Connecting 2 Power Strips to a Dual Wall Plug

trustnoone on 22/07/2020 - 20:20

Hi everyone, I know a super random question but I have a dual wall plug in my place. Currently I only use one of them with a power strip but with my new tv it unfortunately trips my power strip.

As I have another plug in the wall I can easily use that, but I also wanted to add some more electronics then, which would mean a power strip connected to that plug also.

What I don't understand is, does a dual wall plug essentially act like one and thus if I'm already tripping the power strip the extra electronics may trip my circuit breaker, or do they work seperately with their own power line, and thus I'm making it more safer sharing the load between the two plugs.

Thanks all for advice.

Electrical & Electronics

Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 22/07/2020 - 20:26
    +2

    does a dual wall plug essentially act like one

    Yes. There is a single wire regardless if it was a single or double point.

    These wall points are still typically rated at 10A each.

    If you're tripping at the fuse, it doesn't matter if you have another point next to this double (it is likely to be in the same circuit), you will still trip it because you are overloading that entire circuit.

    • [Deactivated] on 22/07/2020 - 20:37

      does this mean that if a device has two cables and plug into both of the slots in the power point, it would draw the same power as one cable plug into one of the slots as there is only one main cable that powers the power point

    • trustnoone on 22/07/2020 - 20:48

      Oh interesting, but also a shame to hear, especially that powerpoints near it are also likely on the same circuit. So I'd hazard a guess that the whole circuit is rated for 10a, and may trip even near it. Good to know though.

      • afoveht on 22/07/2020 - 21:13

        In a well designed electrical plan the next closest powerpoint will in fact be on a different circuit. This way if one circuit fails another is available - for example in a bedroom which might have 2 GPOs. I expect cheaply built houses won't have this consideration but any electrician worth their salt would think to do this.

      • [Deactivated] on 22/07/2020 - 21:40

        Probably not 10a but 20a or thereabouts.

        Sometimes it may be on a very long circuit that takes it through another high load area such as the kitchen.

  • pjetson on 22/07/2020 - 20:46

    Is it the powerboard that is tripping, and you press the button on that power board to reset it? Or is it a circuit breaker on your switchboard that is tripping, and you go to your switchboard and turn the switch back on there?

    What else is plugged into the powerboard?

    • trustnoone on 22/07/2020 - 20:51

      Thanks for the reply mate, its the powerboard itself thats tripping not the circuit breaker. But it seems to only stop my tv and not the other devices which is a little odd? Its not a normal powerboard though and does switch off depending on a "master device" so it might be something else going on.

      Connected though is: Laptop 1, laptop 2, 50inch TV (no problems with my smaller one), Switch, PS4 and PSVR. Typically PS4 and PSVR are off though and switch is on stand by.

      I want to add another screen though, so had hoped to share it, still a chance it may work and its just overloading the strip, though the strip is rated to 10amps.

      • afoveht on 22/07/2020 - 21:15
        +1

        I doubt you are drawing near 10A unless one of the devices has a fault.

        • BrentNSW on 23/07/2020 - 01:39

          VOFA is right. I wouldn't really expect those to add to more than 10A. On the other hand if they are, you might have a fault, and they will be costing you a reasonable amount to run. Probably more likely a fault with the powerboard though. Maybe your 'master' device isn't drawing enough power…

          Incidentally if you really are going to draw more than 10A, you do want to share in between the two sockets so they don't get more than 10A each, as that is how they are tested (for the socket to provide 10A each). It can make a difference.

      • havebeerbelywillsumo on 23/07/2020 - 03:02
        +1

        Sounds like "try another power board" and see it it trips.

  • brad1-8tsi on 23/07/2020 - 08:20

    The power strip kept tripping with my dishwasher. New power strip sorted it. The overload protection in them is just a bimetal strip IIRC.

    • Chickenleg on 31/12/2021 - 15:52

      I hope @trustnoone has bought a new powerboard in the year and a half since this thread was posted

      • trustnoone on 02/01/2022 - 13:00
        +1

        haha I ended up swapping it around to another powerboard I had and it all worked well. But weirdly enough I needed a powerstrip right now, and so ended up buying the one @Cabsav posted above XD. So guess it works out.

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