Electricity sockets! or lack of !

conuk

conuk

conuk

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Ok a little off topic maybe but........

In my bedroom I have 2 (single) sockets - in each corner of the room.

After doing a health and safety course the other day with work ... the guy went on about the `dreaded` 4 and 5 plug adaptors...... `you all know not to overload them more than 13 amps..... blah blah`

Got me thinking .....

2 monitors (2 plugs)
1 computer
1 laptop
1 router
1 printer
1 cable modem
1 AV sound center
1 phone charger
1 subwoofer
1 bedside clock (!)

etc etc

my point is I need more sockets obviously..... BUT if each wall socket is still only 13 amps..... when converting these single sockets to double ones.... is each socket then 13 amps or 26 amps ????

How do you guys get away with sockets for all your gear.... (obviously all those above arent plugged in at the same time....) but did get me wondering...

And are those surge protector extensions much better for computer equipment etc ?
 
I have ONE wall socket and plugged into it and running are:

PC: 24/7
Router: 24/7
Z-5500: [depends how long I listen to music/game for]
20" TFT: [however long I am on the PC]
Desk fan: [only in summer, but on quite a lot]

All of that is plugged into one 5 socket strip. So far nothing has blown up! :p

The strip is surge protected and I think has a cover policy of something like 2K.. so if it did fail and everything went pop, I'd get it all back easily.

SiriusB
 
I have one socket with one of those small 2 way adaptor cubes. Into that are plugged 2, 4-way adaptors. Into those are plugged:

2 PCs (usually just one of them on)
2 sound systems (I use AL speakers for the front sound and my stereo system for the back sound)
2 Monitors (usually just one on)
Phone charger (sometimes)
Battery charger (rarely)

Actually I just checked and I have my main PC plugged straight into the 2 way adaptor with my second 4 way adaptor plugged into the first one. Safer for my PC but worse for everything else.

So far I've had no problems. I have two other plugs across the other side of the room but the extensions won't stretch that far and even so I probably wouldn't use them as I don't want cables criss crossing my room.
 
I can beat that ;)

1 Socket at the wall.
3 strip plug sets 4->4->6

most appliencies on all the time, phone,tv,ps2,modem,router,pc,arial booster, x5500 speakers, battery charger, printer, monitor and one left to interchange between fan and electric oil heater :D
 
conuk said:
Ok a little off topic maybe but........

In my bedroom I have 2 (single) sockets - in each corner of the room.

After doing a health and safety course the other day with work ... the guy went on about the `dreaded` 4 and 5 plug adaptors...... `you all know not to overload them more than 13 amps..... blah blah`

Got me thinking .....

2 monitors (2 plugs)
1 computer
1 laptop
1 router
1 printer
1 cable modem
1 AV sound center
1 phone charger
1 subwoofer
1 bedside clock (!)

etc etc

my point is I need more sockets obviously..... BUT if each wall socket is still only 13 amps..... when converting these single sockets to double ones.... is each socket then 13 amps or 26 amps ????

How do you guys get away with sockets for all your gear.... (obviously all those above arent plugged in at the same time....) but did get me wondering...

And are those surge protector extensions much better for computer equipment etc ?
Click to expand...

I think the odds are in your favour on this one. Don't see many "Oh noes I overloaded my socket" posts.

It would probably be wise to get a surge protector though.
 
in my office at home i also have 2 single sockets, one has a lamp in it(!!!), the second has 2 6 socket surge protector strips with the following in it:

overclocked X2 3800+
monitor

overclocked 4000+
monitor
speakers

cable modem
wireless router
printer/fax machine
desk fan
phone base station thing

now i know im pretty much on the limit of what that socket can handle as i once tried to plug in a third computer and it tripped out
i really cant move anything to other socket either as its in a stupid corner and really badly placed, all the socket placements in my house suck tbh :p
 
conuk said:
my point is I need more sockets obviously..... BUT if each wall socket is still only 13 amps..... when converting these single sockets to double ones.... is each socket then 13 amps or 26 amps ????

How do you guys get away with sockets for all your gear.... (obviously all those above arent plugged in at the same time....) but did get me wondering...

And are those surge protector extensions much better for computer equipment etc ?
Click to expand...

I recently converted a single socket to a double without fully understanding the concept. As far as I understand it the socket as a whole is still rated at 13amps // 230v (that's pretty much what it says on the back of the new socket faceplate). However it means I can plug in 2 decent extension leads without using one of those adaptor cube things.
I googled for ages and asked several people I knew but couldn't find the kind of straightforward n00b advice I was after. The little I did find out seemed to suggest that the total wattage of the appliances in use was the important factor. Those 2-way or 3-way cube adaptors also seem to be frowned upon and are quite often blamed for household electrical mishaps.

Altogether I have the following connected via 2 extension leads:
Surge Protected Extension
PSU
TFT
Router
Printer
Speaker amp
Bedside lamp

Basic 4-way Extension Lead
2 x Radio/alarm clocks
Bedside lamp
Handsfree phone base

No problems yet.... :)
 
SiriusB said:
I have ONE wall socket and plugged into it and running are:

PC: 24/7
Router: 24/7
Z-5500: [depends how long I listen to music/game for]
20" TFT: [however long I am on the PC]
Desk fan: [only in summer, but on quite a lot]

All of that is plugged into one 5 socket strip. So far nothing has blown up! :p

The strip is surge protected and I think has a cover policy of something like 2K.. so if it did fail and everything went pop, I'd get it all back easily.

SiriusB
Click to expand...

surge protection is to stop electricity spikes damaging your equipment. not to stop you drawing too much current through the wires and the 4-8way unit melting/catching fire.

which is the point on the units only being rated to supply 13amps max.
electric cookers pull 30amps, hence having a dedicated ring to the fusebox.

also, if you were actually pulling a lot more than 13amps in theory the fuse in the 4 ways plug should blow. stopping any electrical issues.
 
conuk said:
BUT if each wall socket is still only 13 amps..... when converting these single sockets to double ones.... is each socket then 13 amps or 26 amps ????
Click to expand...

in theory you can connect two 13 amp loads to one wall socket (but only if it is rated as such), but it will get very hot. It will also use up the entire capacity of that ring main.
Ther 2.5mm cores of the ring main wiring will melt at about 150A, so don't bother getting a cheap Cray 2 off an auction site.

Every house I've seen has really dodgy wiring somewhere, so it'd stick to 13A max.
Connecting multiple extensions is a "bad thing" (tm)

then again:

BS1363:1973(1992) is the BS for all standard sockets and plugs in this country. The BS states the MAXIMUM that must be drawn through any such device as being 13A, whether that be single, double or multiple outlet faceplates, multiple plug adaptors or multiple extension leads. (BS1363-4)
 
I actually have a 6 and 4 way splitter piggybacked from a signle outlet :o

Connected are:

PC(400Wpsu)
Amplifier (300W max consumption)
CD Player (not much, 8W mabye)
MD Deck (again, 8W or so)
Mixer (30W supply cube)
KS Rack synth (not much, 10W mabye)
17" TFT (doesn't say, around 60W at a guess)
Camera charger, about 5W

All together = 821W worst case scenario. You can take 3120W from most sockets. Things to look out for are heaters, air conditioners, some fans, certain lamps/lights. Put these on thier own outlet where possible (not just for power safety, but some can dirty up the supply)
 
Gentlemen, as your resident Fire Safety Officer, I must stress NEVER plug one adaptor into another. This runs a serious risk of overloading and catching fire and believe me, you don't want to have to suffer a house fire.

I attended a house fire a few weeks back due to the very same thing and the family involved were devastated. As far as I know, insurance companies will not pay out for this as it is deemed as negligence on your part. So, check your amperes and if necessary, get an electrician to fit a few extra sockets. Better safe than sorry.
 
I have 3 double sockets in my room, I have plugged into 1 socket an 8 way belkin surge protector with :

  • Laptop Charger
  • External Hard Drive
  • Speakers

Into the double socket behind my bed I have :

  • Mobile Phone Charger
  • Lamp

I am so paranoid when it comes to overloading sockets, scares the hll out of me after seeing my next door neighbours house go up in smoke a few years back, everything was destroyed, never seen so much carnage in my life before.
Saying that I have lots of candles, but always keep them in secure holders, on my desk away from the curtains and always make sure I blow them out when I leave.
 
4 wall mounted plug sockets

TV
freeview
xbox 360
mouse charger
PC
modem
speakers
TFT
printer
lamp
hi fi
mobile charger

i use 2 lots of surge protected (£2k warranty) 4 socket adapters (for the expensive stuff :D) and 2 x2 socket adapters for the cheap stuff, will need more as im planning a 2nd computer for February :p

edit: list ammaneded
 
Last edited:
conuk said:
2 monitors (2 plugs) Less than 3A each
1 computer Less than 3A
1 laptop Prob about 1~2A
1 router Hardly anything
1 printer Hardly anything
1 cable modem Hardly anything
1 AV sound center Less than 3A
1 phone charger Hardly anything
1 subwoofer Less than 3A
1 bedside clock (!) Hardly anything
Click to expand...
So really you'll be OK with that.

PC + 2 monitors + Printer off one will be OK.
Rest off the other.

I have:
-UPS
-Big PC
-Little PC
-Router
-Cisco Switch (more power use than most)
-Printer (+JetDirect box)
-Stereo
-21" and 14" monitors
-Phone Charger
-Desk Fan
-Occasionally Laptop
All off one 13a socket.
(8 way strip + 4 way + UPS)

No problems.

PC equipment does not use anything like a kettle or heater for example.
Fuses in IEC leads (power leads) are usually 3~5A.

All of the PC's/monitors in work run from 3A sockets.
Mobile phone chargers are usually the culprit when fuses blow too!

What you have should run no problems. :)
 
Captain Fizz said:
PC equipment does not use anything like a kettle or heater for example.
Fuses in IEC leads (power leads) are usually 3~5A.
Click to expand...


That's right...same goes for a lot of the other equipment mentioned here. 13Amp is approx 3KW...so for example you could run 50 x 60w bedside lamps off a single socket. The important thing is to have all equipment and extension leads protected by the right size fuses. If that is the case there is nothing to worry about as they do their job will protect you and your kit.
 
i have 1 double socket in my room

1 of the sockets has one 4 way adapter with hifi tv vid and dvd player in.

the other has a 4 way adapter in with freeview box lamp and a extention lead (1 spair)

that extention has a 5 way adapter with with speakers, ups (powering 2 pcs and 2 moniters) access point, switch and 4 way adapter

that 1 has speakers, PDA charger and 1 spair with another 4 way adapter then to my 2 phone chargers and 2 mp3 player chargers :)

nothings gone bang yet lol
 
I have one socket running pretty much my entire room.

One socket -> four way surge protected gang (AV amp and PC speakers connect direct) -> splits to two UPS's

One UPS -> PC, monitor, modem, router, VoIP box
Other UPS -> 32" LCD, NTL box, XBOX 360, PS2

Working out total maximum wattage my setup would never exceed 1KW, using a plug in meter the highest I've measured is 600watts being used so that's roughly 2 1/2 amps from one socket. Perfectly fine :)
 
MadMatty said:
I can beat that ;)

1 Socket at the wall.
3 strip plug sets 4->4->6
Click to expand...
Mines almost as bad, 4>4>4.
Although that socket is connected to the one in the opposite room so technically its a double socket>6>8 and >4>4>4 :eek:
 
One socket connected to the following:

32" LCD
23" LCD
8 Port Switch
Colour Laser Printer
2 x USB Hard disks
NSLU2 Nas device
Gamecube
Xbox 360
Freeview PVR box
Scanner
Various phone chargers and USB hub power

However its all (except the laser as they overload even the most powerful UPS) connected to my trust APC SmartUPS. It runs at about half of its rated capacity with the whole lot on.
 
thanks for all the info guys - some more `interesting` setups there than I would dare lol.... can see the safety guy now tutting away after reading that lot.

Im off to get some surge protection just in case ;)

(oh and did use the laminator last night (after pulling out a few other plugs...) that little baby is rated at 13amps as you would expect but didnt take any chances )
 
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