Please tell me if this is a bad idea
April 16, 2015 10:44 PM Subscribe
I am planning to use a power plug adapter along with a power strip over a long period. Is this advisable, and what should I know? (Chinese/Australian grounded Type I plug and grounded European Type F socket)
Plug adapter (universal to Type F)
Power strip (Type I plug)
Type F socket
Voltage is not an issue. The adapter and power strip can both be assumed to be of good quality. I assume therefore that the grounding pin will be transferred to the earth receptacle on the socket. The power strip also appears to carry a small overload protector, although I am skeptical as to the effectivity of this.
The power strip itself will not take the grounding clips on European F plugs, but it would primarily be used with grounded Type I plugs, unpolarised Type C plugs and old-style unpolarised Type A plugs.
Should it be safe to use this on a more or less permanent basis? What kinds of devices should not be used with this setup? The power strip is rated at 10A, 2500W (though at 230V this would be 2300W, no?). I realise a space heater might draw too much power, but what about an electric kettle (grounded)? Fine as long as I keep the total 2300W?
I suppose tons of people do similar things all the time without burning down their houses, but I'm quite clueless regarding electrical safety and am wondering whether this is quite as safe as I hope it is.
Plug adapter (universal to Type F)
Power strip (Type I plug)
Type F socket
Voltage is not an issue. The adapter and power strip can both be assumed to be of good quality. I assume therefore that the grounding pin will be transferred to the earth receptacle on the socket. The power strip also appears to carry a small overload protector, although I am skeptical as to the effectivity of this.
The power strip itself will not take the grounding clips on European F plugs, but it would primarily be used with grounded Type I plugs, unpolarised Type C plugs and old-style unpolarised Type A plugs.
Should it be safe to use this on a more or less permanent basis? What kinds of devices should not be used with this setup? The power strip is rated at 10A, 2500W (though at 230V this would be 2300W, no?). I realise a space heater might draw too much power, but what about an electric kettle (grounded)? Fine as long as I keep the total 2300W?
I suppose tons of people do similar things all the time without burning down their houses, but I'm quite clueless regarding electrical safety and am wondering whether this is quite as safe as I hope it is.
Check the current rating on all the parts (and stay under this rating) to be sure. Without the numbers, I would guess that one electric kettle is probably OK but 5 electric kettles at the same time are probably not OK. A space heater might or might not be OK.
If you run way too much current through the plug adapter, it would fail by heating up and melting the plastic. So, you can try it, but unplug it if it gets very hot (slightly warm is OK), if you smell burning plastic, or (of course) if it actually catches on fire. If it's OK after running for an hour, it's probably OK to use long-term.
posted by sninctown at 12:39 AM on April 17, 2015
If you run way too much current through the plug adapter, it would fail by heating up and melting the plastic. So, you can try it, but unplug it if it gets very hot (slightly warm is OK), if you smell burning plastic, or (of course) if it actually catches on fire. If it's OK after running for an hour, it's probably OK to use long-term.
posted by sninctown at 12:39 AM on April 17, 2015
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posted by monotreme at 11:15 PM on April 16, 2015