Why does the use of a power strip not reduce the quality of the appliance?
In: Technology
Most wall outlets have two plugs. You can plug two things into them and they get all the power they need and work fine.
However, your wall outlets are generally able to provide much more power than just two devices need, even two devices that take a lot of power.
So all a powerstrip does in this case, is allow you to use more of the power that is already being provided by the wall outlet, its just unused.
Nearly all residential power is “dirty.” Meaning the ac sine wave is not perfect, nor is the voltage levels. Power strips and extension cords can increase voltage fluctuations or add more ripple to the current but that’s fine because the electronics is built to handle fluctuations as well. And other defects in the electrical signal quality is fine as well. Unless it’s some part the space shuttle uses, in that case it has an inboard power adapter to convert the dirty electricity into the precise electricity the electronics needs.
Why would it? The appliance still gets all the power it asks for; for all it knows, it’s plugged directly into the wall. None of the outlets know or care what they are or what they’re plugged into; the wall outlet just supplies all the power that’s demanded of it, until it blows a circuit.
all a power strip does is add more outlets to plug stuff into. it just uses the power that is already in the outlet you’re plugging the power strip into.
Think of how close your appliance is to the power station. It’s likely multiple miles away. Along that path the volume and power of that electricity is changed and controlled so that when it gets to your home, it’s just right for what you need. Another 2-8 feet of wiring isn’t going to offer a noticeable change in performance.
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