We have to admit, no one person's house has enough power outlets to keep everything running and charged. That's why we rely so much on power boards, which can turn one plug into six or more, making the most of our home's electrical system.

But while the idea of turning a single electrical outlet into one that can hold multiple plugs sounds great, it can be very dangerous if not done correctly.

When power boards are overloaded, they can do a variety of things, including cause injury to people by shocking them, damage the devices that are plugged into them, and even start a fire.

Take for example this story of a mum from Sydney whose overloaded power board was the cause of a fire that broke out in her 17-month-old baby's room.

Ms Short stated that when she walked in, her daughter's room was filled with smoke. Credit: 9News.​

Mae Short, a resident of Manly on the Northern Beaches, described her reaction as one of "true and utter panic" when she heard the baby coughing and realised with horror what had actually happened in the early hours of Friday.

"Her room was just full of smoke, like soot, it was really thick. I couldn't see her, or couldn't see anything in there," she said, adding, "She was covered in soot and her dummy was covered, just all over her, her clothes."

After the incident, Ms Short wants to educate others about the perils of powerboard overloading, which can occur when high-wattage appliances, such as heaters, are plugged into power strips that aren't sized appropriately.

"I already had it in my head that putting too many things on it wouldn't be good, so I went out and got a good one," she said. "However, putting a heater or anything else on there that will overload that powerboard is a no-no."

She went on to say that installing a smoke alarm in a bedroom was another potentially life-saving measure.

There is a strong suspicion that an overloaded powerboard was the cause of the fire. Credit: 9News.​

When it comes to protecting yourself, your family, and even the electronic devices you use, it is important to be aware of the kinds of electrical safety precautions that should and should not be taken with power boards.

Here, we have compiled a list of helpful electrical safety tips that you might find extremely useful if you ever decide to make use of a power board, double adaptor, or extension lead in your home.

DO:

• Invest in overload-protected power sources.
• Use boards with built-in safety switches whenever possible.
• Place power boards in well-ventilated areas at all times.
• Ensure that the boards are always visible, not hidden beneath or behind furniture.
• To avoid dust and dirt build-up, clean on a regular basis.
• Ensure that all plugs (including the wall plug) are securely fastened at all times - boards stored beneath desks are vulnerable to being kicked or slipping out of their sockets.
• Examine the condition of your boards and their cords on a regular basis.

DON'T:

• Don't connect too many power-hungry devices to the same circuit board.
• If you're not sure how much power an appliance uses, don't plug it in.
• Place the board away from places where water or moisture can collect, such as the kitchen or the bathroom.
• Placement under carpet or rugs may help to conceal unsightly cords, but it can also hide danger.
• Do not store in cupboards.
• Avoid placing near heaters.
• Power boards should never be plugged into an extension cord; instead, they should be plugged directly into the wall.
• When dealing with an electrical fire, never use water to put out the flames.
• If you want to increase the number of sockets, don't plug one power board into another.
• Don't try to fix a power board on your own.

Source: www.servicetoday.com.au

Members, if you've read this far, consider it a sign that it's time to check (and, if necessary, upgrade) your powerboards! If you noticed that you have ongoing electrical issues in your home, please consider contacting and hiring an electrician.

 

[joshram]

Houses should be built with lots more power points and the points should be higher. These days practically everything needs charging and as people get older its more difficult to bend down to plug things in.