Power strips are a savior when wall plugs cannot meet our needs. However, they must be dealt with with caution. Devices that require a lot of power to run should never be plugged into a power strip. Moreover, one should take note of the maximum wattage of the power strip, before plugging any device in.
That said, here is a list of things that you should always keep away from a power strip.
Portable Air Conditioners
Portable air conditioners might sound like they draw way less power, but they don’t. They have a cycle of switching on and off, just like portable heaters. When they switch on, they draw in a huge amount of electricity, which can trip the circuit breaker in a power strip. It might also cause overheating, which can lead to fire hazards. So keep them out of the power strip.
Slow Cookers
Slow cookers cook food for a longer period. While they don’t draw a significant amount of electricity, leaving them on a power strip can cause heating issues. Moreover, you would leave these crock pots cooking for a long time without any supervision, so it is better to take safety measures and plug them into a wall socket.
Refrigerators
No one is a stranger to how much power it takes to run a refrigerator. These devices can have a power consumption range of 300-800 watts. If you plug them into a power strip, the circuit breaker is bound to trip. This is because multiple devices might be attached to the power strip, which can overpower it. The safest option in such a case is always to plug refrigerators into a wall socket.
Hair Care Appliances
Hair dryers and other hair care appliances may seem like small gadgets, but they use much electricity. The power consumption of an average hair dryer is 1500 to 2000 watts of electricity. You definitely cannot use them in a power strip. This is because heating appliances always consume a huge amount of electricity. These gadgets don’t even need other devices to trip the circuit breaker. Besides, there will be a high chance of overheating in this case. So, it’s better to use power sources dedicated to such high-wattage appliances.
Portable Heaters
Portable heaters are another high-power-consuming appliance on this list. Portable heaters consume 1500 watts of power. It has a huge value which can overpower the power strip and cause the circuit breaker to trip. Additionally, it carries dangerous risks of overheating.
Coffee Makers
Brewing coffee might be a simple process, but it consumes a significant amount of electricity. For example, a coffee maker uses 800 watts in just 20 minutes. Heating appliances are an absolute no-go when it comes to power strips. The amount of electricity they siphon is bound to trip the circuit breaker in your power strip. Even if it doesn’t, you always stand the risk of overheating. So it is better to use the coffee maker with a wall outlet.
Toasters
Toasters rely on the process of heating, which uses a vast amount of electricity. The average toaster uses around 1200 watts of electricity for 20 minutes. The rule of thumb for heating appliances is to keep them away from power strips. You should never use such high-power appliances with other devices or on power strips, where there is bound to be a circuit break. Always use a dedicated wall outlet for such appliances.
Microwaves
Microwaves are used for baking, heating, and many other procedures. The caveat that comes with it is that they use 1200 watts for just 30 minutes of usage on average. Thus, microwaves should never be plugged into a power strip. Like all other heating appliances, they should have a dedicated wall outlet to prevent risk.
Another Power Strip
While it may seem convenient to connect one power strip to another to expand available outlets, this practice, known as daisy chaining, is not advisable. It breaches various safety regulations and risks overloading your electrical system. Instead of adding another power strip, prioritizing your devices and unplugging one to free up an outlet is a safer approach.
Sump Pump
A sump pump is the last resort when there is flooding in your basement. So it is not a situation where you should use a power strip. There are exposed outlets on a power strip, which are not to be used in wet conditions. Thus if you are using a sump pump, it is preferable to plug it into a GFCI outlet in an area that has no exposure to the water. This would minimize electrocution and is exponentially safer.
Blender
Blenders may seem like small gadgets, but their motors tend to use quite a lot of electricity. For example, an average blender uses 300-1000 watts of electricity. Devices that use such a vast amount of electricity also pose the risk of overheating or circuit breaking a power strip. So, you should never plug one into a power strip. The best option in this case is to have a separate outlet for power-heavy kitchen appliances like these.
Washing Machine
A washing machine uses a vast amount of electricity because it involves several functionalities that require huge power. For example, an average washing machine can use 400 to 1300 watts of power. If you plug one into a power strip, there is a high chance that the circuit breaker may trip because of the load. Moreover, you will engage in other activities while your washing machines run for a certain period. This leads to a high risk of overheating, too. To avoid any risk, use a wall outlet.