15 Things You Should Never Plug Into a Power Strip

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When the two ballyhoo in a bulwark sales outlet just are n’t enough to power the lights and contraption needed to run a modern family , most multitude turn to world power strips to live up to the demand for electricity . It ’s okay to practice these tool to institutionalize smartphones or power an amusement apparatus , but there are some world power - hungry devices that are grave to secure into a power strip rather of directly into the rampart . Appliances that use high wattage , such as air conditioner , outer space warmer , and toaster can draw more power than the strip can provide , stimulate the power strip to overheat and create a attack hazard . Also , location matter : Indoor power strips are n’t designed to get sloshed unless they are GFCI - certified for wet and dampish orbit , so using them in wet area such as kitchen or laundry rooms chance a light or an electrical flaming .

When using a power strip , ante up careful attention to its maximum electrical power ( found on the machine ’s recording label ) and verify to limit the plug - in devices to that amount . Most power strips are 15 ampere , which means they can handle up to 1,800 Watt . If that is n’t enough power for the demand place on the strip , seek out a enceinte - duty 20 - amp superpower strip , which can plow piles of up to 2,400 watts .

Power strip full of electrical power cables

Photo: iStock

1. Refrigerators

big appliance likerefrigeratorsdraw a set of power and frequently pedal on and off , which can easily overload a force strip . These devices should be plugged straight into a wall retail store that ’s dedicate solely to power the widget . Plugging additional appliances into the same outlet will risk spark off the racing circuit each clock time the refrigerator cycles on .

2. Microwaves

Themicrowaveis a miracle of forward-looking food grooming , thawing , cookery , and reheating food in a fraction of the time it takes a conventional oven . It can also assist in unexpected ways , freshen stale food and dry herbaceous plant . But all that marvelous activity requires more Department of Energy than a power strip can provide . Like a conventionalelectric oven , the microwave should have its own dedicated big businessman electric receptacle .

3. Coffee Makers

A dayspring loving cup of joe may not seem to involve that much vigor to brew , but mostcoffee makersneed quite a bit of amperage to sour those roast beans into a hot beverage , especially when using thecoffee maker for alternative kitchen task . stop up a coffee Divine straightaway into the sales outlet or launch the risk of waking up to a half - brewed deal of coffee and a blown power strip or circuit .

4. Toasters

Anyone who has ever peer into atoasterto remove a particularly stubborn while of low crust knows that the inside is basically a bunch of wires that heat up to red - hot temperature to drink the bread . The current draw that those wire require can easily cause a power strip to overheat . This same issue affectstoaster ovens , pizza pie oven , and waffle Creator .

5. Slow Cookers

“ Low and dim ” does n’t mean that slow cookers do n’t apply much power . While they ’re certainly energy - saver over heat up an intact oven , the magnate necessary to keep up consistent temperature over a foresightful geological period of time can easy overload a power landing strip : These preparation gadget ask more succus over a longer period of time than a office airstrip can handle . And because theappeal of a tedious cookeris that it can operate on without supervision , it ’s critical to check that it is safely plugged into a wall wall plug tominimize any hazardous outcomes .

6. Hair-Care Appliances

It occupy a wondrous amount of electricity to power yourhair dryers , curling wands , and monotonic irons : These tools pack a lot of power into a small-scale space to quickly arrive at high temperatures , and then cycle on and off to asseverate . To prevent the circuit breakers from tripping , any hair care supplement that go with warmth should be plug away directly into a wall exit — rather aGFCI outletto avert the risk of accidental water photograph , a common lavatory hazard .

7. Air Conditioners

Like heaters , air conditioners(whether windowpane social unit or portable ) are designed to cycle on and off to keep a consistent temperature , and they line a large amount of current when they flip-flop on . This activity can overcharge many stock bulwark outlets onovertaxed circuits , and is far too much for a magnate strip to handle . Plugging an air conditioner into a power strip or otherextension deviceswill in all probability either trip the electrical circuit breaker or cause severe overheating . For that reason , these appliances should always be plugged into a consecrate issue .

8. Sump Pumps

Asump pumpis often the last defense for a dry basement in the case of flooding . First , sump pumps are cyclical — they turn on and off as need to pump out flood water — and the on / off cycling can overtax a power strip . Also , if a sump needs to power on , it ’s likely there ’s a important amount of water in the field . Because most baron strip show are not project to be used in moist or loaded experimental condition ( eventhe good outdoor power stripsaren’t specify to be overwhelm ) , they ’re unsuitable for use of goods and services with a sump pump . rather , stop up a sump heart into a GFCI outlet , preferably one instal a few feet above the floor to stay clear of go up water .

9. Air Compressors

Portablehome strain compressorsare ready to hand household helpers for challenging DIYers , but they pull back a huge amount of energy on beginning - up . Rather than overloading a index strip , employ a single high - quality enceinte - tariff extension corduroy to get the maximum use and gain from air dick .

10. Another Power Strip

Power strips are not meant to be used in conjugation with another power flight strip . In fact , plugging multiple power strips together , which is known as “ daisy - chaining , ” break most flak guard codes and can apace overload a whole - house electrical system and cause apower outage . For the same reason , invalidate the usance of eventhe best extension cordswith power strips . unretentive of outlets ? Try unplugging one gadget before plugging another one in , or abridge the corduroy and find oneself might - free choice for household convenience .

11. Blenders

Just because an appliance is small does n’t mean it ’s secure to plug into a power strip . Many blenders , including those made by Ninja and Vitamix , apply powerful motor for chop up tougher food for thought . As a event , they can use up to 1500 watt , put them on equation with space heaters , wassailer , and air conditioner in terms of wattage used . Since the purpose of a liquidizer is to flux foods , there ’s also the danger of beget liquid on the ability strip , which could cause it to short lap . Always plug a liquidiser directly into a kitchen GFCI outlet .

12. Washing Machines

Even the respectable , mostenergy - efficient washables machinesuse up to 1,400 watts , which is dangerously close to the max lading of most power funnies . Washing machine are usually leave neglected while they wash apparel and can take up to an hr or more to fill out a cycle , which is more than plentiful time for a major power strip to overheat while nobody is watching . Instead of using a force strip show , plug that washing machine flat into its stand for wall outlet .

13. Portable Heaters

Thebest portable fastball , even vitality - saving options , apply 1,500 watts of energy on their high scene and are especially dangerous when plugged into power strips because they often run for extended periods of clock time . Even more problematical is that infinite smoke are often in usage while a abode ’s inhabitants are asleep . While portable fastball have built - in safety that keep out the unit of measurement off if they begin to overheat , that safety feature film wo n’t necessarily prevent the top executive strip from overheating and potentially make a flack . distance smoke should always be plug away into the paries or a big - duty reference electric cord rated for the appropriate wattage , and should never be left neglected .

14. Power Tools

Power strips can be secure in a workshop , but not any old power strip will do . In parliamentary law to safely use a power strip to add thepower toolsin a store , it ’s key to practice aquality 220 - volt power stripthat ’s equipped with ground outlets . This eccentric of power strip should also use heavier 14 - gauge wire between the strip and the plug , which can behave a greater load without inflame up . Using a higher - rated right force strip is especially important for electrical tools that consume high wattage , such astable power saw , circular saws , and chop saws .

15. GamingComponents

It does n’t seem like play equipment would draw enough current to be dangerous , but while a gambling computer may only draw about 500 W , the proctor , speakers , lamps , and other accessories that make an exciting play experience add to the total wattage . When plug into a individual power strip behind a dusty console , this can be too much for a top executive strip to safely manage . Consult the stickers on each of these devices , count up the total , and make certain that routine is less than the power strip ’s wattage rating . Because these gadget are sensitive to power upsurge , consider a power strip that mathematical function as asurge protector .

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Modern silver refrigerator in kitchen