"Make sure your extension has a surge protector"

[Tuttle]

The fire brigade advised (see link below): "Make sure your extension has a surge protector and never put one extension lead into another extension lead"

Overloaded extension cable leads to bedroom fire - News - getreading - Reading Post

Surely extension leads without surge protectors can't really be a fire hazard can they?

 

[GLENNSPARK]

The fire brigade advised (see link below): "Make sure your extension has a surge protector and never put one extension lead into another extension lead"

Overloaded extension cable leads to bedroom fire - News - getreading - Reading Post

Surely extension leads without surge protectors can't really be a fire hazard can they?

its daisychaining them thats the worst....
especially when their using them to feed heaters etc....

 

[Adam W]

its daisychaining them thats the worst....
especially when their using them to feed heaters etc....

Try telling that to the general public who "just want it to work".
OK the whole lot will be protected by a 13A fuse which theoretically should blow if overloaded to protect the cable, but you don't know if they've used a 6A extension and put a 13A fuse in there because it's all they had to hand, or wrapped the fuse in foil because it kept blowing or something stupid like that.

 

[lister101]

I think these electrical basics should be taught in school i.e max wattage & current of extension leads & what size fuses to fit in plug tops.
The 'watch managers' comment on 'unraveling the extension lead could have been put better.

 

[Tuttle]

The 'watch managers' comment on 'unraveling the extension lead could have been put better.

Yeah, I thought that as well. I was expecting, before I read the article, for them to say that's how the fire started. My leads have a thermal cut-out which trips if the reel overheats, more useful than a surge protector I think.

 

[Rockingit]

Shame they didn't mention these little beauties.....

 

[Adam W]

Shame they didn't mention these little beauties.....

View attachment 16763

I'm sure the unfused ones were 'banned' years ago, but it's difficult to know how many are still in use.
The same goes for those plug in socket 'protectors' which unfortunately haven't been banned yet even though they make a socket less safe.
Go to FatallyFlawed for more information; a cause championed by Adam Hart-Davies and Johnny Ball off of the telly, and Tony off of this forum.

 

[Knobhead]

I’m going to make an admission here.

Behind my desk there are 3 four point extension leads. I’m not happy with them but they serve a purpose. The plug tops to each has a 3A fuse in. They would be even less if I could find the box of fuses I put so carefully away!

Extension leads are fine in the hands of a knowable person. A fire waiting to happen when used indiscriminately.

Due to arthritis I’ve got to wait until GlennSpark comes to visit me to extend the RFC with a spur via a 3A FCU to 10 MK K1257 sockets. It really pi$$es me off I can’t hold a chisel any more! I would have thrown the extension leads in the bin (plugs chopped off) yonks ago. But needs must.




Now who’s man enough to admit just what is lurking behind their desk?

 

[Silly Sausage]

I’ve got to wait until GlennSpark comes to visit me to extend the RFC with a spur via a 3A FCU to 10 MK K1257 sockets.

????????!!!!!!!!!!

You really are going to have ease up on them horse tranqualisers!

 

[grantr37]

I’m going to make an admission here.

Behind my desk there are 3 four point extension leads. I’m not happy with them but they serve a purpose. The plug tops to each has a 3A fuse in. They would be even less if I could find the box of fuses I put so carefully away!

Extension leads are fine in the hands of a knowable person. A fire waiting to happen when used indiscriminately.

Due to arthritis I’ve got to wait until GlennSpark comes to visit me to extend the RFC with a spur via a 3A FCU to 10 MK K1257 sockets. It really pi$$es me off I can’t hold a chisel any more! I would have thrown the extension leads in the bin (plugs chopped off) yonks ago. But needs must.




Now who’s man enough to admit just what is lurking behind their desk?

I have a spare pack of 2A fuses i can put in the mail...