Beware, these devices are not compatible with extension cables: the plug melts and causes a fire

Cooking, heating, washing, charging phones... we rely so heavily on electricity and appliances in the home that more often than not, there are not enough outlets to plug everything in.

For that reason, and also to save space, the best solution is to use extension cords, sometimes also referred to as extension cables/leads, power cords/strips - a plug with multiple sockets which can power several appliances at once.

Why shouldn’t you use extension cords for certain appliances?

However, improper use of extension cords can lead to electrical problems and in some cases, even cause fires.

Plugging devices such as hair dryers, irons and heaters into a power strip can cause short circuits, and other electrical issues. Certain appliances consume significant amounts of energy, which can overload extension cords

The devices which use the most energy include water heaters: 3,000-6,600 watts and heat pumps: 4,700 watts which are not usually connected to power strips. As for kitchen appliances, the most energy-reliant are: electric stoves and ovens (2,100 watts), dishwashers (1,500 watts), induction hob (1,400 watts per hob), kettles (1,200 watts) and washing machines (1,100 watts).

Other devices to take extra care with include: curling irons/tongs (1,500 watts), clothes dryers (5,400 watts) and steam irons (2,100 watts).

Never link power cords

Another practice that is strictly not advised is linking one or more extension cords - informally known as “daisy chaining”. This can lead to circuit overheating, increasing the risk of a fire.

Refrigerators have a lower wattage (700 watts) but require their own wall outlet because they are constantly in use.

A conventional power strip can safely handle low-energy devices such as smartphones, tablets, laptops, televisions, streaming devices, gaming consoles and desktop PCs.

A 14-gauge power cord can handle up to 1,800 watts but any appliance that uses more than 1,500 watts should always be on a dedicated circuit.

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