Work out what your home uses, what it costs and what it needs

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Can your power strip handle everything you’re plugging in?

Pick the appliances that will be on at the same time and enter what your power strip or extension cord can take (it’s on its label). We’ll tell you if it’s too much.

It’s on its label or packaging, in amps or watts. 13 A is the limit for extension leads in the UK; check yours.

🔒 The maths runs on your own phone or computer. We don’t store or send your data.

What you’re plugging in

Adds up to
—
at the same time
That’s
—
Of its limit
—

    How it’s worked out

    1. Watts at once = the total watts of everything that will be on at the same time. Each appliance counts at full power: even if a heater with a thermostat switches off now and then, when it’s on it draws everything.
    2. Amps = those watts ÷ your home’s voltage. The same appliance draws more amps at 120 V than at 230 V.
    3. That’s compared with what your power strip or extension cord can take, which is on its label or packaging. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) explains that an extension cord overheats when you connect appliances that use more watts than it can handle.

    With what the calculator loads when you open it (a 2,000 W kettle, a 950 W toaster and a 900 W coffee maker, wattages from the official table of Argentina’s energy regulator, ENRE): they add up to 3,850 W, which at 230 V is 3,850 ÷ 230 = 16.7 A. A 13 A extension lead takes 13 × 230 = 2,990 W, so you’re asking for 129%: too much. In the UK, fire and rescue services say never to plug appliances that together use more than 13 amps or 3,000 W into an extension lead or socket.

    Signs a power strip or extension cord is overloaded

    • Any part of it is hot while in use: according to the CPSC, that’s a warning sign it may be overloaded. Unplug something straight away.
    • The plug or cord is damaged, cracked or frayed: replace it, don’t tape it up.

    What should never go in a power strip

    • Major appliances, like the fridge, stove, washer and dryer: the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) says to plug them straight into the wall, because an extension cord can overheat and start a fire.
    • Space heaters: straight into the wall, never into an extension cord or power strip (USFA and Ready.gov).
    • A power strip plugged into another one: everything hanging off them comes from the same wall outlet, which mustn’t be overloaded either.

    If you’re always short of outlets at home, the safe fix is to have an electrician install more.

    Sources