Town of Mooresville issued the following announcement on Jan. 4.
Warning: Do not overload power strips!
While they’re great to plug in multiple things, the Mooresville Fire Marshal’s Office stresses the number and types of devices you plug in *matters*.
Plug in: Low-powered and small electronics and devices, such as lamps, TVs, computers, phone charges
Don’t plug in: Any major appliance, including refrigerators, oven ranges, microwaves, dishwashers, etc.
How can you prevent overloading a power strip?
1. Check how many watts or Joules the respective power strip can handle (most household power strips can handle 800-1,100 watts)
2. Determine the number of watts/Joules for each appliance, device before plugging it in
3. Ensure the number of total watts/Joules being plugged in does not exceed the max number the power strip can handle
4. Remember: don’t assume you can plug in 6 things into the power strip just because there are 6 spots available
5. Do not piggyback!
6. Large stationary devices should be plugged directly into a receptacle
7. If still unsure, read the manufacturer’s instructions and labels on power strips and appliances
Questions? Call Mooresville Fire Marshal’s Office at 704-664-1338.
Original source can be found here.
