Power strip question

[camgear]

Question, how many sockets can you power from one conventional household socket safely?

Seen an 8-way power strip that would be handy, to power a PC/Monitor/Speakers/HDTV/Xbox 360/PVR but I'm not sure if that's asking too much of one socket?

(Electonics noob, by the way)

[Silverbullet767]

As many as you like, up to 13A

[S7Paul]

Shouldn't be a problem as they're all low power items. Add up the wattage of each item and see what the total is, and I bet you'll find it a long way short of the average kettle (around 2400W).

[Pints]

Silverbullet767 said:

As many as you like, up to 13A

How do I know how many amps each appliance is "using" (for want of a better word)?

[fatboy b]

Keep loading up the strip with applicances one by one until the main 13A fuse for the 8-way strip blows. Take one appliance off, and replace the fuse.

[Mike400]

Not a high power stripper question then?

[mik.ross]

Just add the Watts of each appliance together and make sure you don't go higher than 3000 Watts (3KW)

[Plotloss]

Pints said:

Silverbullet767 said:

As many as you like, up to 13A

How do I know how many amps each appliance is "using" (for want of a better word)?

200watts = 1 amp (with a degree of safety margin)

So a total power of 2600 watts on one breaker.

[john_p]

Pints said:

Silverbullet767 said:

As many as you like, up to 13A

How do I know how many amps each appliance is "using" (for want of a better word)?

Usually it's written on the device somewhere, as W or VA

Non scientific method: divide that by 230 to get an idea of the current*. Then make sure the total is below 13A or so.

eg an iron 2000VA = 8.7A
a lightbulb 60W = 0.27A


* apologies to my electrical engineering lecturer

[s4avant]

To calculate use
Watts = Volts X Amps
eg. a 1200 watt appliance, running at 240 volts utilises 5 amps.
Add up the total amperage and if less than 13, you should be OK.

[camgear]

Thanks, I'll work it out when I get home

[LotusACBC]

I have a tv a dvd a play station a sega genesis a fan and a lamp all on one power strip--no problems so far!!

[XJSJohn]

LotusACBC said:

I have a tv a dvd a play station a sega genesis a fan and a lamp all on one power strip--no problems so far!!

Pah not even trying yet ....

• plasma telly
• amp
• DVD
• Set top Box
• WII
• NAS Hard disk
• Wireless Router
• Cable Modem
• Laptop
• Bose subwoffer doohicky

All on one plug! ( i also suspect that the ceiling fan is also on the same plug ....

[LotusACBC]

XJSJohn said:

LotusACBC said:

I have a tv a dvd a play station a sega genesis a fan and a lamp all on one power strip--no problems so far!!

Pah not even trying yet ....

• plasma telly
• amp
• DVD
• Set top Box
• WII
• NAS Hard disk
• Wireless Router
• Cable Modem
• Laptop
• Bose subwoffer doohicky

All on one plug! ( i also suspect that the ceiling fan is also on the same plug ....

. Hahaah yeah well whatever you do do not plug a small electric heater to it!!

[VxDuncan]

Keep it under a total of 3kw, (pref. a bit less, should be okay).

DON'T do the trick with the fuse, loading it until it blows. A 13A fuse may blow at far more than 13A, depending on the type of fuse (slowblow, quick blow, surge etc)

Make sure if you're going to put a lot of current through an extension lead that it's fully unwound so it doesn't over heat.