milemaker13
Senior Member
- Location
- Suburbs of Chicago
Hey Gang-
My company is trying to become more safety minded. We have a lady that is in charge of addressing the safety concerns around the facility.
Here is the current topic of discussion: Plugging power strips into outlets. She says that there should not be two power strips plugged into a single outlet and has some poorly written internet research to back her up.
Her info states that power strips should not be piggybacked. Nor should they be plugged into a "multiple plug adaptor". I agree to both of these.
She is taking this to mean that you cannot plug two power strips into a duplex receptacle (one in each outlet). I'm not sure I agree.
My thinking: A 15 amp duplex receptacle is capable of 15 amps per side, since you could plug a 15 amp appliance into one side. The circuit is only capable of 15 amps per the breaker installed, thus preventing an overload if two 15 amp appliances are plugged in (one in each side of receptacle). I would think a "power strip" is considered a single "appliance", especially considering it has is own overcurrent protection. Therefore, two power strips plugged into a duplex receptacle (one in each side) would be acceptacle.
The issue comes up in the office area where everyone has multiple plugs for all the electronic gizmos now common in everyday life.
My company is trying to become more safety minded. We have a lady that is in charge of addressing the safety concerns around the facility.
Here is the current topic of discussion: Plugging power strips into outlets. She says that there should not be two power strips plugged into a single outlet and has some poorly written internet research to back her up.
Her info states that power strips should not be piggybacked. Nor should they be plugged into a "multiple plug adaptor". I agree to both of these.
She is taking this to mean that you cannot plug two power strips into a duplex receptacle (one in each outlet). I'm not sure I agree.
My thinking: A 15 amp duplex receptacle is capable of 15 amps per side, since you could plug a 15 amp appliance into one side. The circuit is only capable of 15 amps per the breaker installed, thus preventing an overload if two 15 amp appliances are plugged in (one in each side of receptacle). I would think a "power strip" is considered a single "appliance", especially considering it has is own overcurrent protection. Therefore, two power strips plugged into a duplex receptacle (one in each side) would be acceptacle.
The issue comes up in the office area where everyone has multiple plugs for all the electronic gizmos now common in everyday life.