Multiple Devices Simultaneously Connected to a Single Power Outlet Risks Electrical Hazards, Warns Electrical Professionals

Unplugging the Right Way: Electrical Safety Tips for Your Home

Multiple Devices Simultaneously Connected to a Single Power Outlet Risks Electrical Hazards, Warns Electrical Professionals

In our bustling lives, we often overlook essential home safety practices in favor of convenience. However, it is particularly crucial to be cautious with your home's electrical system, especially if you live in an old home that hasn't benefited from modern safety features such as grounded wiring, circuit breakers, and GFCI outlets.

We chatted with electrical experts to shed light on which electronics and appliances need individual wall outlets and how to avoid overloading circuits.

Electrical Experts We Consulted

1. Daniel Majano: Program Director for the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to electrical safety education.
2. Tom Jameson: Licensed electrician and owner of AstroWatt Electric.
3. Joel Worthington: President of Mr. Electric, a Neighborly company.

5 Appliances That Deserve Their Own Outlet

The fundamental rule is if an appliance requires a lot of energy, it should reside on its own outlet to prevent circuit overloading or potential fires.

According to Tom Jameson, a licensed electrician and owner of AstroWatt Electric, if an appliance generates heat or has a motor, it's best to give it its own dedicated outlet. Essentially, if it heats, cools, or spins, it probably deserves its own outlet.

Here are some examples of appliances that should not share the same outlet:

1. Space Heaters: These generate a lot of heat and should be isolated.
2. Microwaves: Especially high-wattage models.
3. Toasters: With their heating elements, they should have their own outlet.
4. Portable AC Units: High energy consumption means they should have their own outlets.
5. Treadmills: These machines generate heat and require motors, so giving them their own outlets is a good idea.

The Importance of Dedicated Circuits

In addition to requiring individual outlets, some high-powered devices should run on their own circuit to prevent overloading it. Each circuit may have several outlets attached to it, so if you plug a vacuum into one outlet of a circuit and a hairdryer into another, you may trip it, causing a brief power outage.

Daniel Majano, the program director for the Electrical Safety Foundation International, explains that all appliances and high-wattage electronics should be plugged into their own outlet and, if possible, their own circuit. A tripped breaker or blown fuse as a result of plugging excessive appliances into the same outlet or circuit means that you are overloading that circuit.

Maximum Watts Per Circuit

Majano states that an entire circuit can handle a continuous load between 1,440 and 1,920 watts, depending on itsamps. To avoid overloading circuits, he recommends sticking within approximately 80% of the circuit's maximum capacity.

Signs Your Circuit Is Overloaded

If your circuit is overloaded, there are some indicators you can observe. Warning signs include the following:

• Tripped system: You'll notice the power goes out, and you'll have to find your circuit breaker and flip the switch back to the "on" position.
• Warm or discolored outlets: Flickering lights or a burning smell are additional signs of a circuit that is drawing too much power and needs professional attention.

If you're unsure whether your home's electrical system is functioning correctly, it's best to call a licensed electrician for an inspection.

Safety Rules To Keep Your Space Safe

To protect your space, follow these straightforward rules from Daniel Majano:

1. All major appliances should be plugged directly into a wall receptacle outlet.
2. Only plug one heat-producing appliance into a receptacle outlet at a time.
3. Never use extension cords or multi-outlet converters for appliances.[9][10][11]

Appliances That Should Never Share Power Strips

Just like how you shouldn't plug high-powered devices into the same outlet, you should also avoid plugging them into power strips. "High-wattage appliances should always be plugged directly into a wall outlet," says Joel Worthington, president of Mr. Electric. Avoiding plugging high-wattage appliances into power strips helps prevent overheating and potential fire risks.

It's essential to remember that power strips only provide additional outlets; they don't change the amount of power an outlet receives. Power strips and surge protectors can be beneficial for low-draw electronics, like chargers, televisions, or computers, but should not be used for appliances like refrigerators, coffee makers, or space heaters.

For surge protection of large appliances like HVAC or refrigerators, it's best to consult a qualified electrician and have whole-home surge protection installed. These devices have been required in new and renovated homes since the adoption of the 2020 National Electrical Code.[8]

Sources

1. Estimating Appliance and Home Electronic Energy Use
2. Estimating appliance and home electronic energy use
3. What appliances should get their own circuit? (The Spruce)
4. Circuit breaker tripping for no reason: What to do
5. Appliance circuit size requirements
6. What Are the Care and Safety Instructions for a Water Heater? (Apartment Therapy)
7. Water heater circuit breaker — do you need a larger one? (Angie's List)
8. Surge Protectors: How They Work, How to Choose Them, and How to Use Them (Wirecutter)
9. Power Strip Safety Tips Every Homeowner Should Know, According to an Electrician in Washington, D.C.
10. Electrical Safety Tips
11. Electrical Safety (ESFI)
12. The Electrical Safety Foundation International, a nonprofit dedicated to electrical safety education, suggests that appliances that generate heat or have a motor should be given their own dedicated outlet to prevent circuit overloading and potential fires.
13. If an appliance requires a lot of energy, it's best to ensure it resides on its own outlet to prevent overloading circuits and potential fires, as recommended by Tom Jameson, a licensed electrician from AstroWatt Electric.
14. For home improvement, considering dedicated circuits for high-powered devices can help prevent overloading circuits, according to Daniel Majano, the program director for the Electrical Safety Foundation International.
15. To avoid overloading circuits and causing a brief power outage, each circuit, which may have several outlets attached to it, should be used to power only one high-powered device, as advised by Daniel Majano.
16. According to Majano, an entire circuit can handle a continuous load between 1,440 and 1,920 watts, depending on itsamps. To maintain electrical safety in your home, he recommends sticking within approximately 80% of the circuit's maximum capacity.
17. Some indicators that your circuit is overloaded include a tripped system, warm or discolored outlets, and flickering lights or a burning smell, as mentioned by Daniel Majano.
18. For those living in old homes that might lack modern safety features, it's crucial to consult with a licensed electrician like Neighborly's Mr. Electric to ensure your home's electrical system is functioning correctly, especially when it comes to home appliances.

Read also: