Should I use two power strips in series

[jlee]

Originally posted by: fleabag

Originally posted by: fleabag
The problem with circuit breakers is that they're not always reliable and sometimes the wiring in the building is either substandard, or some idiot put a breaker that was too high for the circuit. (20a on a circuit with 14ga wire that isn't knot and tube)

Originally posted by: JLee

Originally posted by: Nik

Originally posted by: So
Really simplified answer: Sure, if you don't use more than the number of outlets on the smallest one.

This, but that just means you're basically using a power strip as an expensive and very short extension cord.

Why does the number of outlets used matter? I would think that overall power draw would be more concerning.

Because more outlets gives people an outlet to draw more current which can lead to some shocking results. But yeah, if you've got like 30 5 watt devices, opposed to two 500 watt devices, the 30 5 watt devices SHOULD be less of a hazard, though you've also got to deal with other unforseen issues like a higher likelihood of one of them failing or something like that.

That's what I said, and you're not going to fit 30 devices on two standard power strips.

Do you mean wiring that is knot and tube? That's old stuff, and 14ga is not good for 20 amps regardless.

Originally posted by: CptCrunch
I can tell you that the campus fire department won't like it, and you'll risk tripping the breaker.

I can also tell you these things from experience, since I had my own little server farm with lots of networking equipment, TVs, game systems, plugged into my dorm in college. Anytime anyone wanted to use a microwave (all 3 rooms were occupied by my friends and all shared the same circuit), we had to yell "MICROWAVE" and start turning off TVs and monitors so we didn't trip the circuit breaker.

:laugh:

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: CptCrunch
I can tell you that the campus fire department won't like it, and you'll risk tripping the breaker.

I can also tell you these things from experience, since I had my own little server farm with lots of networking equipment, TVs, game systems, plugged into my dorm in college. Anytime anyone wanted to use a microwave (all 3 rooms were occupied by my friends and all shared the same circuit), we had to yell "MICROWAVE" and start turning off TVs and monitors so we didn't trip the circuit breaker.

I think you should be able to daisy chain a few hundred devices off of one outlet. The only thing to ensure would be that the total draw (continuous) doesn't exceed 80% of the breaker's capacity. That of course would include the power consumed and wasted by the resistance of all the extra wires.

So just adding an extension cord isn't going to be a problem, nor would daisy-chaining power strips. The campus fire department might have a problem with it because they have seen the classic pictures that show an outlet with the power cords of 10 appliances jammed into it, all stuff like coffee makers, toasters, microwaves, refrigerators, and so on - all high-draw devices. My microwave's manual even recommended that it have its own dedicated circuit. Things with compressors should also have a dedicated circuit, as the startup currents can be quite high.

But chaining a bunch of power strips from an outlet isn't much different than having multiple wall-mounted outlets chained on a single circuit's wiring that's run inside the wall.
If you're concerned about the current draw on one circuit, get a Kill-A-Watt meter, and measure the current draw out of the outlet.


One thing to watch for when daisy-chaining devices: Do NOT plug a surge protector into a UPS. The UPS outputs squarewave AC (unless you paid the premium for a sine-wave output UPS), which the surge protector's filtering circuitry will see as noise, and it might overheat from trying to clean up all the perceived distortion.

Originally posted by: astroidea
An average HT setup would be using around 300w-400w. A 42" LCD TV probably uses around 200 watts, and a home theater stereo setup probably uses 30-50w.
kill a watt ftw.
It should be fine.
My sis once blew the circuit from doubling up on the hair dryers. That sucked like 2000w at once.

Just a single hair dryer is probably rated for 1500W on its highest setting, and maybe 750-1000W for low power. That's the maximum I ever see for plug-in resistive heaters.

 

[zinfamous]

Oh, I get it now. OP just wants us to convince him that his purchase of $300-worth of MONSTER power cleaners, strips, and cords was worth it, and that he'll have no problems whatsoever in using them.

because as we all know, MONSTER IS THE BEST!!!!11

 

[fleabag]

Originally posted by: JLee

Originally posted by: fleabag

Originally posted by: fleabag
The problem with circuit breakers is that they're not always reliable and sometimes the wiring in the building is either substandard, or some idiot put a breaker that was too high for the circuit. (20a on a circuit with 14ga wire that isn't knot and tube)

Originally posted by: JLee

Originally posted by: Nik

Originally posted by: So
Really simplified answer: Sure, if you don't use more than the number of outlets on the smallest one.

This, but that just means you're basically using a power strip as an expensive and very short extension cord.

Why does the number of outlets used matter? I would think that overall power draw would be more concerning.

Because more outlets gives people an outlet to draw more current which can lead to some shocking results. But yeah, if you've got like 30 5 watt devices, opposed to two 500 watt devices, the 30 5 watt devices SHOULD be less of a hazard, though you've also got to deal with other unforseen issues like a higher likelihood of one of them failing or something like that.

That's what I said, and you're not going to fit 30 devices on two standard power strips.

Do you mean wiring that is knot and tube? That's old stuff, and 14ga is not good for 20 amps regardless.

Well apparently the reason why you can use 20a breaker with 14ga wire on a knot and tube system is because the wires are suspended with porcelain which allows them to dissipate heat which they can't do when they're in the standard romex you get now when you buy electrical wire. In romex, the heat would build up to the point where it melts and shorts out but on the knob and tube, it's inherently safer though much more cumbersome and expensive. You can apparently still use knot and tube wiring in limited circumstances: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N...ode#Temperature_rating

I actually messed up the spelling, it's knob and tube not knot and tube.. yes, it'd definitely old style wiring, like 1920s..

 

[IronWing]

Get rid of the TV and get a haircut.

 

[kevman]

these guys don't know what they are talking about use them in series you will be just fine.