Be Careful

Just wanted to give everyone a reminder to check all their heating devices. I found this. It was hooked up to my space heater. I'm not sure why this happened. Any suggestions are appreciated. The outlet itself is fine, no burn marks, working fine. The Ranco stat that was hooked up works, but I'm not going to be using it. It looks like it was the Ranco plug that burned through or shorted??? I just got it a couple months ago, too:(

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...lug_burned.jpg

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...lug_510270.jpg

Those plugs are designed for a specific amperage load. If they are made for example to handle 5 amps per outlet and you plug a 30 amp product to it then the plug gets hot and poof instant house fire. Grounded surge protectors with a fuse and reset are your safest bet. Those splitters are all kinds of dangerous.

I'll need to check the specs on the heater and the plug, but even if nothing else was plugged into the 3 strip spliter should it do that? How long over a period of time would something have to be plugged in to get the plug to melt?
I hooked up another T-stat and plugged it directly into the wall outlet (no splitter) and so far no problems. I bought a 3 plug surge protector that plugs directly into the socket, not the surge protector strip. Would that be OK?

Where did you buy the slot expander, and what brand was it? Just so other people know.

Personally, I am using a Belkin power-surge protected unite designed for running computer setups. It has an auto-shut off if anything goes wrong, and it can withstand a lightening strike. :gj: They make many different types to fit all needs. Belkin is sold at places like Future Shop, Best Buy, etc. They come on sale quite often, and are one of the best. I've never had issues with a Belkin product. My computer is hooked up to a battery-backup power bar right now, running nearly 24/7 for 3 years without a hitch. The power goes off, my computer stays on. No crashes for me!

Walmart, and it's not a surge protector, just an outlet expander.

Everything else I have is on surge protectors. I guess because nothing else was plugged into the exander I didn't think it would be a problem. I'm trying to find a picture of one now.

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Originally Posted by ivylea77

but even if nothing else was plugged into the 3 strip spliter should it do that?

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Yea if what ever you had plugged in exceeded the amp limit. It'll over heat the plug

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How long over a period of time would something have to be plugged in to get the plug to melt?

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depending could be minutes could be weeks

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I hooked up another T-stat and plugged it directly into the wall outlet (no splitter) and so far no problems. I bought a 3 plug surge protector that plugs directly into the socket, not the surge protector strip. Would that be OK?

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Should be fine but keep an eye one it to make sure it was the plug and not the appliance causing the over load.

I completely agree on not using those outlet expanders for anything that draws a lot or is plugged in for extended periods of time unattended. I have a few around the house that I'll use in a pinch if I'm doing a lot of kitchen work or something but I don't trust them for much else.

A decent power bar with surge protector is really reasonable these days and your safest bet when you need more outlets.

Yes, lesson learned. Thank goodness at a small cost.

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Originally Posted by NightLad

Where did you buy the slot expander, and what brand was it? Just so other people know.

Personally, I am using a Belkin power-surge protected unite designed for running computer setups. It has an auto-shut off if anything goes wrong, and it can withstand a lightening strike. :gj: They make many different types to fit all needs. Belkin is sold at places like Future Shop, Best Buy, etc. They come on sale quite often, and are one of the best. I've never had issues with a Belkin product. My computer is hooked up to a battery-backup power bar right now, running nearly 24/7 for 3 years without a hitch. The power goes off, my computer stays on. No crashes for me!

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I have not used Belkin in my personal life, but in my life at my job, I order hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of Belkin products each year (and sometimes in a month). Excellent product, and I've never had to send any product back in as an open box failure from them.