Is it Safe to Plug an Extension Cord Into a Power Strip?
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Just a bit of context, I am a technology enthusiast. I love everything from software to hardware, Windows to Linux, Computer to Phone, and everything in between. So, I wouldn't be surprised is my electrical usage exceeds 50% of the entire household (8 people). To power all of the equipment I use, I use a pretty expensive surge protector, with 12 outlets on it. Recently, I have been very plain and simply, running out of outlets.
I have an extension cord with 3 outlets on it. Maybe, I thought, I could plug some of the things on my surge protector into the extension cord, and then the extension cord into the surge protector. I know, it's pretty dumb of me, but I went and did it, without checking to see if it was safe first. But I did, and everything seems to running fine. It's been running for about a 30 minutes now, and neither the surge protector or the extension cord are overheating.
However, after the fact, I am reading on websites about weather or not this is safe, and they're all saying it's not, even though everything is running perfectly fine. Thoughts? Something I'm not understanding?
safety surge-protection outlet overheat
asked 1 hour ago
Ethan WaldeckEthan Waldeck
83
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Ethan Waldeck is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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add a comment |
$begingroup$
Just a bit of context, I am a technology enthusiast. I love everything from software to hardware, Windows to Linux, Computer to Phone, and everything in between. So, I wouldn't be surprised is my electrical usage exceeds 50% of the entire household (8 people). To power all of the equipment I use, I use a pretty expensive surge protector, with 12 outlets on it. Recently, I have been very plain and simply, running out of outlets.
I have an extension cord with 3 outlets on it. Maybe, I thought, I could plug some of the things on my surge protector into the extension cord, and then the extension cord into the surge protector. I know, it's pretty dumb of me, but I went and did it, without checking to see if it was safe first. But I did, and everything seems to running fine. It's been running for about a 30 minutes now, and neither the surge protector or the extension cord are overheating.
However, after the fact, I am reading on websites about weather or not this is safe, and they're all saying it's not, even though everything is running perfectly fine. Thoughts? Something I'm not understanding?
safety surge-protection outlet overheat
asked 1 hour ago
Ethan WaldeckEthan Waldeck
83
New contributor
Ethan Waldeck is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Just a bit of context, I am a technology enthusiast. I love everything from software to hardware, Windows to Linux, Computer to Phone, and everything in between. So, I wouldn't be surprised is my electrical usage exceeds 50% of the entire household (8 people). To power all of the equipment I use, I use a pretty expensive surge protector, with 12 outlets on it. Recently, I have been very plain and simply, running out of outlets.
I have an extension cord with 3 outlets on it. Maybe, I thought, I could plug some of the things on my surge protector into the extension cord, and then the extension cord into the surge protector. I know, it's pretty dumb of me, but I went and did it, without checking to see if it was safe first. But I did, and everything seems to running fine. It's been running for about a 30 minutes now, and neither the surge protector or the extension cord are overheating.
However, after the fact, I am reading on websites about weather or not this is safe, and they're all saying it's not, even though everything is running perfectly fine. Thoughts? Something I'm not understanding?
safety surge-protection outlet overheat
asked 1 hour ago
Ethan WaldeckEthan Waldeck
83
New contributor
Ethan Waldeck is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
$endgroup$
Just a bit of context, I am a technology enthusiast. I love everything from software to hardware, Windows to Linux, Computer to Phone, and everything in between. So, I wouldn't be surprised is my electrical usage exceeds 50% of the entire household (8 people). To power all of the equipment I use, I use a pretty expensive surge protector, with 12 outlets on it. Recently, I have been very plain and simply, running out of outlets.
I have an extension cord with 3 outlets on it. Maybe, I thought, I could plug some of the things on my surge protector into the extension cord, and then the extension cord into the surge protector. I know, it's pretty dumb of me, but I went and did it, without checking to see if it was safe first. But I did, and everything seems to running fine. It's been running for about a 30 minutes now, and neither the surge protector or the extension cord are overheating.
However, after the fact, I am reading on websites about weather or not this is safe, and they're all saying it's not, even though everything is running perfectly fine. Thoughts? Something I'm not understanding?
safety surge-protection outlet overheat
safety surge-protection outlet overheat
asked 1 hour ago
Ethan WaldeckEthan Waldeck
83
New contributor
Ethan Waldeck is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 1 hour ago
Ethan WaldeckEthan Waldeck
83
New contributor
Ethan Waldeck is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 1 hour ago
Ethan WaldeckEthan Waldeck
83
New contributor
Ethan Waldeck is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 1 hour ago
Ethan WaldeckEthan Waldeck
83
asked 1 hour ago
Ethan WaldeckEthan Waldeck
83
83
New contributor
Ethan Waldeck is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Ethan Waldeck is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Ethan Waldeck is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
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2 Answers
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To be honest, I do it all the time. However, there are some things to keep in mind:
- Never exceed the maximum power, current and voltage.
- Voltage will normally not be a problem since this is (more or less) stable in a country. When you go abroad, check if they can be used.
- current is most important, sum up all devices you connect on that extension cord AND all devices on extension connected to the the first extension cord. Take some margin, especially motors sometimes can use a lot of 'starting' current.
- Don't forget when you switch on an extension cord (either by plugging it in, or by using a switch if there is on), ALL devices will be powered on at the same time, using possibly some additional extra current.
- When you go towards the maximum current supported by the extension cord, make sure the cable is fully unrolled (meaning not bundled), since warmth cannot spread.
answered 1 hour ago
Michel KeijzersMichel Keijzers
6,33492866
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add a comment |
$begingroup$
If you only plug low current devices into the extension cord there should be no problem. In any case, you need to keep the total current requirements of everthing plugged into the surge protector and extension cord below the rating of the surge protector. You also must consider the current requirement of anything else on the same circuit as the outlet the surge protector is pluggged into.
Manufacturers warn against plugging extensions or other power bars into a surge protector in case someone plugs a 15 amp heater into the last of three power bars.
answered 1 hour ago
Peter BennettPeter Bennett
37.4k12968
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add a comment |
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2 Answers
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2 Answers
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$begingroup$
To be honest, I do it all the time. However, there are some things to keep in mind:
- Never exceed the maximum power, current and voltage.
- Voltage will normally not be a problem since this is (more or less) stable in a country. When you go abroad, check if they can be used.
- current is most important, sum up all devices you connect on that extension cord AND all devices on extension connected to the the first extension cord. Take some margin, especially motors sometimes can use a lot of 'starting' current.
- Don't forget when you switch on an extension cord (either by plugging it in, or by using a switch if there is on), ALL devices will be powered on at the same time, using possibly some additional extra current.
- When you go towards the maximum current supported by the extension cord, make sure the cable is fully unrolled (meaning not bundled), since warmth cannot spread.
answered 1 hour ago
Michel KeijzersMichel Keijzers
6,33492866
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
To be honest, I do it all the time. However, there are some things to keep in mind:
- Never exceed the maximum power, current and voltage.
- Voltage will normally not be a problem since this is (more or less) stable in a country. When you go abroad, check if they can be used.
- current is most important, sum up all devices you connect on that extension cord AND all devices on extension connected to the the first extension cord. Take some margin, especially motors sometimes can use a lot of 'starting' current.
- Don't forget when you switch on an extension cord (either by plugging it in, or by using a switch if there is on), ALL devices will be powered on at the same time, using possibly some additional extra current.
- When you go towards the maximum current supported by the extension cord, make sure the cable is fully unrolled (meaning not bundled), since warmth cannot spread.
answered 1 hour ago
Michel KeijzersMichel Keijzers
6,33492866
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
To be honest, I do it all the time. However, there are some things to keep in mind:
- Never exceed the maximum power, current and voltage.
- Voltage will normally not be a problem since this is (more or less) stable in a country. When you go abroad, check if they can be used.
- current is most important, sum up all devices you connect on that extension cord AND all devices on extension connected to the the first extension cord. Take some margin, especially motors sometimes can use a lot of 'starting' current.
- Don't forget when you switch on an extension cord (either by plugging it in, or by using a switch if there is on), ALL devices will be powered on at the same time, using possibly some additional extra current.
- When you go towards the maximum current supported by the extension cord, make sure the cable is fully unrolled (meaning not bundled), since warmth cannot spread.
answered 1 hour ago
Michel KeijzersMichel Keijzers
6,33492866
$endgroup$
To be honest, I do it all the time. However, there are some things to keep in mind:
- Never exceed the maximum power, current and voltage.
- Voltage will normally not be a problem since this is (more or less) stable in a country. When you go abroad, check if they can be used.
- current is most important, sum up all devices you connect on that extension cord AND all devices on extension connected to the the first extension cord. Take some margin, especially motors sometimes can use a lot of 'starting' current.
- Don't forget when you switch on an extension cord (either by plugging it in, or by using a switch if there is on), ALL devices will be powered on at the same time, using possibly some additional extra current.
- When you go towards the maximum current supported by the extension cord, make sure the cable is fully unrolled (meaning not bundled), since warmth cannot spread.
answered 1 hour ago
Michel KeijzersMichel Keijzers
6,33492866
answered 1 hour ago
Michel KeijzersMichel Keijzers
6,33492866
answered 1 hour ago
Michel KeijzersMichel Keijzers
6,33492866
answered 1 hour ago
Michel KeijzersMichel Keijzers
6,33492866
6,33492866
add a comment |
add a comment |
$begingroup$
If you only plug low current devices into the extension cord there should be no problem. In any case, you need to keep the total current requirements of everthing plugged into the surge protector and extension cord below the rating of the surge protector. You also must consider the current requirement of anything else on the same circuit as the outlet the surge protector is pluggged into.
Manufacturers warn against plugging extensions or other power bars into a surge protector in case someone plugs a 15 amp heater into the last of three power bars.
answered 1 hour ago
Peter BennettPeter Bennett
37.4k12968
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
If you only plug low current devices into the extension cord there should be no problem. In any case, you need to keep the total current requirements of everthing plugged into the surge protector and extension cord below the rating of the surge protector. You also must consider the current requirement of anything else on the same circuit as the outlet the surge protector is pluggged into.
Manufacturers warn against plugging extensions or other power bars into a surge protector in case someone plugs a 15 amp heater into the last of three power bars.
answered 1 hour ago
Peter BennettPeter Bennett
37.4k12968
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
If you only plug low current devices into the extension cord there should be no problem. In any case, you need to keep the total current requirements of everthing plugged into the surge protector and extension cord below the rating of the surge protector. You also must consider the current requirement of anything else on the same circuit as the outlet the surge protector is pluggged into.
Manufacturers warn against plugging extensions or other power bars into a surge protector in case someone plugs a 15 amp heater into the last of three power bars.
answered 1 hour ago
Peter BennettPeter Bennett
37.4k12968
$endgroup$
If you only plug low current devices into the extension cord there should be no problem. In any case, you need to keep the total current requirements of everthing plugged into the surge protector and extension cord below the rating of the surge protector. You also must consider the current requirement of anything else on the same circuit as the outlet the surge protector is pluggged into.
Manufacturers warn against plugging extensions or other power bars into a surge protector in case someone plugs a 15 amp heater into the last of three power bars.
answered 1 hour ago
Peter BennettPeter Bennett
37.4k12968
answered 1 hour ago
Peter BennettPeter Bennett
37.4k12968
answered 1 hour ago
Peter BennettPeter Bennett
37.4k12968
answered 1 hour ago
Peter BennettPeter Bennett
37.4k12968
37.4k12968
add a comment |
add a comment |
Ethan Waldeck is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Ethan Waldeck is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Ethan Waldeck is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Ethan Waldeck is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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