9 Things to Never Plug into a Power Strip
Power strips are convenient, but they aren’t designed to handle just any appliance. Improper use can cause short circuits, fires, or damage your equipment. Here are 9 devices you should avoid plugging into a power strip.
1. Electric Heaters
Heaters consume a lot of energy. Plugging them into a power strip can overload the circuit and cause overheating.
2. Refrigerators or Freezers
These appliances require a stable, powerful power supply. Plus, they run 24/7. A power strip may not be able to handle this constant load.
3. Washing Machines
A washing machine is a huge energy hog and should always be plugged directly into a dedicated wall outlet.
4. Microwaves
Microwaves draw a lot of power in a short time. Plugged into a power strip, they risk blowing the fuses or damaging the power strip itself.
5. Electric kettle
It heats up quickly, but draws a lot of current for a short time. This is a risk not to be taken.
6. Portable air conditioner
Like a heater, it consumes a lot of energy. Plugging it into a power strip can cause overheating and pose a real danger.
7. Cooking appliances (toasters, deep fryers, electric griddles)
These appliances are energy-intensive and should always be plugged directly into the wall.
8. Powerful power tools (drills, saws, etc.)
Using these appliances on a power strip can cause voltage spikes that damage both the appliance and the power strip.
9. Connecting multiple power strips together (cascading or “daisy chaining”)
Plugging one power strip into another is very dangerous. It greatly increases the risk of overloading and fire.
In conclusion
Power strips are useful, but they aren’t designed to handle high-power devices. For your safety, avoid overloading them, use quality models with a built-in circuit breaker, and always use wall outlets for powerful devices.
