[rockman413]

Hi there,
I've had this question for a long time, is there any difference between the two setups:

Method 1. connecting Appliances to a power strip, which is a sub strip of another main power strip which connects to the wall mount.

Method 2. connecting home appliances directly to the wall mount.

Is there any difference on voltage, amp, stability?
I would guess for home appliance such as computers/ TV/ displays probably it doesn't matter but is there anything matters?

Thanks a lot.

 

[Bud9051]

Each power strip may have its own circuit breaker so daisy chaining them (ont to the other) puts all the current through the one nearest the wall outlet.

besides that, not all power strips are created equally and some so cheaply it would scare you to see the insides. In my electronics business I have taken some apart and it did scare me. The brand we recommended for our clients actually used real duplex receptacles and although expensive they were justified.

Avoid power strips when possible and never plug one into another.

Bud

 

[rockman413]

Each power strip may have its own circuit breaker so daisy chaining them (ont to the other) puts all the current through the one nearest the wall outlet.

besides that, not all power strips are created equally and some so cheaply it would scare you to see the insides. In my electronics business I have taken some apart and it did scare me. The brand we recommended for our clients actually used real duplex receptacles and although expensive they were justified.

Avoid power strips when possible and never plug one into another.

Bud

Wow, this is a quick and definite answer. May I ask one more thing?

I have a an old light, which legs are rusted and full of construction waste which I don't know what... I pluged it into an wall mount and take it out, I worried about if it has left something, like rusts or construction waste, and maybe some metal paper(which looks shinning, sorry I don't know how to call it) inside the wall mount. Should I worry about this wall mount? should I replace this wall mount with another new wall mount?

 

[chandler48]

Can you post a picture of the light so we can see what you see? Undersizing or using a cheap Chinese power strip can cause fires. Don't use them with appliances.

 

[rockman413]

here is the video I uploaded to OneDrive to show its legs:
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AieqPSTFB8Zq33hi55HP5-ZSc6N4?e=TGeAKO

 

[rockman413]

Each power strip may have its own circuit breaker so daisy chaining them (ont to the other) puts all the current through the one nearest the wall outlet.

besides that, not all power strips are created equally and some so cheaply it would scare you to see the insides. In my electronics business I have taken some apart and it did scare me. The brand we recommended for our clients actually used real duplex receptacles and although expensive they were justified.

Avoid power strips when possible and never plug one into another.

Bud

Back to the OP, if I trust the 2 power strips which are in very good condition. Will there be any difference on voltage/ amp for an appliance to daisy connect to the wall mount(connect to one power strip and then to another power strip and then to wall mount)

 

[Bud9051]

The voltage will always start out the same as supplied at the wall. It is when you start drawing current that voltage can be lost through poor connections and a good vs poor power strip cannot easily be judged by looks.

You said appliance and the current required can vary from close to nothing to exceeding the capacity of one power strip. most strips are limited to 15 amps and I seriously do not recommend you run any appliance close to that on any power strip, let alone two in series.

For background I use an infrared camera for my home energy inspections and have in that process spotted several zip cords and power strips getting warmer than they should. heat is the result of a poor connection.

Bud

 

[SeniorSitizen]

Hi there,
I've had this question for a long time, is there any difference between the two setups:

Method 1. connecting Appliances to a power strip, which is a sub strip of another main power strip which connects to the wall mount.

Method 2. connecting home appliances directly to the wall mount.

Is there any difference on voltage, amp, stability?
I would guess for home appliance such as computers/ TV/ displays probably it doesn't matter but is there anything matters?

Thanks a lot.

An interesting question and i use power strips frequently, so i checked voltage drop using a Kill-o-watt meter and a shop vacuum. Power strips used were GE and Stanley.



Wall voltage - 124.9 v
Wall receptacle and no power strip - 123.1

Wall receptacle + one power strip - 123.1 v
Wall receptacle + two power strips - 123.1 v

 

[rockman413]

The voltage will always start out the same as supplied at the wall. It is when you start drawing current that voltage can be lost through poor connections and a good vs poor power strip cannot easily be judged by looks.

You said appliance and the current required can vary from close to nothing to exceeding the capacity of one power strip. most strips are limited to 15 amps and I seriously do not recommend you run any appliance close to that on any power strip, let alone two in series.

For background I use an infrared camera for my home energy inspections and have in that process spotted several zip cords and power strips getting warmer than they should. heat is the result of a poor connection.

Bud

Thanks, I got what you mean.

Should I start the 2nd question in another topic per the rules of this forum?

 

[jeffnc]

In theory no problem. At the distances you're talking about, any losses are negligible. In practice, you can multiply problems with cheap electronics.


I won't bother with the obvious - if you provide a lot more outlets, and those outlets all get filled, that is more appliances than can be plugged into a single wall outlet, so you can overload the circuit (meaning a tripped breaker.) However before the breaker trips, again if electronics are really cheap they might not have the leeway built into them that US codes require. e.g. I'm sure a 14g cable can handle 16 amps just fine, but I'm not sure a cheap power strip can handle 14 amps just fine.

 

[rockman413]

In theory no problem. At the distances you're talking about, any losses are negligible. In practice, you can multiply problems with cheap electronics.


I won't bother with the obvious - if you provide a lot more outlets, and those outlets all get filled, that is more appliances than can be plugged into a single wall outlet, so you can overload the circuit (meaning a tripped breaker.) However before the breaker trips, again if electronics are really cheap they might not have the leeway built into them that US codes require. e.g. I'm sure a 14g cable can handle 16 amps just fine, but I'm not sure a cheap power strip can handle 14 amps just fine.

I'm starting the 2nd question in another topic now, as I can see it's a little bit confusing. The 2nd question is focusing about if I may have left some debris from the legs of the old light into that wall mount and cause a problem.

 

[Old Thomas]

When I worked at the public school it was common for our tech dept to do what you suggested when setting up new computer labs. The State Education Dept did not allow it, we had our mechanics install wiring.

 

[Bud9051]

I'm starting the 2nd question in another topic now, as I can see it's a little bit confusing. The 2nd question is focusing about if I may have left some debris from the legs of the old light into that wall mount and cause a problem.

As Chandler asked I was hoping for a picture or two. I have no idea what you are calling debris.

Bud

 

[Oldmaster]

Power strips should never be used for perminate wiring. Light loads and such may work fine but there is always the potential for issues. Extension cords and power strips account for many fires.

 

[SeniorSitizen]

When it's determined by code that appliance receptacles must be accessible without moving the appliance then i'll quit using them.

 

[chandler48]

What you are seeing on the plug appears to be sheet rock compound. Take a brush and clean it off. It shouldn't be there, but cleaning it will allow it to make good connections.

 

[betelgeuse]

UL lists power strips as "Relocatable Power Strips".


They need to be plugged into permanent outlets (so daisy-chaining is out), and to be removable without tools (hence the keyhole shaped mounting holes)