How many electronics is too many for a single outlet?

[ThereAndBackAgain]

Now, I already know the only valid answer to this question is "It depends," but it's an interesting topic.

I suspect the general populace is unaware that there are limitations on how many things can be safely plugged into a single outlet (via a surge protector or power strip), but, with that ignorance, it seems like problems should arise more often than they do, until eventually it would become "common knowledge" that you need to be careful about how many devices you are feeding with one power outlet. But that hasn't happened, unless I am mistaken. Is that because most surge protectors/power strips limit their number of outlets to about six, and most consumer devices aren't power hungry enough that six of them plugged into one outlet would cause an issue?

I have a PC (PCPartPicker estimates its wattage at 304W at full load), a 24'' monitor, a 50'' LCD TV, an Xbox Series S, a Wii U, a set of Insignia bookshelf speakers, and a Blu-ray player all plugged into one surge protector. Now, most if not all of the time, I don't have all of those things powered on at once (though often I have three to five out of seven devices powered on), and I haven't encountered any issues yet, but I wonder if I'm almost literally playing with fire with this setup.

 

[ThereAndBackAgain]

What most LED bulbs have in them is called a capacitive dropper.

So, from what I read, capacitive droppers can be dangerous...

Basically a cheap way to convert AC to DC, and is basically made just poorly enough that the bulbs still burn out. With a little extra care those bulbs can have seriously long lifespans.

You can do a little research on the Dubai lamp. Basically they codified a high efficiency bulb that puts most on the market to shame and by its nature has a long lifespan.

So they made good quality light bulbs that will actually last, and they're only available in Dubai. Naturally.

 

[Eximo]

High voltage is high voltage, yes. But you have to go to quite a bit of effort to get to the capacitor while it is charged. There should be a resistor in circuit that quickly drains the capacitor before you can unscrew the bulb let alone get inside the housing.

 

[JeffreyP55]

Now, I already know the only valid answer to this question is "It depends," but it's an interesting topic.

I suspect the general populace is unaware that there are limitations on how many things can be safely plugged into a single outlet (via a surge protector or power strip), but, with that ignorance, it seems like problems should arise more often than they do, until eventually it would become "common knowledge" that you need to be careful about how many devices you are feeding with one power outlet. But that hasn't happened, unless I am mistaken. Is that because most surge protectors/power strips limit their number of outlets to about six, and most consumer devices aren't power hungry enough that six of them plugged into one outlet would cause an issue?

I have a PC (PCPartPicker estimates its wattage at 304W at full load), a 24'' monitor, a 50'' LCD TV, an Xbox Series S, a Wii U, a set of Insignia bookshelf speakers, and a Blu-ray player all plugged into one surge protector. Now, most if not all of the time, I don't have all of those things powered on at once (though often I have three to five out of seven devices powered on), and I haven't encountered any issues yet, but I wonder if I'm almost literally playing with fire with this setup.

When in question I use one of these Watt meter. Voltage, amperage, wattage. You set an alarm for a given load. Input KWh per hour your service provider charges you. My winter amount is $0.11. Running Cinebench with the meter attached is very interesting.

https://imgur.com/a/jSpKpsI

View: https://imgur.com/a/jSpKpsI

 

[LegoTekFan486]

The wattage of your computer is going to vary based on what you are doing at that moment in time.

Most other things will draw the amount written on their label when they're on. If it has a dimmer or some other adjustment, the rated current draw will be when it's on "full".

Just add them all up. Then look at the current rating on the power strip. If you're not exceeding that limit, then you're fine.

Also, a UL listed power strip would have a circuit breaker built in, anyway.

 

[drivinfast247]

Now, I already know the only valid answer to this question is "It depends," but it's an interesting topic.

I suspect the general populace is unaware that there are limitations on how many things can be safely plugged into a single outlet (via a surge protector or power strip), but, with that ignorance, it seems like problems should arise more often than they do, until eventually it would become "common knowledge" that you need to be careful about how many devices you are feeding with one power outlet. But that hasn't happened, unless I am mistaken. Is that because most surge protectors/power strips limit their number of outlets to about six, and most consumer devices aren't power hungry enough that six of them plugged into one outlet would cause an issue?

I have a PC (PCPartPicker estimates its wattage at 304W at full load), a 24'' monitor, a 50'' LCD TV, an Xbox Series S, a Wii U, a set of Insignia bookshelf speakers, and a Blu-ray player all plugged into one surge protector. Now, most if not all of the time, I don't have all of those things powered on at once (though often I have three to five out of seven devices powered on), and I haven't encountered any issues yet, but I wonder if I'm almost literally playing with fire with this setup.

You're fine.

All of those things plugged into a single socket is just asking for a fire. Just because you haven't encountered any issues "yet" does not mean that you are safe.

Do you plug your vacuum cleaner into multiple outlets at once?

Assuming, of course, that the breaker hasn't welded its contacts due to the excessive heat caused by the draw (yes, this happens far more often than you may realize).

Lol

 

[DSzymborski]

All of those things plugged into a single socket is just asking for a fire. Just because you haven't encountered any issues "yet" does not mean that you are safe.

Honestly, it's not really THAT much wattage. A single space heater likely is more wattage than all of these.