For many homeowners, telling power strips apart from surge protectors can be tricky. It is still possible, though.
For many homeowners, telling power strips apart from surge protectors can be tricky. It is still possible, though. Even so, the question remains, how can you distinguish individual power strips? Considering all of the modern electronics we depend on every day, having enough power strips is essential, especially if you live in an older home.
Knowledge is Half the Battle
For one thing, you must know the differences between power strips, extension cords, and surge protectors. The first step is to read all of the directions on the package when you want to buy one. Power strips are made of plastic with several plugs that are all lined up neatly in a row. It connects to a single socket that is set in the wall. Never attach two power strips, since that is a significant fire hazard.
In this way, power can be redirected to several different devices, such as chargers for phones or video game systems. While it is more stable than an extension cord, it is only supposed to be a short term solution – in some cases, plugging directly into the wall is the smarter way to go.
How to Be Safer
With that knowledge in hand, let’s take a look at how to use power strips more responsibly. First of all, only use smaller devices. Spring is coming, but some days are still bound to be colder than others. That means it will be tempting to use a space heater. Don’t plug a space heater into an extension cord or a power strip. You should also avoid plugging a vacuum cleaner into a power strip, as that is also unsafe. This device is also something you shouldn’t accept a low-quality item for; buy the more expensive one when you have a choice to make. Some of them have a surge protector built-in – if you need a tiebreaker, then that is what you should look for when you can’t decide.
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