One of the first things that comes to mind when we think back on the past is how people survived without electricity. These days, since electricity powers all of our equipment and gadgets, we can’t even begin to picture living without it.
However, most homes lack sufficient power outlets to keep everything charged, so most of us rely on power strips without realizing that plugging in high-energy-consuming equipment into power strips puts them at risk of fire.
Certain devices should never be plugged into a power strip, even though they are the best option for charging your phone or powering an entertainment system.
Power strips can readily overheat due to high-wattage gadgets like toasters, air conditioners, space heaters, and other appliances, posing a risk of fire.
Think about how much electricity a power strip can handle even before you plug anything into it. Usually, the product itself lists this.
For high-capacity appliances to function, a large amount of power must be drawn through an electrical circuit. Remember that a large appliance does not necessarily require a large power source.
The appliances listed below are not suitable to be plugged into a power strip.
1. The oven: Although it’s not used all the time, the oven uses a lot of electricity and shouldn’t be connected to a power strip. It really ought to be connected to a separate wall outlet on a separate circuit.
2. Refrigerator: Due to their high power requirements and frequent on/off cycles, refrigerators can quickly overload a power strip and result in damage. Refrigerators, like ovens, need a wall outlet that is only used to power the device.
3. Washing machine: Washing machines use a lot of electricity when they are running. This is the primary justification for not putting these appliances in the same receptacle as any other device or appliance.
The maximum power used by most washing machines is 1400 watts, which puts them perilously near to the maximum load that most power strips can withstand. Furthermore, washing machines are frequently operated unattended for extended periods of time—at least an hour—which increases the risk of a power strip overheating.
4. Heating: Since most portable heaters require 1,500 watts of energy on high and typically run for long periods of time, they should never be plugged into a power strip.
5. Microwave: It’s usually a good idea to plug in microwaves because they require a lot of energy when in operation. Most microwave ovens do this.
6. Coffee Maker: Because coffee makers require a lot of power and most owners are unaware of this, they should never be connected to an extension cord or power strip of any kind.
7. Toaster: Although you might assume that using a toaster to brown bread or bagels won’t consume much energy, toasters actually take a lot of energy when in use, therefore you should plug them straight into the outlet rather than using a power strip.
8. Another Power Strip: Although many individuals do just that, power strips are not intended to be used in conjunction with one another. However, because it can quickly result in overloading the electrical system, this violates most safety rules.
9. Electronics (PC, TV, Router): Although these gadgets don’t often consume a lot of power on their own, they are susceptible to surges, and if you plug in a power strip, you run the risk of your computer or TV burning out very rapidly.
A power strip that doubles as a surge protector is your best option if you want to shield these delicate gadgets from power spikes.
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