This. The reason it has been put as a no-no is that it's easy to overload the main socket by so many items you forget the current draw. But as long as you only plug in low-power stuff it's fine. I used to run three computers plus various other kit off a single wall socket, using three 4-way extensions plugged into a 3-way which was plugged into the wall. Total draw was only about a kilowatt, so it was all good.
Daisy chaining power strips?
- Thread starter FL630
- Start date
This. The reason it has been put as a no-no is that it's easy to overload the main socket by so many items you forget the current draw. But as long as you only plug in low-power stuff it's fine. I used to run three computers plus various other kit off a single wall socket, using three 4-way extensions plugged into a 3-way which was plugged into the wall. Total draw was only about a kilowatt, so it was all good.
i only have access to one plug socket in my room with various power strips and an extension to the other end, and i have 2 fish tanks with heaters and external filters, my pc, tv, multiple consoles and fans etc all hooked up.
never had a problem except trying to work out where a fuse has blown when half the stuff in my room turns off lol
never had a problem except trying to work out where a fuse has blown when half the stuff in my room turns off lol
Soldato
- Joined
- 6 Jan 2013
- Posts
- 22,238
- Location
- Rollergirl
There's some terrible advice in this thread. 
If it goes above 13A it won't necessarily blow a fuse. Blowing a fuse is the last thing you want to do, it's not a testing device it's your last line of defence against fire or shock. The current being drawn from your 13A socket should never be anywhere near 5 amps let alone be in excess of 13 amps.
Before something goes on fire, it tends to heat up. That's what was happening in your example, and your power meter can only tell you how much power is being drawn... It can't tell you the resistance of the cable or whether it is capable of carrying the current you were putting through it.
Electrical cables should never, ever be hot. If cables are hot, it means they're pulling too much current and the fuse hasn't blown. That's a potential disaster in terms of safety.
If it goes above 13A it won't necessarily blow a fuse. Blowing a fuse is the last thing you want to do, it's not a testing device it's your last line of defence against fire or shock. The current being drawn from your 13A socket should never be anywhere near 5 amps let alone be in excess of 13 amps.
Before something goes on fire, it tends to heat up. That's what was happening in your example, and your power meter can only tell you how much power is being drawn... It can't tell you the resistance of the cable or whether it is capable of carrying the current you were putting through it.
Electrical cables should never, ever be hot. If cables are hot, it means they're pulling too much current and the fuse hasn't blown. That's a potential disaster in terms of safety.
Last edited:
Soldato
- Joined
- 6 Jan 2013
- Posts
- 22,238
- Location
- Rollergirl
Of course you've had a problem, you've been blowing fuses. Fuses are the last line of defence, they shouldn't ever blow unless you have a problem.
Again, there's some really terrible advice in this thread.
Deleted member 651465
Deleted member 651465
It’s not fine.
People assume that “it will trip” but forget to factor in the heat generated in the wires from the current draw and rely totally on the extension failing safe.
I haven’t got the figures to hand but from a fire safety perspective a 4-way extension plugged in to a 4-way extension is 16x less likely to fail safely, than a single extension socket.
Is it possible to do? Absolutely. However, it’s not advisable and you may find yourself in a bad place with insurers if your house burned down from an electrical fire.
People assume that “it will trip” but forget to factor in the heat generated in the wires from the current draw and rely totally on the extension failing safe.
I haven’t got the figures to hand but from a fire safety perspective a 4-way extension plugged in to a 4-way extension is 16x less likely to fail safely, than a single extension socket.
Is it possible to do? Absolutely. However, it’s not advisable and you may find yourself in a bad place with insurers if your house burned down from an electrical fire.
Soldato
- Joined
- 6 Sep 2016
- Posts
- 12,549
There's some terrible advice in this thread.
Stick your willy into the electrical output of the Three Gorges Dam power generator. Only 22MW
You'll be fine.
Soldato
- Joined
- 8 Jan 2009
- Posts
- 4,590
This is true, but it also depends what's connected to them, a few low power devices won't cause enough heat to cause problems.
Of course you've had a problem, you've been blowing fuses. Fuses are the last line of defence, they shouldn't ever blow unless you have a problem.
Again, there's some really terrible advice in this thread.
2 fuses in 16 years...... not bad going tbh
Deleted member 651465
Deleted member 651465
You’ve deleted the relevant part of my post... the extension failing safe is the worry. The heat from high current devices is another factor but not the point I was making.
Soldato
- Joined
- 6 Jan 2013
- Posts
- 22,238
- Location
- Rollergirl
2 fuses in 16 years...... not bad going tbh
It only take one fire to destroy your home anyone in it. So yeah, you carry on regardless.
Soldato
- Joined
- 10 Oct 2005
- Posts
- 8,706
- Location
- Nottingham
I don't tend to daisy chain extension leads except in one case and that was more a case of external USB drive power bricks not sitting together nicely on one so I hung another on so I could spread them out. The number of devices would have fitted on the original extension lead they just needed more physical space.
Soldato
- Joined
- 6 Jan 2013
- Posts
- 22,238
- Location
- Rollergirl
Utter nonsense. People should not be loading up sockets with 3KW of apparatus through daisy chained power extensions.
Soldato
- Joined
- 6 Jan 2013
- Posts
- 22,238
- Location
- Rollergirl
When people switch a switch and the light comes on, they consider the entire system to be "working fine". That's why electricity is so dangerous.
One faint whiff of gas and you'd be in a panic.
One puddle on the kitchen floor and you'd get it dealt with most likely by a plumber.
Electricity is different for some reason, and people only learn when it's too late. The message is practically impossible to get over, and that's why there are approx. 15,500 electrical fires in England alone each year. 50% of those fires are caused by equipment misuse, which is what we're dealing with in this thread.
The same people that wrap wire, stick a piece of metal in the fuse cradle or wrap tin foil around the blown fuse?
Though, what are people running that is going to start melting the cable?
I was always told by my father not to do it as it lead to bad practices. Another one, another device, more and more then big problems. All because you think nothing bad has happened yet.
Soldato
- Joined
- 6 Jan 2013
- Posts
- 22,238
- Location
- Rollergirl
This is it in a nutshell. Just have a look at the OP as he progresses to convincing himself that all is good, and it's all driven by the fact he has an issue with not enough outlets.
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. Good. Keep it up.
However with the outlets in my current flat it's really bloody awkward to have extension leads all over the place... Oh-Oh
...and life would be considerably easier if I could daisy chain a few together. Ah, an easy life. When did that ever lead to trouble?
So, putting my logical head on, I cannot see the problem? Oh well, that's it decided then!
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? Wrong. The maximum load of the first strip is based on the characteristics of the first strip... once you add another strip on to it you then have something different. You did say you had your logical head on, right?
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? You have quite the imagination. Voltage-High/Amperage-Low? That's not unique to the UK, it's part of the laws of the Universe. It's true that voltage is indirectly proportional to current, but I've no idea what the relevance is. Using words like "perhaps" and "imagine" should be enough of an indicator that you're having a stab in the dark here, mate.
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. So you've convinced yourself that "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" ... and then you've decided to stick a WiFi plug right in the middle of it all. The purpose of a WiFi plug is to be the conduit for 3 extension leads carrying various items of electrical equipment? Really?
Am I stupid? Probably not, but you do give an insight into the mental thought process that we go through as human beings, all to justify doing something that we knew was wrong right from the start.
I don't understand the issue with daisy chaining tbh. As long as each powerstrip is fused with a fuse size appropriate to the wire gauge then where's the issue?
So, it's ok for me to plug a single 12-way powerstrip in to an outlet but not ok to daisy-chain 2 6-ways?
Not getting the logic in that.
So, it's ok for me to plug a single 12-way powerstrip in to an outlet but not ok to daisy-chain 2 6-ways?
Not getting the logic in that.
Soldato
- Joined
- 6 Jan 2013
- Posts
- 22,238
- Location
- Rollergirl
The fuse is irrelevant. It doesn't exist to prevent electrical fires, it exists to provide short circuit protection.
Every electrical fire that ever occurred has happened when the fuse hasn't blown. Think about it.