Are extension sockets much of a fire risk?

martin57

Hi folks,


Like a lot of people nowadays I have a few main electric sockets in my living room (and even bedroom) but to accommodate all the extra techy stuff I have to use surge protectors and extension calbes. I probably have 18 items running off four extensions in living room (2 surge protectors that can take up to 6 connections, and 2 ordinary extensions) that lead back to 2 wall sockets.


Why do you have so many things I hear you ask, but its really easy with desktop computer as well and its peripherals and likewise with tv.


1 Main question is how much of a fire risk are all these extra connections. I don't use those double or triple adapter plugs, all the items have their own separate plug on the surge protector or extension.


2 Having got a Talktalk youview box yesterday and a few poweline adapters for internet (awwwwwwwwww more connections to make) is it ok to connect those powerline adapters into extension or surge protector? Broadband does seem to work ok in bedroom where I have the youview box, but read somewhere that each Broadband powerline adapter should have its own wall socket, not possible for me. Any fire risk involved in having powerline adapters in surge protectors or other extension?


My main fuse box is a modern Hager that trips should any thing occur, I hope, as it had done a few times in past with bulb fusing that kind of thing

Thanks for any info. I'm sure lots of people have countless items hooked up in a similar fashion because of the lack of available wall sockets.



Martin57

bryanb

So long as the maximum current is not exceeded and the cables are in good condition, correctly wired, not under carpets etc. risk should be minimal.

marleyboy

It all depends on what appliances are plugged into them. I know you don't need reminding that plugging a load of electric bar fires into one would be a definite fire hazard. but if we are talking about low voltage items, like a laptop, phone charger etc, it should be fine.

I would err on plugging one extension into another, 12 sockets to one plug would be a hazard, but a six way in one socket should be fine.

victor2

With extensions daisy-chained together, it is relatively easy to overload part of the chain without realising or blowing a fuse. You can be drawing well below the fuse rating but still generate enough heat to melt the insulation around the wire. A coiled up extension lead is a good example of this.
Does the main ring have RCD protection on it? At least this offers some element of safety.

Consider spending a bit of money and getting a qualified electrician in to install some additional sockets. If you don't mind having visible trunking, it may not cost too much.

InsideInsurance

To bring it back to the noddy level that I require....

How is it different to have a 4 bar extension lead connected to a socket then having a sparky install two new double plugs?

The extension leads have at least one fuse which the new sockets wouldnt and to the untrained eye the flex of the extension lead isnt vastly different to the flex used to connect up the new plus sockets.

Its something I've never fully understood, guessed its to do with parallel -v- series but never thought enough about it

victor2

InsideInsurance wrote: »

The extension leads have at least one fuse which the new sockets wouldnt and to the untrained eye the flex of the extension lead isnt vastly different to the flex used to connect up the new plus sockets.

It is vastly different - usually single core cable versus multi-core used where flexibility is required, such as in an extension lead. Once installed, permanent wiring doesn't get moved around, so shouldn't suffer from damage caused by movement. Plus you still have the original socket free, as it's no longer feeding an extension.

kwikbreaks

Mains sockets are wired in a ring so there are actually two quite hefty cables delivering the current but that isn't the major extra safety factor of additional sockets over using extension leads...

The point where there is often a less than perfect connection and so prone to getting hot is between the prongs of the plug and the internal bit of the socket.

With an extension lead the full load of whatever is plugged into the extension is all carried by the one plug/wall socket interface rather than being shared by several.

That said most of the things you're likely to have plugged in will be using well less than 100w each and probably not vastly more combined apart from the actual PC. Behind the desk this PC stands on there is a double socket on the wall. On the wall there is a 10 way extension plugged in one of the sockets and a 6 way in the other. Not all the available sockets are occupied but I'd have few qualms even if they were as the sort of things in them are all low power.

JasX

marleyboy wrote: »

I would err on plugging one extension into another, 12 sockets to one plug would be a hazard, but a six way in one socket should be fine.

I remember having a single extension bar with 12 sockets on it back when I was a student (still in my parents loft somewhere I think)

But a quick google throws up a few 12-way extension bars still on the market...

Cisco001

I think surge protector can take something like 3000W in total?

Depends on what PC you are having, Top end machine with single GPU probably using 400W?

Horseunderwater

Well we had a 4 way ext lead - 2 items plugged in & ext lead plug melted, luckily the machines switched off before the fire. Oh has now re plugged both to put into own sockets now.

InsideInsurance

kwikbreaks wrote: »

The point where there is often a less than perfect connection and so prone to getting hot is between the prongs of the plug and the internal bit of the socket.

I seem to recall from the chap that fitted the new socket for us that it was a simple screw fixture for the cable to the back of the socket. (sorry, dont know what thats properly called)

Is that type of fixing point really that much more efficient (i guess lower resistance) than the prong and spring plate type connection that you have between a socket and plug? I know the prongs on some plugs do get hot but I've never taken a socket off the wall to cross compare how how the back of it is getting.

Its also slightly surprising as in the world of hifi most would claim replacing a similar screw fixing of bear wire to the speakers post with a plug and socket improves the connection rather than causes problems and indeed banana plugs" etc are heavily pushed.