Ikmnjo
123472
3556
44
Oct 29, 2019 7:35 PM
Ikmnjo
123472
3556
44
HatofTacos
I’ve used two space heaters in my life. Both were plugged into wall. Both melted in the plug in the wall. I don’t use space heaters anymore.
TheCanineAlchemist
Meanwhile in Arizona, we are opening windows and enjoying the finally decent weather
RazorAndBladeSavedTheDay
purdhapley
Thinking **Wait for it, wait for it...*** no Jeffery Epstein? Weird.
onlyhereforthehotfuzzreferences
was waiting for Epstein. +1 for actual information
PoorSucker
Space is cold
MarkPenrice
But home is colder, when you come home at night and there's nobody here, and there's nobody here, and there's nobody here
JustAGamerDreamin
That's kinda the fucked up part, looking at a map of the US: The more likely it is to need a space heater, the worse the building codes.
backrideup9
See that red toggle? Its a built in breaker. Plug in all the things you'd like, just dont use a power strip from 1993.
thepostfixer
You are right, but judging from the comments this seems to vary by country. US - I've never seen a power strip without a breaker rated 1875W
PinPointSnarkuracy
No, that's just a neon power indicator in any device < $15
nonCanadianGoose
Maybe they just want to heat the room in 2 places
HodgeNPodge
slack3rdav3
If needed, use an extension cord that is rated for the amount of current you could pull. Ask someone if you dont know when youre buying one.
MarkPenrice
Like literally one of the main reasons for the rating plates all mains-attached devices (and most.. but not all extensions) have on them...
MangyDogUK
Or use a mains power system thats not 120v....
Mutamn
Remember when people solved the breakers keep blowing problem with a penny? Too bad modern breakers can't do that.
HemroidSamurai
*good thing
HamDangler5LucidDangling
harambedaycare
and inflammable. So basically everything.
YesYouJustLostTheGameAgain
That kid just developed a fetish waaaaaaaay to early
shadowsyllvet
YesYouJustLostTheGameAgain
Oh he is, we’re gonna be BFF’s when we finally meet outside of this fleshy prison:)
meganical
That is actually a bit dangerous. Butthole usually inhales before exhaling gas so you can light your butthole on fire by doing this
kadaeux
Not to 'be that guy' but the person holding that lighter is definitely not the one farting.
ultravioletregulator
I'm going to presume fart-lighters are *probably* not the most scientific-minded of folks. Nor are they the type that considers consequences
kohrah
That sounds like a load of crap. Butthole inhales before exhaling?
WonderfunkJones
Can confirm. Source: I tried it. I singed some hair.
MichaelJCabuuse
Inhaling butt holes
teabaggerino
New band name
HisDudness
Thrash metal?
ConsumingHate
Fair warning if you are in an apartment or older house, your wall outlet might not be safe either. Had one short a wall jack in my last APT.
MrGizzmokev
I don't know how cheep that thing is but I have an extention cables with 6 plugs that can run a fan a heater, charge 3 phones and run my tv
MrGizzmokev
All fuckin day!
LurkerOfDarkness
And you don't even need to plug it in...
MrGizzmokev
What?
Pixelbuddha
Laughs in german
smashthoseboobiesup
Lovethesmelloftoastedsourdoughbread
0118 999 881 999 119 725
Lovethesmelloftoastedsourdoughbread
3
DefinitelyNotAdolfHitler
Nice screensaver!
PoweredByPotato
I was halfway expecting an Epstein didn’t kill himself.
rodrigosanchez
He didn't kill himself? But he was in a jail cell.
Atomsk
The conditioning is almost complete...
SophieClockwise
PoweredByPotato
Much better. Thanks!
buxxer
It's like three fiddy or jumper cables all over again.
PoweredByPotato
I would like to see dad beating me with jumper cables revived
Lobuttomize
There's definitely power strips and surge protectors that can handle full circuit wattage
jakeinthehood
Is this cheaping out, or refusing to put a fuse in the thing because America has to be "great" and explode all the time
ReginaKasteen
Cheaping out. Anything but a bargain bin strip will have a fuse. But then it still explodes just in a smaller way.
MarkPenrice
The US way is more to put a fuse in the device instead. But this is a mix of not routinely using earthing, and cheap pile-em-high Chinese
MarkPenrice
electrocrap peddlers selling the exact same thing in high-current 110V America as in low-current 230V Europe / domestic market just with
MarkPenrice
differently shaped sockets/plugs. (And we're not immune in the UK, I've had a cheap chinky USB HDD enclosure come with an unfused plug...)
MightyIink
I don't need a space heater, I already got a gaming PC.
tybbiesniffer
Too true.
KindaClueless
*Laughs in UK power safety*
Noksus
It helps to use a sensible voltage.
jonrista
Erm...a power strip has a fuse. Or damn well should have a fuse! The fuse should go LONG before..."potential fire hazard" happens.
gyrfalcon
They're also UL listed to handle the same amperage as the wall socket in most cases. Even the cheapest Chinese ones. Don't be logical.
jonrista
Yeah, logic is so overrated. ;P
thangmd
I'm a electrician and I approve this post.
arewenotkingsandqueenstogether
Hey while you're here, what does a warm outlet mean?
thangmd
It's either to much plugs or the wiring is bad or a lot of current drawing
Lonewolfing
Want to come give a seminar to the low income housing I oversee? They apparently don't approve it...staff included
thangmd
Welp 100% sure I'm not nearby
Lonewolfing
Right answer
thangmd
Good luck tho
KLMairlines
Serious question: is this a US problem? Because everywhere I’ve lived the breaker just goes and it turns off?
Kithkinlord
In north America its common to have extension cords and power bars only rated for 13 amps. Our breakers are rated for 15 amps.
makeSX
While at the topic: why do you need extra heaters? Don't you have heating in the houses to start with?
AyrA
Yes. Sane countries have all plugs and sockets rated at the exact same amps to prevent this kind of thing
ReginaKasteen
If you plug it into the wall, the breaker trips. If you plug it into a power strip (or extension cord) that's not rated, the cord "trips".
dwilson0725
If you're using an undersized wire or connection on a circuit that can handle the full load there's no reason for it to trip.
Syk0tik0ne
Older homes with fuses or some DIY electrician that bumped a 15 amp breaker to 20 or 30 because it kept tripping can be an issue anywhere.
KLMairlines
I guess that is why most countries don’t allow DIY electrical work. Can’t sell a house without a certificate
INeedAnUserNameButNoneIsFree
I think the tard who i hired to renew all the wiring did it. Gonna check it at 09h.
ifavoritethingstoshowmywifewhenigethome
yeah, found a 20a circuit breaker on some 14g wire circuit when tearing into my wall, immediately switched that to 15a
Syk0tik0ne
I just bought a house. Original owner wired the garage himself. 60 amp main powering 3x 20amp circuits, 12g wire,no ground rod for the box.
ifavoritethingstoshowmywifewhenigethome
this is the wall in question
ifavoritethingstoshowmywifewhenigethome
ifavoritethingstoshowmywifewhenigethome
this picture here is why i refuse to pay people to work on my things, get some half assed work that'll get you killed
ifavoritethingstoshowmywifewhenigethome
they had wires routed into the edge of studs with no metal plates installed, i put the plates in you see there, wired up three way switches
ConfirmologistUK
2KW heater in the US = 2000/120=17A. In UK = 2000/240=8A. P=I^2*R. So in US, heat produced by cables is 4 times that in UK for same load.
MajorTom0101
Yeah but you have an American style 120V 15A plug attached to a 15A device so getting US and UK mixed up is not the issue.
MarkPenrice
Heck, you probably can't even officially/legally plug in a 2kW in the US. Sockets are only rated for... 15? 16A? So 1.75kW is about the max.
MarkPenrice
But you'd still be warming the room by a certain amount just with the feed cable, whereas over here the lead for a 2.4kW heater stays cool.
jetah
"110 is safer..."(/s) problem is the cheap audio speaker wire power strips.
MarkPenrice
That's the closest to the truth anyone's got. You can put a kilowatt down a 12V automotive circuit safely with the right cabling.
MarkPenrice
Thicker cables = lower resistance = less resistive heating. Essentially for the same power, you need a thicker cable at lower voltage.
MarkPenrice
But there's probably too many people who think it's the reverse... 15A at 110V down audio cable is very nearly a floodlight bulb filament.
jimmityjammity
240 is also less likely to kill you for the same lower amp reason, better in almost every way but its something people get tribal about.
GuardsmanMiku
Not to mention britain has one of the safest plug designs in the world. Well, unless you step on one. It's like lego but worse
MechanusIncarnate
I=V/R. For a fixed resistance, higher voltage=higher current.
Kbantar
How can American household current kill? I loved jamming metal forks and hangers into outlets as a toddler for the sparks and jolts.
dreadpiratekhan
And it didn't affect you at all, right?
Kbantar
My family joked that that was why I alone of my family had curly hair. My mom said it burned me once, but did her best to block outlets.
Kbantar
She also said that I was the reason they never got a single deposit back. I was a bit of a pyro as a kid.
recliningpanda
I was wondering that because in Aus we can plug heaters into a board. maybe it’s got to do with the 120 vs 240 thing.
MarkPenrice
You can do it anywhere so long as the device current is equal to or less than the extension rating, and the extension is properly made.
MarkPenrice
If US standards/regulations for electrical supply equipment is anything like that for their food, though... yikes.
uzerok
Most likely because of the lower voltage. If you have a 1000W heater at 240V you get 4.17A at 120V you get 8.33A. Assuming the same cords 1
uzerok
are used for both cases say 5 Ohm and P=I^2 * R we get P=87W for 240V and P=347W for 120V /end
MarkPenrice
That sounds like a lot, is it typical or just illustrative? Still, even 50W concentrated in a strip could get pretty hot.
uzerok
Just an example. Power strips ought to have a print on the case itself which lists its limits. E.g. mine here says max 250V, 16A -> 4000W.
Kuhmeister
Into a board?
EmergencyChocolate
Power strip
recliningpanda
Yea a powerboats like the one pictured that’s all melty
tooomanystevesgotbanned
Yes, a powerboard. AKA power strip, but different to the one shown above.
Leithoa
Most powerstrips are super cheap. I'm sure an appropriately sized one would work just fine.
kadaeux
To be fair, our heaters don't have to compete with ten billion tons of sky semen either.
jetah
the US has cheap, automobile speaker wire, power strips but we also have higher gauge 12-8 strips but they're more expensive.
MarkPenrice
Pay more, get a higher current rating. Makes sense, and not that unique. Just make sure to plug your heater into the expensive strip.
jetah
would be nice if this was common sense but it isn't.
MarkPenrice
Which is why it needs to be a concerted public education campaign...
dingofdong
Yeah... every time they make something idiot-proof, the universe comes along with a bigger, better idiot to break it
recliningpanda
What I find most odd is your wall sockets don’t have switches on them.
d3vilsavocado
Thank you! I find that so weird.
BigChickenSmellDog
The 12 gauge wires run off the 20A breaker can handle up to 20A but the wires inside of the power strip can be much smaller causing heat.
Simusar
Is generic stupidity a problem? Yes
CatatonicCowMoo
Hey. Tbf electricity can be very confusing. I wouldn't know what I know now had my main breaker not gone out.
KLMairlines
Yes, that is why in most countries you are not allowed to touch it without a license...
CatatonicCowMoo
Well I mean, I didnt touch it this time either. But I had to learn about it! Also, an electric lawn mower that plugs in meant I had to /
CatatonicCowMoo
Learn about extension cords too! A bit like vacuuming the front lawn, but its quieter and uses less energy. Weird though.
MyCouchPullsOutButIDont33
I'm an electrician and I approve this message.
HereDueToYourOnePeskyDownVote
I am not an electrician and I approve of this message.
ElbowDeep
I'm not an electrician and I approve your approved message.
dublerr
As someone who's shorted two factory circuts to learn my lesson I also approve.
jtthemediocre
I'm also an electrician, and I second the motion.
sparkylife64
Ditto
SecretTunnel
We have a space heater in our childs room but when it runs, the breaker buzzes. It doesnt trip, just buzzes when it runs. Is that an issue?
Relikar
Mechanical Engineer who also did first 6 months as an electrician's apprentice, I also approve this message. Electricity is no joke.
DirkNurple
I don’t understand anything about it. Electricity and plumbing scare me.
zazznz
Plumbing is just lego, don't worry about that. When electricity doesn't scare you is when it's at its most dangerous. Don't let that go
OmegaKamidake
It's probably for the best that electricity scares you at least.
DirkNurple
Bruh I don’t want shit on my floor.
GodEmperor0fMankind
At least six years ago, humans trapped lightning and bent it to our will, but we still have to pay it respect or it'll come out and kill us.
Metallica93
Stealing this to explain electricity to people older than 7.
Tassyr
I work electrical in a hardware store. I don't have the authority to approve this message, but I applaud it enthusiastically.
LokiShinigami
Less work and $ for you I guess then
SafarimanHubertLegrange
And the firefighters lol
wardenwolf
10-gauge cord is better. Shop-grade power strips can also normally handle it if it's the only extension available.
RBMK30000
10 gauge probably overkill for conventional space heaters unless you're running them from one side of the house to the other
wardenwolf
It never hurts to go higher-grade. Particularly since it's all cheap Chinese crap of questionable build quality nowadays.
Richygrindcore
I'm a paramedic and I don't care what you do I get paid regardless
TheMayansWereOntoSomething
I'm attorney Peter Francis Geraci and I can help you file for chapter 7 or chapter 13 bankruptcy
HelloToe
I'm a non-attorney spokesperson and I'm just here so you can hear my soothing voice.
pissinginmyownsundressmakesmehard
I'm a chronic masturbator. That's all.
Ketheres
We all are
HisDudness
I have a structured settlement and I need cash NOW!
gordoptimusPrime
Dumb-dumb here: why doesn’t the power strip trip and just cut off power to the space heater? Do they only prevent surges from the other side
MajorTom0101
They only prevent power surges but a proper one should be able to handle 15A and so the circuit breaker would be protecting it fine.
gyrfalcon
If you're that stupid of an electrician I hope they revoke your license.
[deleted]
[deleted]
[deleted]
[deleted]
RIKUX3
/1 Combination of issues, portable heaters pull 12A, standard minimum breaker size in the US is 15A, so those numbers are good, but some
RIKUX3
/2 cheap manufacturers will make plug strips rated 10A or less, so they will burn down before the breaker ever gets close to tripping
RIKUX3
/3 combine that with an old Federal Pacific brand panel that were cheap and commonly installed in the 80s and have known issues with not
astrangehop
Our power strips are really shitty, yes
fign37
I am an industrial electrician and I also approve of this message.
barf1189
My dad has a freezer in the basement that he powers with one of those long ass orange extension cords on a spool. Approve?
RBMK30000
If he's been doing that for a while, if it's been fine, it will probably continue to be fine, unless he also plugs a space heater into it
barf1189
Thanks for the info. No space heaters so he's all good then!
mynewestusername
Not an electrician, but freezers also don't run constantly so they have a chance to cool down. You can just see if the cord is warm too.
barf1189
Thanks for the helpful info about the extension cords
MFJoJoReference
Your username makes me skeptical
gottakeepgoing
Bought a heater yesterday, plugged into a power strip. The switch has turned itself off 6 times. The wall outlet's breaker 9 times.
MarkPenrice
Checked its rating vs that of the strip and the outlet breaker circuit?
MajorTom0101
Please stop trying. You need to take load off that circuit or run a 12 guage extension to a dedicated circuit like maybe your kitchen.
gottakeepgoing
It's stabilized finally. I'm not running the thing at max power. The power strip is neither ice cold, nor hot. It's a small heater.
gottakeepgoing
If it starts to worry me, I'll flip from 1500 watts to 750. If it fails I'll move it over to an outlet by the kitchen I use for vacuuming.
MajorTom0101
Yeah im afraid to run my heater at max in my rental becouse you don't know the quality of spices. A pro install is fool proof tho.
gottakeepgoing
Strip gave out and then gave out again on low power. It's been moved to a better spot. I hope.
Deadlynitro
Here's a really crazy idea, implement a suitable wiring system that utilises earthing to help mitigate fire hazards.
10tacles
No, set your house on fire and be warm for the rest of your life!
PinPointSnarkuracy
I approve this come-back.
PinPointSnarkuracy
Earthing doesn't solve overheating due to anemic wiring powering a 1300 watt appliance.
Deadlynitro
It can in a roundabout way, it could trip the breaker causing the power to turn off and the appliance to cool down and not start a fire
PinPointSnarkuracy
Only if the wires touch, which is not guaranteed
Deadlynitro
But the fuse in the plug top would have gone before any of that causing it to trip
PinPointSnarkuracy
Only in countries where the fuse is integrated with the plug. That is rare in the US. Usually only fans and Christmas Lights.