How do extension cables or power strips supply power for 3 plugs if they’re only plugged into 1 outlet?
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It’s like splitting water in pipes using tee fittings. You can’t exceed the maximum capacity of the outlet with all three devices connected to the extension/power strip just like the total flow can’t go above what the pipe before the tees is providing.
There are three things that dictate how many pieces of equipment you can connect to the same power strip or extension cord.
1. The capacity of the outlet. In Canada and the US, that’s usually 120 V 15 amps, so about 1800 W. Devices that max one outlet like a space heater are typically limited to 1500 W, that leaves some margin.
2. The number of plugs on the power strip/extension
3. The capacity of the wiring in the extension and power strip. This is often forgotten and can be a fire hazard. The wire gauge (how “thick” they are matters. You will see extensions listed as having 14, 16, 18 Gauge wire, etc. The lower the number, the thicker the wires in the extension. Thinner wires cannot carry as much power without heating up too much. Cheap household extensions can have relatively thin wires. Thin enough that maxing out the capacity of the outlet using an extension like that could be a hazard. If you’ve ever noticed that extension cords construction workers use to power thinks like air compressors are thick, it’s not just so that they are sturdier, it’s also because they have thicker higher quality wiring. You can certainly use a cheap extension to power a lamp, but don’t use it to power a space heater if it’s not rater for it.
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