large in size to draw large amounts of ability.
Here are some examples of high-chapters 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
- Ho-hum cookers (Crockpots)
- Rice cookers
- Hair dryers and other electronic hairstyling tools
So why is it a problem to plug these high-powered devices into a ability strip? If an appliance exceeds the power strip's load (ampacity) rating, this will overload the power strip. When something overloads a power strip, the circuit breaker will trip, and in that location's a possibility that an electrical fire volition start. Bottom line: if you don't know how to mathematically make up one's mind what will or won't overload your power strip's load rating, it'southward wiser not to hazard a firm fire.
Do use a power strip for "gadgets" and "calorie-free-load" electronics.
You tin safely apply a power strip for plugging in things like:
- Computers
- Phones and tablets
- Lamps
- Digital clocks
- Stereos
Y'all can plug these items into a power strip without the risk of overloading it.
DO check to meet if your power strip can exist used indoors only.
Many power strips are designated for indoor use only. The aforementioned goes for extension cords, cord lights, and many other electronic devices. Always bank check the packaging to verify where information technology'due south safe to utilize your electronics. If you lot use an indoor-only power strip outdoors, this can damage the power strip and potentially damage whatsoever you plug into it afterward.
DON'T "daisy chain" power strips and extension cords—just don't.
At that place are engineers and electrical experts online that will tell y'all that you can safely plug power 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, yous would need to understand how to practise the math. The reality is that most people practice not, and even the smartest folks make mistakes. It's likewise important to note that y'all may be violating electric or fire codes that utilize to yous by daisy chaining, which could make you responsible for any accidents that occur every bit a effect of information technology.
For these reasons and for your safety, nosotros recommend taking the following precautions.
- Only plug in an extension string into a power strip if the ability strip has been hard-wired into the electrical system. Otherwise, avoid plugging an extension string into a ability strip.
- Only plug power strips straight into a wall outlet. Do non plug a power strip into an extension string or some other ability strip.
The reality is that the misuse of power strips and extension cords result in over 3,000 home fires, 50 deaths, and 250 injuries in the U.South. annually. Electricity is not a wise area of your life to take risks without extensive knowledge, training, and feel.
Does your dwelling need more outlets?
If your abode's electrical organisation is sorely outdated, you tin rely on the Columbus electricians at My Electrical Works to prepare additional circuits and outlets in a manner that's safe and upwards to code. Reach out to us today online, or requite 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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