But there's something I don't quite understand.

Why is it that using a power strip/extension is considered "bad" and more prone to overloading?

Let's say I have, 5 devices that I need to plug in. What's the difference between
i) Get an electrician to install 5 power points in a row, and use one for each device.
ii) Install a power track system, and attach 5 adapters, and use one for each device.
iii) Install a single power point, plug in a long power strip/extension that have 5 points, then plugging the 5 devices into the power strip.

I was thinking to install power track in kitchen and study room (as till unable to decide how many power points needed before start renovation)



This post has been edited by goolie: Jul 26 2023, 11:08 AM

Usually these extension have 1000 watt or so rated. The copper cables inside low quality and too thin for even 1000 watts. Is short usage like 1-2 mins okay. But if u want to connect to it and run 1000 watts for hours then good luck to you.

1. Contact quality
2. You can install many socket as you want. No control and no protection

If you are aware of this, go ahead.
Let your family member know also. Don't on all appliance at same time

1. This is expensive method and make your house very dusty when they hack the wall, but this method allow to choose which socket to loop and which socket to connect to main, then you can change the design of the panel accordingly too

2. This is same like using extension, except that you have the flexibility to swap out different type of socket, if your house has multiple same brand power track, you can interchange those socket in case one of them failed, and not to mention many of the design look simple and nice

3. This will need to depends on the quality of the extension, and too much contact point is not a good thing and prove to failure, you have copper pin contact point from extension to wall socket, then another contact point from your appliance to extension, so there is higher chance for one of those copper pin to get loose and get bad contact causing electric arching

If you are in a new house under going renovation then you can ask electrician to add as many plug point using method 1

For new condo or existing house that has wall that cannot be simply hack or don't want to go through the effort of having wall then use the power track method

Method 3 is the old method of method 2

Power track nowadays can go up to 32A and 8000 watt, depends on what brand you choose, of course the price will be different

And no matter which method you use, remember not to overload the circuit, for example normal household power plug is using 2.5mm copper wire, which is rated for maximum 25A or 2500-2800w, but you can't install a 32A power track and plug in 3 microwave in one circuit, the power track will be able to handle the load but the breaker in main box will still trip to protect the wire

In a nutshell, never exceed 2000watt in one circuit to be safe