Know Before You Plug In

Add up every device on your power strip. See if you're over the limit before it becomes a problem.

Start Your Audit

Load Audit

@ 120V

Check the back of your strip for the amp rating.

No appliances added yet. Pick from the database or enter a custom one above.

0 W 0% Safe

Add appliances to see your load.

Appliance Wattage Database

Search or browse common appliances. Click to add them to your audit.

Printable Wattage Reference Card

Print this card and keep it near your power strip for quick reference.

Common Appliance Wattages

Home Office

  • Laptop: 30-90W
  • Desktop PC: 200-500W
  • Monitor (24"): 25-40W
  • Monitor (27"): 35-60W
  • Printer (inkjet): 30-50W
  • Printer (laser): 300-600W
  • Router/Modem: 5-15W
  • Desk lamp (LED): 5-15W
  • Phone charger: 5-20W
  • Tablet charger: 10-30W

Entertainment

  • TV (32" LED): 30-50W
  • TV (55" LED): 60-100W
  • TV (65" LED): 80-150W
  • Gaming console: 50-200W
  • Soundbar: 20-50W
  • Streaming stick: 2-5W
  • Subwoofer: 50-200W

Kitchen (caution)

  • Microwave: 600-1,200W
  • Toaster: 800-1,500W
  • Coffee maker: 600-1,200W
  • Blender: 300-1,000W
  • Electric kettle: 1,200-1,500W
  • Space heater: 1,000-1,500W

High-wattage items should go directly into wall outlets.

80% Rule: For continuous use (3+ hours), keep load at or below 80% of strip rating.

Never daisy-chain power strips. Use one strip per outlet.

Common Mistakes That Cause Fires

Daisy-Chaining Strips

Plugging one power strip into another doesn't give you more capacity. It creates a bottleneck at the first strip's plug and can overheat the connection. Each strip adds resistance. The first strip in the chain carries the full load of everything downstream.

Space Heaters on Strips

A space heater pulls 1,200 to 1,500 watts by itself. Most strips are rated for 1,800 watts total. That leaves almost nothing for anything else. The heater's high, sustained draw can melt the strip's internal connections over time.

Ignoring the 80% Rule

Electrical code says continuous loads (running 3+ hours) should only use 80% of a circuit's capacity. A 15A strip should carry no more than 12A continuously. Your home office runs all day. Stay under the limit.

Carpet and Furniture Coverage

Power strips generate heat. Covering them with rugs, tucking them behind furniture, or coiling excess cord traps that heat. Give strips open air on a hard surface.

Old or Damaged Strips

Strips wear out. Loose outlets, cracked casings, warm plugs, or flickering lights mean it's time to replace it. Look for UL or ETL certification. Cheap, uncertified strips from unknown brands are a real risk.

Using the Wrong Strip for the Job

Outdoor areas need weather-resistant strips. Workshops need higher ratings. Near water, you need GFCI protection. A basic indoor strip in the wrong location is a hazard waiting to happen.

Scenario Walkthroughs

See how different setups stack up against a typical 15A power strip.

Typical Home Office

DeviceWatts
Desktop PC350W
27" Monitor45W
Second Monitor40W
Desk Lamp (LED)10W
Laptop + Charger65W
Phone Charger15W
Router10W
Printer (idle)10W
Total545W (45%)

This setup uses 45% of a 15A strip's capacity. Plenty of room left. Safe for all-day use.