Are 4+ way mains adaptors safe?

Vorash

Vorash

Vorash

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1 Jul 2008
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152
I've rearranged some things in a room and encountered a problem. I need to plug 4 to 5 things into one mains socket. I've usually tried to avoid this because I was told it was 'bad' and 'dangerous', but is it really that bad? Aren't they all very safe with surge protection etc that stops anything going wrong and damaging my equipment or burning down my home?

Is there a certain type I should be buying to be safe?


Thanks!
 
They are perfectly safe unless you overload them with too much power draw.

Provided the total power draw from the single socket doesn't exceed 13 Amps you will be fine.

If it weren't safe then I'm reasonably confident that retailers wouldn't sell 12 Gang extension sockets.

Just don't go plugging kettles, irons, straighteners, fan heaters, oil radiators and other high power devices in there ok.
 
I use an 8 plug adaptor and I cannot see why it could be a problem. Just get a good one and you should be fine. No cheap rubbish. :)

PC
Monitor
Speakers
Router
Printer
Phone charger
Desk lamp
Landline
 
Thanks for the replies. I'll have the PC, Monitor, Speakers, TV and Sky plugged into this one socket so from what you said it doesn't sound like that would be too much.

I'll make sure I buy a decent one. :D
 
i have a 10 way belkin protector and 9 of them are full.

not all are on at the same time but ive never had a problem.
 
I know people will say that my house is about to explode but i have 4 4xSockets daisy-chained together with PC, Monitors (2x24"), HiFi equipment, 2 low power servers, couple laptops and some other random things like phone chargers. never had a problem
 
Hell, you want to see my LAN room

Each PC has its own 4-Way Adapter.

I have 7 PCs setup

These are all going into 2 other 4 way adapters and those 2 into another 4 way adapter

I have my Atari setup also that is a 4-way adapter again, however, I normally use the atari with my music equipoment and these are on 2 more 4 way adapters, and these go into the main adapter along with the 2 from the PCs. The 4th socket has the lights

All of these are going down into a single socket.

Now, this is all done very nice and tidy and I have NEVER had all of it on at once. I recon it would explode if I tried and it would almost definitely melt something, however I have had it like this for a good 8 or 9 years and its fine.

Its only fine because I dont use it all at the same time of course, but I have had all 7 Pcs all running at once though.
 
I have just taken delivery of a power meter that fits on your incoming mains supply and tells you how much power you are using. I don't believe it is absolutely accurate, but when the house is idling, it claims 900W (or ~4 Amps) is in use. When this is the case I have the following running:

- An i7-2600K idling
- 2x 24" monitors on
- An AMD based fileserver with 8 disks constantly being accessed
- An E8400 HTPC
- 2 Atom HTPCs
- A work laptop
- Switch, ADSL modem, PowerLine sockets and router
- 4 Set-top boxes
- A pre/power amp combo
- Another integrated amp
- 6 TVs on standby
- Laser printer on powerdown
- Multiswitch & quattro LNB distribution system in attic
- Various DACs

Actually, I was quite pleased it was so low :)

Surge protection isn't overload protection - it is designed to deal with spikes in the electricity supply. Try adding up the rated amps and seeing what that comes to. If it's less than 13Amps, it's safe to plug into one extension ASSUMING THE EXTENSION IS RATED AT 13 AMPS. Many cheap ones are only rated at 5 or 10 Amps.

Basically, never overload what you are plugging into. It is at that point problems occur (assuming all the electrical equipment/cabling is safe).
 
10 Sockets and 4 sockets off two mains sockets, spread out across them is my PC, TV, 3x Monitors, G19, Speakers, Xbox, Kinect, HD PVR, and the rest chargers for cameras and whatnot. Never caused me any problems.
The 10x Socket tower is a reputable brand with £3000 cover against surges, and the 4x one is a multi socket of some kind. You should have no problems.
 
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