This article elucidates what happens if we keep Two Surge Protectors In One Outlet. The power devices are susceptible to voltage surges. So we utilize surge protectors to avoid any unwanted electrical mishap.
Is it safe to install Two Surge Protectors In One Outlet? If we maintain the current limit of the socket, it is totally fine. Even Two Surge Protectors In One Outlet can serve as extra protection over a single one if connected in parallel. Both the surge protectors will work as backup for each other.
What are the surge protectors?
A surge protector or a surge suppressor is an electrical device that provides protection to electrical appliances from voltage surges.
Fluctuations in electricity supply can cause sudden changes in voltage in home distribution. They are called spikes. If a spike lasts for a long time, we call it a surge. A surge can be harmful to delicate electronic devices. A surge protector is beneficial in protecting the appliances against voltage surges.
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Why do we use surge protectors?
A voltage surge can cause permanent damage to electrical circuits. A surge protector is efficient in preventing voltage or power surges. It has more functions also.
There are two primary reasons behind using a surge protector. Firstly, a surge protector can accommodate multiple components in one single power socket. Secondly, a surge protector shunts the extra electricity through a semiconductor material to a grounding wire whenever it senses any surge.
How does a surge protector work?
Power surges damage electronic components or even lead to their untimely failure. A surge protector guards by passing current to the equipment plugged into it. The central part of a surge protector is a MOV.
The MOV acts as a pressure sensing valve. Whenever there is a sudden surge or spoke in the current, the MOV senses it. It brings down the resistance when there’s high voltage. Similarly, in low voltage, it increases resistance. The surge protector diverts extra current through the grounding wires of the outlets.
Two Surge Protectors In One Outlet- FAQs
Is it safe to overload surge protectors?
We should perform overloading of surge protectors carefully. We should keep in mind the rating given on the surge protector.
Surge protectors are designed to incorporate devices that draw little current. It is not recommended that we use surge protectors for high amperage appliances like fridges, heaters, microwaves, etc., as they are heavy power users. However, we must not exceed the capacity of the power strip.
What are the necessary conditions to plug in Two Surge Protectors In One Outlet?
Plugging two surge protectors in one outlet is a pretty safe approach. To ensure better safety, one can use outlets that support a multi-device set-up (e.g., duplex socket).
However, some safety measures need to be followed-
1. We should never connect a lot of devices with both the surge protectors. The combined load of them may overload and burn them.
2. We should put the surge protectors in series so that if somehow one fails, the other one compensates for the entire load.
Can we plug an extension cord into a surge protector?
Although we run a risk of catching fire if we plug an extension cord into a surge protector or reverse, the phenomenon isn’t impossible. We can push the extension cord plug to the outlet of the surge protector.
With correct gauge and ampacity, daisy-chaining extension cords and surge protectors can be performed with overloading and fear of electrical hazards. But if any of the devices are improper or weak, the process can really turn into danger. Ratings of both of them must be equal.
Is it possible to plug two surge protectors?
It is not at all an illegal method to plug one surge protector into another. Though, this is often regarded as a hazardous task due to the fear of overload.
Surge protectors contain a Metal Oxide Varistor (MOV). When it fails during any surge, the protector loses its capability. So, if we plug in another surge protector, then that acts as protection and prevents any mishap. Surge protectors with failure indicators are even better. They don’t get destroyed.
How to daisy chain surge protectors?
Daisy-chaining surge protectors are often believed to be malpractice. Daisy chain means the connection of equipment in series. Daisy chains can lead to power overload and fire.
Along with the warnings, it is also a bad idea to daisy chain surge protectors. There are some expensive surge protectors that come with a sensing circuit. It monitors the entire circuitry and indicates surges through the LED. The use of these types of surge protectors can be useful if we want to daisy chain them.
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Is a surge protector the same as a fuse?
It is a very common misconception that a fuse or a circuit breaker is the same as a surge protector. But a surge protector is a completely different product.
The main difference between a fuse and a surge protector is, the former protects a circuit from excess current while the latter protects from excess voltage. A fuse blows away in a very high current. The surge protector bypasses any voltage surge through low resistance, and it doesn’t get burnt as well.
Hi……I am Kaushikee Banerjee completed my master’s in Electronics and Communications. I am an electronics enthusiast and am currently devoted to the field of Electronics and Communications. My interest lies in exploring cutting-edge technologies. I’m an enthusiastic learner and I tinker around with open-source electronics.
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