I just don’t get it. Only a handful of devices would put you over the 15A limit right?
In: 1
Whereas many are mostly correct, it is also confusing. As some noted, only view amp numbers.
That wall receptacle can only provide 15 amps. Any plug that connects to it will always demand less than 15. If an appliance plug can mate, then human safety exists.
But a power strip connects many plugs to one receptacle. You are expected to read the nameplate on each appliance. Sum amp numbers from all. Verify that sum is less than 15. Then one power strip is not consuming more than 15 amp from one receptacle.
With experience, one can look at an appliance to know its amp number. But that experience comes from reading amp numbers on nameplates.
A safe power strip must have a 15 amp circuit breaker – the emergency backup protection. To protect you if you make an arithmetic error.
Actual amp numbers are far more complicated. And sometimes massively exceed 15. But that is not a concern. The amp numbers, listed on every nameplate, takes all that into account. We simply make it easy for you. Each appliance has one, simple, ballpark number that says everything necessary to be safe and informed.
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