How safe are 10-way adapter sockets?

Angilion

Angilion

Angilion

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Joined
5 Dec 2003
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21,063
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Just to the left of my PC
I have a large bedroom and only two single mains sockets, both on the same wall. At present, I have a 4-way adapter strip in each one. I want to move my desk. If I do, that will take my PC a little too far from the wall with sockets on for a 2m extension strip.

I could hire someone to put more sockets in, but that's expensive and I need a lot of sockets.

I'll be running this lot:

PC
CRT monitor
Printer
External HDD
Headphones
Alarm clock
Three floor lamps

A 10-way adpater with a 3m cable would do the job, but is it really that easy?
 
Sounds like a bad idea to me. Having only two single sockets is a bit odd, how old is your house wiring. What is the wattage of the floow lamps and PC PSU, they will be the biggest consumers of power. What amp fuse is the extension cable supplied with?
 
peter_hutson said:
Sounds like a bad idea to me. Having only two single sockets is a bit odd, how old is your house wiring. What is the wattage of the floow lamps and PC PSU, they will be the biggest consumers of power. What amp fuse is the extension cable supplied with?
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The house was rewired 10 years ago, just before I bought it. It has new sockets and there are three circuit breakers in the meter cupboard downstairs (mains ground floor, mains 1st floor and lights?)

Total wattage of the floor lamps is 56W, I think - two 18W tubes in one and 10W low-energy bulbs in the other two.

PC PSU is 450W, though I've no idea what it actually pulls from the wall in use.

The adapter is rated for >3KW (13A at 240V), so I don't see that being an issue.
 
Powerwise you're well under the rated capacity of the block so that would be no problem.

If you're running computer equipment on it, I'd make sure it's surge protected/regulated though.
 
It's perfectly safe, all extension leads sold in the U.K will be protected by a 13A MAX fuse, then your house ring final will be protected by a 32A MCB or 30/45A BS3036 or BS1361 fuse. Discrimination will ensure that the 13A fuse will blow before the circuit protective devices in the CCU saves your ass and prevent you from burning your house down :p
 
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Well, i have the same issue as the OP in that only 2 wall sockets near the computer. I've plugged in 2 extension strips which are completely full now with the following -
Scanner
Printer
24" monitor
telephone
floor lamp.
external HD
USB hub
900W PSU
Speakers

Except for the external HD which is recent, been running everything else without issue for about 3 years now.
 
No problem as long as you have a 13a fuse in the plug on the end of the 3m cable. Ensure that the cable and 10 way adaptor is at least 13a rated.
 
Green-Peace said:
It's perfectly safe, all extension leads sold in the U.K will be protected by a 13A MAX fuse, then your house ring final will be protected by a 32A MCB or 30/45A BS3036 or BS1361 fuse. Discrimination will ensure that the 13A fuse will blow before the circuit protective devices in the CCU saves your ass and prevent you from burning your house down :p
Click to expand...


A ring final circuit, on a 45A CPD? :confused:
 
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