MDEE Author

Nov 24, 2025

Overloaded Power Strips: The Hidden Danger Lurking in Your Home & Office

We’ve all done it — you run out of plug points, grab another power strip, plug it into the first one, and suddenly your TV, decoder, laptop charger, phone chargers, and a heater are all happily running off one lonely wall socket. It’s convenient… until it isn’t. In South Africa, overloaded and daisy-chained power strips are one of the TOP causes of electrical fires in homes and small businesses. According to the FPASA (Fire Protection Association of Southern Africa), thousands of fires every year are linked to overloaded circuits and cheap multi-plugs. Let’s break down exactly why this innocent-looking setup is a ticking time bomb — and what you should do instead. Why Daisy-Chaining Power Strips is Extremely Dangerous Massive Fire Risk Every power strip or extension cord has a maximum amperage rating (usually 10–16 A in South Africa). When you plug one power strip into another, you’re forcing a single wall socket to carry the load of 10, 15 or even 20 devices. The cables overheat, insulation melts, and sparks fly — literally. Exceeds Safe Circuit Limits Most household circuits in South Africa are rated for 15–20 A total. Plugging high-draw appliances (heaters, kettles, air fryers, microwaves) into daisy-chained strips can easily push you past 30–40 A on a single circuit. Your circuit breaker might not trip in time, and the wires inside your walls start cooking. Damages Expensive Electronics Cheap power strips rarely have proper surge protection or joule ratings. Voltage spikes and brown-outs (common during load-shedding) can fry your laptop, gaming console, or smart TV in seconds. Can Void Your Insurance Many South African insurers now specifically exclude claims caused by “improper use of extension leads” or daisy-chaining. If an assessor finds a melted multi-plug that started the fire, your claim could be rejected. Real-Life Examples We’ve Seen in Gauteng A Midrand family lost their lounge to a fire started by a R79 power strip from a discount store — three strips were chained together to run a TV, soundbar, PlayStation, and two space heaters. A small Sandton office had R180 000 worth of computer equipment destroyed because someone chained power strips under a desk to save the cost of one extra wall socket. Both could have been prevented with a R1 500–R3 000 professional installation of additional plug points. Safe & Smart Alternatives (That Won’t Burn Your House Down) Invest in Quality Surge-Protected Power Strips Look for brands with at least 1000–2000 joules of protection and individual on/off switches. Never exceed the printed wattage/amperage rating. Install Additional Wall Outlets The safest and cleanest solution. MDEE Electrical can add double or quadruple plug points in under an hour in most cases — fully SANS 10142-1 compliant and issued with a Certificate of Compliance (CoC). Spread the Load Across Different Circuits Kettles, heaters, and microwaves belong on their own dedicated kitchen or utility circuits — never share with entertainment systems. Use Heavy-Duty Extension Cords Only Temporarily If you absolutely must use an extension, choose a single, thick 16 A cord (not those thin orange ones) and unplug it when not in use. Schedule a Professional Electrical Safety Audit We’ll check your DB board, test circuits for overloading, and identify any hidden risks — especially important in older homes built before the 1990s. Quick Checklist: Is Your Setup Safe Right Now? Are any power strips plugged into other power strips? → Red flag Do you have more than 5 devices on one multi-plug? → Red flag Are high-power appliances (heater, kettle) on an extension? → Red flag Have you ever felt a multi-plug getting warm or hot? → Immediate danger If you answered YES to any of the above, it’s time to act — before it’s too late. Let MDEE Electrical Help You Stay Safe Your family’s safety (and your insurance cover) is worth far more than the cost of a few extra sockets. Contact us today for: Additional plug point installations Full electrical safety audits & CoC Surge protection for the whole house Upgrading old wiring that can’t handle modern loads Call / WhatsApp: +27 76 440 0883 Get a free quote: https://mdeeelectrical.co.za Don’t become another fire statistic. Power smart — stay safe!