Extension Lead Usage

[charliesteve]

Hi
I have an extension lead gang socket with 8 available sockets but is not switchable. I have 6 items plugged in at the moment. I want to be able to switch 3 of those off independently, so would I be able to remove the 3 sockets from this gang extension lead and put into a 4 socket switchable gang extension lead then plug that into the 8 socket lead?
I hope you can understand that.

[bhg481]

I would do that. You're not increasing the loading at all and both extension leads are protected by fuses, so no safety risk. I do it with my computer setup as some devices are only needed part of the time so I have the CPU, monitor etc plugged in to an extension lead with another, with switched outlets, plugged into it which powers extra disc drives, scanner etc.

[gingejbee]

Strongly not recommended.......(point 3)....

https://www.sparksdirect.co.uk/blog/6-top-tips-to-avoid-overloading-your-sockets-and-extension-leads-at-home/

[woofgang]

I can...and I have done it...however its not advisable. why don't you buy something like this? Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

[New Judge]

What six items/appliances are you running from this eight gang? You will be able to do what you say (i.e. it will work) but six seems a lot of items to be running from one supply.

[Tilly2]

Perhaps not a good idea.

https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/guidance/safety-around-the-home/overloading-sockets/

[woofgang]

NJ it depends what they are. Provided it is designed for it and the total load doesn't exceed what the trailer can handle, its fine. I have got 6 things running off one trailer in my craft room but its to avoid plugging and unplugging, only two or three get used at ones and the others are switched off at the trailer.

[charliesteve]

Thanks for the answers but as most suggest it is not recommended so why are these manufactured in the first place? I would side with bhg481's answer as I am not using any more plugs.

[Old_Geezer]

Do what you like. Just don't exceed 13 A (~3 kW).

(Might be advisable to put higher current appliances in the first one to avoid both having to cope with the higher current. Not vital though.)

[TonyV]

So people can run low consumption units like computers, printers and some lights in our case.

[gingejbee]

^^yes, but the original query was about plugging one extension lead into another. It's "not recommended", but the OP is taking the advice that he is happier with.

[bhg481]

I wonder why it is considered safer to use one extension lead with 8 sockets (as in Woofie's Amazon recommendation) than it is to use one 4-way extension plugged into another extension lead. In both cases the extension lead nearest to the wall socket carries all the current taken by any plugged-in devices.

[The Builder]

I've never been able to understand the "not recommended" advice given out by some "informed" sources.
In the electrical world, opinion seems to outnumber even the extensive range of official regulations on the subject.

It's perfectly acceptable under the regs to break into a 32Amp socket ring circuit and fit a fused spur for instance. (Containing a 13A fuse.)
From there, there is theoretically no limit to the number of other spurs that can be chained from the first.
The whole point, as others have said, is that the whole thing is covered by the single 13A fuse at the head of the line.

So, what's the difference with extension leads. None, except only that these leads tend to be pretty cheap and not terribly robust. Their connections are quite crude, but still fused.

More important, is that your whole system should be covered by at least one, but today, two RCDs. Fuses protect the wiring and outlets only. Your protection from earth faults (main shock protection) comes from RCDs.

As I said, they're pretty crude. Do think about having more proper sockets fitted right next to where you want them. There is no regulation limit to the number of sockets you can have............
Providing the total floor area of the circuit does not exceed 100 sq. metres............

[Gromit]

If you want 4 sockets to have switches, but you want the capacity for 8 Sockets, and your current extension has no switches, then it seems obvious to buy a new extension which has 8 switched sockets.
Just looked and they are about £15.

[bhg481]

Let me take you back to 1963 when I first started work at a Ministry of Aviation establishment. In those days most places didn't have ring mains - all outlets were 5 amp or 15amp with a fuse at the fuse-box and took round-pin plugs with no fuses in them; appliances rarely had a plug on when bought, so you had to fit your own. In the lab we had plugs which you could fit to an appliance and each plug had a socket in the back of it (unshuttered). This meant that you could plug any number of appliances into one wall socket as plugging one device in left an unshuttered socket ready for another device. It was not uncommon to see a frightening number of items plugged into a single outlet. That WAS unsafe.

[gingejbee]

Things were so much better in the Sixties, of course....far fewer Health and Safety regs to annoy everybody.
I suspect that it's advised not to use extension leads plugged into other extension leads because some people would never stop and would use them to reroute electricity and "rewire" the whole house on a shoestring.