While a socket or power strip can be very practical, certain devices should never be plugged together as this could cause a fire.
Widely installed in our homes for several years, power strips have quickly proven to be essential in everyday life. Inexpensive, easy to install and very practical, they allow everyone to have several electrical devices in service in the same area. Where our wall outlets can only power one device, a power strip stands out by distributing power across multiple devices and can do the same with two, three or even four devices.
While the majority of power strips can only power four other electrical devices, there are more specific models that can allow you to plug in many more objects. However, you must be careful with such habits, since some power strips are not designed to withstand a certain amount of energy. This is particularly the case for the two devices that we are going to tell you about and which should never be plugged into the same power outlet, at the risk of starting a fire in your home.
The first device in question is the iron. Although this type of object is more and more sophisticated these days, some older models can still consume a lot of energy when used or simply put into service. Depending on the model you have, its energy output can vary between 1000 and 3000 watts. For example, the majority of irons from the famous Calor brand consume between 2000 and 2800 watts.
A consumption which should not be ignored, especially if the iron is coupled with another significant source of energy consumption. This is why we recommend not connecting an iron with another type of object likely to consume a lot: air conditioning and heating devices.
In fact, the majority of radiators or auxiliary air conditioners consume according to the desired power. This can go up to 4000 watts for the most energy consuming ones who are in high demand! Couple this consumption with that of an iron and you have a risk of overloading your outlet.
Electrical engineer Luis Aaron Barra, a specialist in electrical appliances, declared during a radio program that it is always necessary to take into account the actual consumption of each appliance at the time of purchase and connection. Objects such as irons or heaters/air conditioners, which consume a lot, should not be placed on the same power strip, especially if the latter is already used with another extension cord or bonus socket. The risk of overloading is real and could exceed the limit capacities of the power strip, resulting in a fire.