Can You Plug an Extension Cord Into an Extension Cord
It always seems like at that place are never enough outlets around and electronics never accept a long enough string, which is when surge protectors and extension cords come up in handy. Can they be used with each other, though?
What You Demand to Know Virtually Surge Protectors and Extension Cords
Before we go into the nitty gritty of plugging stuff into other stuff, it's important to first know a little virtually surge protectors and extension cords. Otherwise, you could be in for a world of misfortune if y'all simply starting time daisy-chaining surge protectors together.
Surge protectors, as you can guess from the proper noun, protect electronics from power surges and spikes, which are sudden increases in voltage. These can happen during lightning strikes, ability outages, or but a random malfunction in the power grid.
RELATED: Protect Your Gadgets: Why Y'all Need a Surge Protector
Think of voltage as the amount of water pressure level in a pipe. Electronics like a steady stream of pressure coming from the source, only when a sudden surge of pressure comes barreling through, it can overwhelm electronics and result in damage.
And you should note that not all power strips are also surge protectors. Regular power strips just provide extra reach and outlets.
As for extension cords, they're a bit simpler and a more common in households. Nevertheless, they're non all created equal, and you take to be aware of a few things before you grab just any extension cord and utilize it to power your devices, well-nigh notably the "gauge" of the cord (a.k.a. the thickness of the wiring).
RELATED: What Kind of Extension Cord Should I Use?
Of course, a big question you might have is whether or not surge protectors and extension cords tin peacefully coexist, and the respond is: technically, yes, simply you shouldn't.
Tin can You Plug a Surge Protector Into an Extension String?
On paper, yes, you tin can. The biggest thing is making sure the extension cord tin can handle the same amount of load as the surge protector (or more).
For example, this Belkin surge protector has a fourteen-gauge cord, so you'll desire to make certain that your extension cord is xiv approximate or better. Otherwise, you chance putting also much load on the extension cord and creating a fire hazard for yourself.
RELATED: Why (and When) You Need to Replace Your Surge Protector
At the end of the day, though, it's actually not recommended to use an extension cord for anything more than temporary use, mostly considering yous risk subjecting the extension string to prolonged article of clothing and tear for which it's not designed. Plus, that extra connection where you plug into the extension cord is an added connection that tin become loose over fourth dimension and create gamble. But almost chiefly, it'due south against OSHA and NEC regulations.
Then what should you practise instead? Either utilise a surge protector with a long enough cord to reach the nearest outlet, or install an extra outlet closer to where you demand it. These options aren't the nearly user-friendly, but they're the safest.
Can You Plug Extension Cords Into Another Extension Cord?
Once more, technically you can, but it's not recommended, every bit it's considered a burn down gamble. And it'southward also against OSHA and NEC regulations.
It mostly comes down to length, as extension cords can but be so long—the longer the string, the more electrical resistance, which decreases the amount of electricity that can be fed to devices. When you first to add on extension cords, you run the take a chance of making the run as well long and under-powering your devices—not safe.
Furthermore, as mentioned in the previous section, the actress connections where you plug your extension cords into one some other are added failure points that don't actually need to be there in the start place.
So instead of chaining extensions cords to one some other, exercise yourself a favor and just use one long extension cord for your needs.
Can You Plug a Surge Protector Into Another Surge Protector?
This is perhaps the biggest no-no out of everything mentioned hither, and if you lot're at the bespeak where yous're running out of plugs on your surge protector, you lot probably have too many things plugged in anyway. Then adding on another surge protector to that will just create another problem on top of your current i.
Also, the protection capabilities of a surge protector (equally opposed to simply a regular power strip) can be interfered with if some other surge protector is plugged into information technology, possibly to the indicate where neither surge protector tin can do its job effectively.
RELATED: What'southward the Deviation Between a Power Strip and a Surge Protector?
On top of that, about surge protector manufacturers void the warranty if yous daisy-chain them together. Oh, and did we mention this is also against OSHA and NEC regulations? You probably noticed a recurring theme here.
In the end, y'all probably won't hurt anything if y'all take the correct precautions (making sure extension cords are rated for the power output, etc.), simply it's not really a take chances that'south worth taking, especially because that there are other (and better) solutions to take reward of.
Source: https://www.howtogeek.com/353337/can-you-plug-surge-protectors-and-extension-cords-into-each-other/
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