Fire Hazards

6/13/2018 (Permalink)

Power strip catching on fire.

Reprinted by seattlepi.com

Potential risk of power strip catching on fire if not used properly.

• Make sure the power strip has an internal circuit breaker that will trip the breaker when overloaded to prevent overheating.
• Power strips vary in their capacity but should only be used for items that require light loads such as computers, printers and clocks, for example. They are not made to handle refrigerators, coffee makers, portable heaters or fans.
• Power strips are meant for temporary use and should be unplugged when not in use.
• If the power strip feels hot to the touch, replace it.
•  Do not connect one power strip to another power strip. Also known as “daisy chaining.”
• Make sure the power strip has been tested by an independent testing agency such as Underwriters Laboratory (UL) or the Electrical Testing Laboratories (ETL).