Connecting many low-power mains devices (wall warts etc) to single mains socket

NY · 2017-03-17T14:44:03+00:00

I have a room that I use as a study. It has only one single mains socket (the other is on the opposite side of the room and would require a long trailing cable to reach the desk area). I currently have a PC and LCD monitor, and wall-warts for various low-power devices (router, phone, security camera, headphones etc) plugged into a series of multi-way socket blocks (there is a 6-way with two 4-ways plugged into it). Obviously the overriding factor is that the total current does not exceed 13 A, and when I measured it, it was about 3A. But is there any safety issue with lots of plugs, via multi-way socket blocks, all going back to a single wall socket? Is there any advantage in having the single socket changed for a dual one and plugging half the appliances (via socket blocks) into one socket and half into the other? Is a single socket block with 12 sockets in any way safer than a 6-way with two 4-ways plugged into it?

Mar 17, 2017 22 Replies

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Muddymike 9 years ago

I have one of these under my desk, it will take 10 plugs or chargers. The socket it connects to is inaccessible without moving the desk so this also has a mains power switch.

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Mike

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Huge 9 years ago

[11 lines snipped]

No.

We have three IKEA desks in our study, each with a 12 way Olson strip screwed to the top of it, at the back, plugged into a 13A socket. I've been using this arrangement for years, possibly decades. It also stops stuff falling off the back of the desk.

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Dave Plowman (News) 9 years ago

I fitted a wall mounted switched FCU from the ring close to this computer. The socket switched by that in a convenient place to feed the rats nest.

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