[SOLVED] Is It Safe To Plug a Space Heater Into a Surge Protector?

[lancer420]

Forgive me if this isn't the best place to ask this. So, I've looked up if it's safe to do this, and all the results I've gotten are saying you should never plug a space heater into a power strip. But a surge protector is not the same thing as a power strip. A lot of people forget that. My surge protector is rated for 3,000 joules and has a space heater, a TV, and a few game consoles. My power hungry PC setup is plugged into a different outlet so i don't have to worry about that. Under these conditions, is it safe to have it plugged into to that surge protector, or should i get rid of it. Thanks!

 

[menlui]

It'd probably be wiser to swap the PC with the heater, as you would want surge protection on the PC to protect it and the heater wouldn't put any load on it.

 

[justin.m.beauvais]

A surge protector will often pop the built in breaker before it has a problem. That said heaters usually overwhelm a surge protector pretty easily. If your protector has a built in breaker then it is fine. If the only thing on it is a simple switch, then I wouldn't. Many cheaper surge protectors don't have a breaker built in, so unless you are absolutely sure, don't use the heater on the surge protector. It isn't a question of running it, it is a question of your heater shorting out and drawing a bunch more current than it is designed to. This is what usually starts the fires, not just running it. Space heaters are pretty prone to failure. We usually kill 2-3 a season where I work.

 

[lancer420]

A surge protector will often pop the built in breaker before it has a problem. That said heaters usually overwhelm a surge protector pretty easily. If your protector has a built in breaker then it is fine. If the only thing on it is a simple switch, then I wouldn't. Many cheaper surge protectors don't have a breaker built in, so unless you are absolutely sure, don't use the heater on the surge protector. It isn't a question of running it, it is a question of your heater shorting out and drawing a bunch more current than it is designed to. This is what usually starts the fires, not just running it. Space heaters are pretty prone to failure. We usually kill 2-3 a season where I work.

How long does one last before it shorts out?

 

[justin.m.beauvais]

How long does one last before it shorts out?

That is impossible to say. We've had them last 10 years and we've had them last a month. That is why people say that space heaters are pretty dangerous. Additionally they can fail in predominately 2 ways. They can shut off and never turn on again, which is the safer way, and they can end in overheating, sparking, and other generally fire making ways. There is just no way to know in what way they will fail.

 

[lancer420]

How long does one last before it shorts out?

That is impossible to say. We've had them last 10 years and we've had them last a month. That is why people say that space heaters are pretty dangerous. Additionally they can fail in predominately 2 ways. They can shut off and never turn on again, which is the safer way, and they can end in overheating, sparking, and other generally fire making ways. There is just no way to know in what way they will fail.

Okay I'll just get rid of it then. Thanks!