Stop daisy-chaining power strips on job sites, it's dangerous

I was on a remodel in Austin last Thursday and saw three power strips linked together to run a saw and some lights. One strip was already hot to the touch, and the breaker never tripped because they used a 15 amp cord on a 20 amp circuit. That setup can start a fire if the insulation melts, especially with dust around. Why do people still think chaining strips is okay for temporary power?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_felix6h ago

Three strips linked is asking for trouble, but a 15 amp cord on a 20 amp circuit won't stop a breaker from tripping if the load is under 20 amps.

paige_bell812h ago

Absolutely agree with @the_felix on the cord rating not stopping a trip. The real issue is that those linked strips add up fast, even with small loads. A phone charger pulling 5 watts plus a laptop pulling 60 plus a desk fan pulling 40 plus a monitor pulling 50 already puts you past 150 watts per strip. Do that across three strips and you're easily over 20 amps total if everyone treats them like permanent outlets. I've seen people run space heaters on the end of those daisy chains, and that's where things get scary fast. The breaker might hold for a while, but the weaker link in the first strip's cord will melt long before it trips. Am I wrong to think this setup just invites a fire more than a simple overload?

wesley6393m ago

Nah you're not wrong at all, that's exactly what scares me about daisy chaining... the first strip in line is basically a fuse made of cheap plastic and thin wire. I've seen those cords get warm just from phone chargers and laptops, never mind a space heater or a mini fridge. People forget that the breaker protects the wall wiring, not the extension cord or the power strip. By the time that 15 amp cord starts smoking, the breaker upstairs is still happy because the total load is under 20 amps. It's like putting a soda straw on a fire hose and thinking the nozzle will save you.