Extension cords are essential for our daily lives, but do you truly know how to use them safely?
The safety of sockets should never be taken lightly; improper selection or usage can lead to safety hazards, severe cases can even cause fires.
How Many Plugs Can You Use? Be informed on safe use!
Most extension sockets cables you find in Singapore can handle up to 13 amps, based on the specifications of plugs and fuses. In both Singapore and Hong Kong, power sockets in households are generally 13A, hence extension cords are built to handle a maximum current of 13A.
To understand the power capacity of a 13A socket, we can do a quick calculation:
13A × 230V (Singapore voltage) ≈ 2990W
This means the total power draw on a 13A extension socket should not exceed 2990W.
Caution, you do not need to utilise all sockets in an extension cord. If multiple high-power appliances are connected at the same time, such as electric kettle (2400W), electric iron (2100W), etc., the power limit of the extension cord could be easily exceeded, which can cause the socket to overheat or even damaging the cord and making it a fire hazard.
Therefore, always check the power limit when using extension cord, and avoid plugging in too many high-wattage devices simultaneously. Extension cords don’t usually support multiple high-power devices. If a 2400W kettle is already plugged in, be cautious about adding other appliances to prevent overloading.
