Daisy chaining power strips?

FL630

FL630

FL630

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I've always been told this was an absolute no-no and thus have adhered all my life to the rule that this should never be done.

However with the outlets in my current flat it's really bloody awkward to have extension leads all over the place, and life would be considerably easier if I could daisy chain a few together.

So, putting my logical head on, I cannot see the problem?

So long as the total load across two power strips does not exceed the total power limit of the first strip, it shouldn't cause an issue? Perhaps the resistance of the extra connections may cause some reduction in power limit but I imagine this is minimal on our voltage-high amperage-low power we have in the UK?

So before I go blow myself up, I am looking to install strip B, into strip A. Strip A will have one Phillips Hue bulb only and be plugged into the wall. Strip B will have my PC (750w PSU with only one GPU, I'd estimate ~400W max.), my monitor and some KEF Egg speakers. These will be plugged into strip A through a WiFi plug.

Total plugs are 4, wattage is low, but it is split over two power strips.

Am I stupid?
 
It's fire safety mainly.

What's the issue with using a longer extension lead?

Is this your own flat or rented?
 
We have this problem in our office too. We have a single wall socket to supply 2 gaming pcs and all the network gear. Its about 10 sockets total going into 3 extensions then they go into another extension that goes into the wall. I dont like it and have requested a couple of electricians to come take a look.
 
Delvis said:
It's fire safety mainly.

What's the issue with using a longer extension lead?

Is this your own flat or rented?
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Rented yes, or I'd wire in some more plugs.

Longer extension lead would mean covering the length of the room with floor to ceiling windows with quite thick vertical window frames. It's possible but horrifically ugly!!
 
It’s absolutely fine. My entire radio shack runs off a single 13A socket. Providing you don’t overload by drawing too much current, it’s perfectly safe.
 
I can't think of any obvious electrical problem with daisy chaining strips especially with multiple low power applications.

Just as long as you don't stick an old nail in the first one because the fuse keeps blowing :p

The main problem is logistical, unless you are very disciplined you are likely to end up with one hell of a Snakes Wedding
 
Feek said:
It’s absolutely fine. My entire radio shack runs off a single 13A socket. Providing you don’t overload by drawing too much current, it’s perfectly safe.
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Aye and given many of the modern appliances that want their own socket are relatively low power it's mainly an issue of keeping it tidy:)

I've been monitoring my PC's power consumption and even when gaming it's only drawing 200watts or so (the monitor is another 100, and the assorted external drives etc only draw another 50 or so).
 
The thing that ticks me right off with many modern appliance plugs (Power supplies etc) is that they extend beyond the top of the standard plug profile.

This means that it is often impossible to use an old style 2/3 way adapter because they clash with either the wall socket or each other.. :mad:

Bah!! :(
 
as long as you dont over load the cable rating your fine. a pc, tv and stuff like that will be no problem, normal 2.5mm cable can take about 5kw
 
I assumed as much as the majority of the replies. Thanks all.

1/2 hour in and I'm still not on fire....
 
Orionaut said:
The thing that ticks me right off with many modern appliance plugs (Power supplies etc) is that they extend beyond the top of the standard plug profile.

This means that it is often impossible to use an old style 2/3 way adapter because they clash with either the wall socket or each other.. :mad:

Bah!! :(
Click to expand...
Modern appliances are not as bad as old ones, the switched mode supplies tend to be a lot smaller (and cooler running) than the old wire wound transformers.
The only advantage of the old transformers was that they often had the plug, a wire then the adaptor brick...

Back in my day we had larger plug in adaptors to run gameboys, or walkmen, and if you had something that needed more than a couple of hundred milliamp it was usually via a powerbrick that was quite large and ran hot (the ones for the Snes and Megadrive often got hot enough to be uncomfortable to touch)..
 
aardvark said:
as long as it doesn't go above 13amps you will be fine.
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Am I able to use a device to test the load? I recall there is something that I can place in the wall outlet then the daisy chain runs from that and the device can give you a reading. I can't remember what it is called though. My current setup is a 10-way running from the wall, then no more power extensions but I do have several lights daisy chaining off that via IEC (power linking) cables.
 
Pawnless Endgame said:
Am I able to use a device to test the load? I recall there is something that I can place in the wall outlet then the daisy chain runs from that and the device can give you a reading. I can't remember what it is called though. My current setup is a 10-way running from the wall, then no more power extensions but I do have several lights daisy chaining off that via IEC (power linking) cables.
Click to expand...
https://www.maplin.co.uk/p/15a-plug-in-energy-saving-monitor-l61aq
 
Werewolf said:
Modern appliances are not as bad as old ones, the switched mode supplies tend to be a lot smaller (and cooler running) than the old wire wound transformers.
The only advantage of the old transformers was that they often had the plug, a wire then the adaptor brick...
Click to expand...

With modern electronics not really an excuse for having that large a plug even for fairly high amperage power conversion. Been some massive advances in PMICs etc.

One IC I use a fair bit actually has what is essentially a mini-transformer embedded in it for galvanic isolation which for some reason I find kind of cool.
 
A few years back we ran a ~12 person LAN party in a hall off a single socket just to see what would happen (and because we had a digital power meter for that one socket). It was fine, the wire just got a bit warm but it was pulling about the limit for 48hours

edit - the exact meter linked above actually!
 
a1ex2001 said:
your fine even if it does go over 13amps as it will just pop a fuse. The no daisy chaining is just bum covering with no grounding in science!
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The no daisy chaining rule stems from the square plug in 2 or 3 way adapters that aren't so common any more. Workplace health and safety or fire courses always show the picture of 6 of these plugged in together coming out about 12 inches from the wall.
 
danlightbulb said:
The no daisy chaining rule stems from the square plug in 2 or 3 way adapters that aren't so common any more. Workplace health and safety or fire courses always show the picture of 6 of these plugged in together coming out about 12 inches from the wall.
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Yeah - all the videos I've seen on it usually have those 3 way square extensions and various trailing wires in poor repair. The problem is largely about complacency to basic common sense when it comes to using and maintaining electronic devices, etc. rather than an inherent issue with mains extensions.
 
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