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When working from home, power outlets and surge protectors are among the most useful organizational tools you can buy.
They provide additional outlets for powering and charging all the devices you typically have in a home office setup.
But there is a difference between a power outlet and a surge protector, and each has different applications where it works best.
Power outlets are great because they allow you to plug in multiple devices at once. They are also useful when traveling or moving around.
Power outlets are great for storage organized strings and out of sight. It also provides additional sockets for charging devices.
So how do you know when to use which one?
And how do you know if you can connect your multiple to a surge protector?
If you plug a power outlet directly into the wall or it is good to connect them to a protective wave?
Yes, you can connect a power outlet to a surge protector. But this brings its own challenges. The surge protector should be plugged directly into a well-grounded wall outlet, the power outlet and surge protector should be heavy enough to handle all the devices you want to plug in, and you should never plug in more than one power strips in a surge protector. . If done incorrectly, connecting a power outlet to a surge protector can have serious problems, not the least of which is creating a fire hazard.
Surge protectors are designed to reduce electrical surges caused by electrical storms, lightning strikes or other events. These surges can damage appliances and electronics plugged into the outlet.
Surge protectors are rated based on their ability to handle different types of surges. The higher the rating, the better it protects against overvoltage. If you want to know if a surge protector is worth buying, check the voltage rating. The lower the number, the less protection it provides.
Let’s break this down.
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Valid concerns about connecting a power strip to a surge protector
The answer is yes – it is safe to connect a power outlet to a surge protector, especially when there is no load protection in your power outlet.
Surge protectors consist of two metal oxide varistors (MOVs), which are connected in series between phase and neutral. These MOVs provide protection against surges and surges.
MOVs are used in surge protectors – but not in power outlets – to suppress and/or mitigate surges.
When voltage at normal, optimal ranges passes through the line, these MOVs act as a resistor. When a high voltage spike occurs across the line, the MOV drops its resistance to very low levels trapping and suppressing the surge before it has a chance to damage your expensive electronic equipment.
In fact, I recommend doing this because it adds a layer of protection to the devices you have connected to the multiplex. That way, you at least have some protection for those devices and can still enjoy the convenience of powering everything connected to the power outlet up or down at the same time.
Here’s when it’s okay to plug a power outlet into a surge protector
It is Good do this anyway? Is it ok to connect a multiple to a surge protector?
Here’s the catch:
If your power outlet is drawing too much current, meaning you have too much power being drawn by the appliances and devices plugged into the outlet, it can cause a lot of different problems, causing it to trip, including blowing out the surge protector and causing to fail.
Overloading your circuit can cause fires and other damage, so make sure you understand what kind of stress you’re putting on your electrical system by daisy-chaining a power outlet and a surge protector.
In many cases, it will be perfectly safe.
But daisy-chaining creates more opportunities for overloading.
When you are unsure or concerned about safety, first stop what you are doing. Don’t add that extra outlet unless you’re completely confident you’ll be fine. Better to be safe than sorry.
When in doubt and wish to proceed, you should always consult with a qualified electrician regarding your specific situation before implementing any additions or modifications.
Here’s what happens when you plug a power outlet into a surge protector
The good news is that when you connect the power outlet to the surge protector, you extend the range of your surge and surge protection.
Devices connected through the surge protector will be more safe from lightning strikes and other damage caused by power spikes and surges.
This means less potential for damage to your electronics and appliances.
And with that benefit comes a few things to consider.
First, you may need to increase the power rating of the surge protector.
This is because the surge protector will draw more current than normal and therefore needs to be able to handle that extra current.
You’ll want to check the specifications of your surge protector to see what its capacity is before you decide to multiplex it.
Finally, be sure not to overload the surge protector.
It is important to note that although your surge protector can withstand surges, it cannot withstand constant high current levels.
So if you connect multiple devices to the surge protector, they could overload it and cause it to shut down.
When you also daisy-chain surge protectors, you put a lot more stress on that single electrical outlet that the surge protector is connected to, which can lead to all sorts of problems, not the least of which is tripping the breaker.
If you are using a surge protector, then you will want to plug your outlet into the surge protector, not directly into the wall outlet. This will ensure that both outlets are protected from surges.
Why you would regret buying a cheap surge protector
If you buy a cheap surge protector, you may end up regretting it later. Many cheap surge protectors are built with cheap, low-quality components and offer only basic protections. Plus, they won’t tell you when they’ve lost their effectiveness. So you’ll never know when it’s time to replace it.
A surge protector that comes with high quality surge protection is worth every penny. These devices will automatically shut down when there is a problem, saving you from any damage to your expensive electronic equipment.
Why you shouldn’t use a power strip as protection at power surge
A surge protector is different than a multi-socket and each should be used in accordance with what it is designed to do.
A power strip is designed to provide a constant flow of electricity to all devices connected at once. It gives you the ability to turn on or off several different devices simultaneously.
A surge protector will have multiple outlets, just like a multi-outlet, but the main difference is that a surge protector is a power strip designed to protect electrical devices from a surge or spike.
To learn more about the differences between power outlets and surge protectors, click here.
The correct way to use a power strip with a surge protector
First, if you want to safely and efficiently connect a power outlet to a surge protector, you need to understand rating of your power outlet and surge protector.
These ratings and capacities should be clearly indicated on the packaging or in the materials included with your tape.
These ratings tell you how much capacity your device can safely use.
This is a big deal:
Do not plug your appliances or devices into your power outlet or surge protector that consumes a lot of electricity.
That means things like space heaters and window AC units and other large appliances that use a lot of energy.
Next, find out the ratings of the devices and appliances you want to connect to the multiple. When you add up the potential load of all attached devices, that total should not exceed the maximum capacity for your lane.
Finally, when it comes to power strips and surge protectors, it’s better to use strips of thickness and strength. As with the electrical wiring in your home, the heavier the current carrying cable gauge, the greater the load it can safely carry.
Here’s how to find out how many devices you can connect to a surge protector
There are several factors that determine how many devices you can connect to a surge protector, but it’s not about the number of devices at all. The amount of power all those devices draw, when added together, determines how many you can safely connect.
Here are some things you should look at when thinking about what it should be connected to:
- the maximum amperage allowed even by the surge protector
- the total power of all devices connected to the surge protector
- the total capacity of the surge protector itself
- the total amperage of all devices connected to the surge protector
- total current consumption of all connected devices
9 Real-World Tips for Surge Protector Safety and Long Life
Here is a real life example from my own personal experience of how important and potentially dangerous it is to connect the wrong appliances and devices to surge protectors and power outlets.
I have a small heater that I keep here in my office.
I noticed it kept turning off and didn’t think anything of it so I would turn it back on and it turned back on.
But this happened too many times so I did some more investigating and found out that the power outlet and surge protector I was using were not rated to use an appliance like a heater and they shouldn’t even plug a device like this into one for starters!
Luckily I didn’t burn down my house!
And I learned a valuable lesson about how to make sure I operate the machines safely home office.
1. Power outlets and surge protectors are no substitute for electrical problems
There is no need to jeopardize your safety or the safety of your family. Power outlets are not designed to be a solution to inadequate wiring. If you have wiring in your home that just isn’t up to the job, then you need to hire a professional to do it right.
2. Power outlets are for indoor use only
Unless the device is specially designed for outdoor use, do not use a power strip outdoors. If it is designed for outdoor use, it will be clearly stated on the packaging or in the promotional information on the site you buy it from online.
3. Keep power strips and surge protectors up and dry
I keep all my power strips and surge protectors off the ground and whatever mounted on my desk, or placed on a surface where they are not in contact with the ground. That way, in the event of a coffee spill (which is more common than I’d like to admit) or whatever, I’m not in danger of malfunctioning due to moisture ingress. Moisture is the enemy of electricity.
4. Use power outlets only in specific situations
The only time you should use a multi-outlet is when you want to turn on or off several different devices at once, or when the devices and appliances you plug into it draw very low voltage.
5. Do not daisy-chain multiple power strips into a single surge protector
If you have multiple power outlets, do not chain them together. That is, don’t put a surge protector in the middle of two or more other power strips. This can cause a short circuit and damage to any of the devices connected to those power outlets.
6. If you use extension cords, be careful when connecting them to surge protectors
As with the load capacity we discussed earlier, the same principle applies to extension cords. You do not want to connect a power strip to an extension cord that is not rated for this type of load. It is very easy to overload an extension cord and can cause a serious problem that a circuit breaker cannot handle.
7. Use only UL listed power strips and surge protectors
UL stands for Underwriter’s Laboratories and is an independent testing laboratory that tests products to ensure they meet certain standards. They evaluate a variety of different products, and when a product is UL listed, it means they have confirmed that the product is safe for use. If you don’t see the UL logo on the box, stay away.
8. Understand that all surge protectors are not the same
There are a variety of different usage scenarios and types of surge protection available.
For the simplest protection, you can choose a surge protector with a joule rating of at least 200 to 400.
But if you’re connecting delicate and/or expensive electronic equipment, such as a computer, display monitor, or audio/video equipment, then you should look for something with a joule rating of at least 1000.
A joule level of 2000 or more indicates maximum protection.
9. Surge protectors have a limited life cycle
If you have an older model surge protector, you may need to upgrade it before you can safely connect a multiple to it. In fact, surge protectors have a life cycle of about three to five years.
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