Safe number of appliances plugged in to a wall socket

jasonwatkins

thought this was appropriate here ..

I've currently got a BluRay Player, NAS Drive, Generic Surround Sound System, 2TB Sky+ HD Box, 32inch HD TV and a floor lamp all plugged in to a single 6-Plug extension lead.

That is plugged in one of those 4-plug wall adapters like this one ..

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mains-4-way-socket-adapter-plug-extension-240v-13A-/380227071567

On that, I've also got a sonic mouse repeller thing as well, so I suppose in total, I've got seven things plugged in to a single wall outlet.

I've recently found out I need to get an adaptor for my BluRay player so it can plug in to my surround system. It's cheaper than buying a whole new system apparently. This would need to be mains powered as well so i'd be looking at eight things off a single outlet.

How safe is this ?

I appreciate that all of the items aren't high powered - apparently my television uses 70w in "on mode power consumption" and the other items aren't all constantly on and in use - more of an "as needed" basis.

Would it be advisable to get something like this ?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gang-Extension-Antisurge-Protection-Switches/dp/B002CG35SO

Any information would be most welcome, thankyou

scheming_gypsy

Sounds fine, it's not the amount of devices plugged in but the amperage that's going through it.

I'm running an extension cable with a 12 way plug extension in that. I've got:
Alarm clock, 27inch plasma tv, Sky box, DVD player, heat mat for my royal python, heat mat for my leopard gecko and UV lighting connected. Could even be more plugged in to it but they're not exceeding the amperage so no issues.

DigForVictory

Might this site (no affiliation) be useful:
http://www.rapidtables.com/convert/electric/Watt_to_Amp.htm

All the best!

jasonwatkins

thanks for the replies. i think it'll probably be fine as, like the rest of the stuff plugged in to it, it'll only ever really be needed on an as-is basis.

I've probably inherited my plug-paranoia from my mum over the years as well which doesn't help !

It's only a 5v mains adapter as well so i wouldn't have thought it would be using a huge amount of power anyway. I might well invest in one of those 8-socket surge protected extension leads anyway just to be on the safe side, but I'll see how it goes in the short term.

Rockingit

Hmmm......not so sure I can agree! Whilst yes, you're both correct about loading as far as current (amps) is concerned, the big enemy is heat and overcrowding of lots of various psu's can create an awful lot of that. There are also more technical issues to do with neutral currents and earthing that I'll spare you.

My advice would be to have some extra proper socket outlets fitted, it's not as big or expensive a job as you might think. It's certainly cheaper than the new Blu-Ray and all the gadgets. Priorities?

espresso

Rockingit wrote: »

Hmmm......not so sure I can agree! Whilst yes, you're both correct about loading as far as current (amps) is concerned, the big enemy is heat and overcrowding of lots of various psu's can create an awful lot of that. There are also more technical issues to do with neutral currents and earthing that I'll spare you.

My advice would be to have some extra proper socket outlets fitted, it's not as big or expensive a job as you might think. It's certainly cheaper than the new Blu-Ray and all the gadgets. Priorities?

Who would have expected a sparky to advise that you need extra sockets fitting when you don't.

Nothing mentioned by the OP will draw much current and modern power units do not produce heat, which the OP is perfectly capable of checking for without any wild assumptions being made.

Rockingit wrote: »

When will people actually get it into their heads that not everyone is out to rip them off?!!

When traders stop trying it on!

Rockingit

espresso wrote: »

Who would have expected a sparky to advise that you need extra sockets fitting when you don't.

Nothing mentioned by the OP will draw much current and modern power units do not produce heat, which the OP is perfectly capable of checking for without any wild assumptions being made.



When traders stop trying it on!

So, presumably then, you also know better than the ESC, The Building Regulations 2000...(to name the first two [of many] that spring to mind).....and they're all having it on as well?

Don't start spluttering excuses yet.... I'll just go and make some popcorn for the performance.....

espresso

Rockingit wrote: »

So, presumably then, you also know better than the ESC, The Building Regulations 2000...(to name the first two [of many] that spring to mind).....and they're all having it on as well?

Don't start spluttering excuses yet.... I'll just go and make some popcorn for the performance.....

No I don't know better than the Electrical Safety Council, who provide a useful on-line Socket Overload Calculator here

This shows that there is no danger of overload using the appliances mentioned by the OP.

You could add this useful calculator to your own website, so that your customers could see for themselves if they really need more sockets installing due to possible overload issues, details here

The OP has already stated that none of his devices are high powered, yet you still try the scare tactics. You have assumed that the OP could have more sockets installed when this may not be possible for various reasons.

The Building Regulations 2000 have absolutely nothing to do with the question raised by the OP.

Rockingit wrote: »

There are also more technical issues to do with neutral currents and earthing that I'll spare you.

More crap that you can save for your gullible customers!

No excuses just fact. Forget the popcorn, I bet that you don't do Humble Pie.

jasonwatkins

well if it helps, the audio converter arrived this morning and the instructions say it has a maximum power output of 0.5 watts.

Rockingit

jasonwatkins wrote: »

well if it helps, the audio converter arrived this morning and the instructions say it has a maximum power output of 0.5 watts.

What does it say are the neutral harmonics and earth leakage???

ValHaller

Rockingit wrote: »

What does it say are the neutral harmonics and earth leakage???

Slightly off tune and about a wheelbarrow full every week.

Seriously, neutral harmonics are irrelevant for single phase equipment, because you will have the same harmonic on the live. They only come into play in 3 phase systems where 3rd, 6th and 9th are of interest.

And as for earth leakage, you'll probably find it is double insulated.

This forum has a fine tradition of only putting people off electrics when they are likely to be a danger to themselves. Other offputting stuff is likely to be debunked.