Is using multiple plug splitters harmful?

[jason1297]

I have a double plug socket on my wall. Currently I have a 6-way splitter in one socket for my PC, monitor etc. In the other I have a 4-way for a lamp, clock and phone charger. The problem is I need more plugs. Would it be harmful to use one of the plugs on a 4-way splitter to add another splitter? I'm scared of getting a surge that damages all of my electronics.

 

[velocityg4]

The only danger is connecting too much crap and tripping your circuit breaker. Unless one of the surge strips is a piece of garbage and isn't rated to handle the load your outlet is rated for.

 

[Solandri]

Most household circuit breakers are 15 Amps, which at 120 V translates into 1800 Watts. So you can plug in up to 1800 Watts into a single circuit (which is usually all the outlets in the room, and sometimes adjacent rooms).

Where you can get into trouble is if the electrician used substandard wiring, or if someone modified the circuit breaker with a higher amperage breaker. Both can result in more electricity being sent to the outlet than the in-wall wiring can support. The wire overheats from all the current, melts its plastic insulation, and starts a fire. The same can happen to a substandard extension cord, but most power strips use hefty wiring and have their own fuse/breaker.

Add up the wattage of everything you've plugged into the outlets. If you're under about 1500 Watts, you should be fine. Between 1500-1800 I'd take some steps to test the circuit breaker to make sure it actually works. The caution against using too many splitters dates back from the old days when some circuits didn't have breakers or fuses, and plugging in too much stuff could draw excessive Wattage causing the wires to overheat.

Stuff like a phone charger is trivial (about 2-10 Watts). A modern clock and lamp (with LED or CFL bulb) should be about the same. Where most people get into trouble is because the room is cold, they plug in a 1500 Watt space heater, and that plus the computer takes you high enough to trip the breaker. And if the breaker doesn't trip the insulation melts off the wiring in the walls, and the bare wire touching wood starts a fire.