hey guys,
i was decorating outside and ran into a lack of outlets. i bought 2
3-way splitters. is it going to do any harm if i plug one into the
other so that I can use one as an extension cord without changing the
actual number of lights and subsequently the voltage?
thank you very much

-andrew

wrote in message
oups.com...
hey guys,
i was decorating outside and ran into a lack of outlets. i bought 2
3-way splitters. is it going to do any harm if i plug one into the
other so that I can use one as an extension cord without changing the
actual number of lights and subsequently the voltage?
thank you very much

-andrew

Do not understand the term: splitters. What on earth are you asking us
here?

In article .com,
wrote:
i was decorating outside and ran into a lack of outlets. i bought 2
3-way splitters.

I assume you mean three way extension leads?

is it going to do any harm if i plug one into the
other so that I can use one as an extension cord without changing the
actual number of lights and subsequently the voltage?

With things like lighting you should be ok - just make sure the total load
is well within the rating of the cable.

--
*It sounds like English, but I can't understand a word you're saying.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

"Jim Gregory" wrote in message
...
wrote in message
oups.com...
hey guys,
i was decorating outside and ran into a lack of outlets. i bought 2
3-way splitters. is it going to do any harm if i plug one into the
other so that I can use one as an extension cord without changing the
actual number of lights and subsequently the voltage?
thank you very much

-andrew

Do not understand the term: splitters. What on earth are you asking us
here?

I think he is trying to "Bling" his house: (not decorating as in improving
the appearance of your house)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/shropshire/cont...allery.shtml?1

Just make lots of holes everywhere for fixings and cables - it will do
wonders for the value of your house. I hope you enjoy taking it all down
again on a miserable cold damp day in January.
I've never seen the point of decorating the outside - how do I benefit when
I am inside with the curtains closed.

Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
In article .com,
wrote:
i was decorating outside and ran into a lack of outlets. i bought 2
3-way splitters.

I assume you mean three way extension leads?

is it going to do any harm if i plug one into the
other so that I can use one as an extension cord without changing the
actual number of lights and subsequently the voltage?

With things like lighting you should be ok - just make sure the total load
is well within the rating of the cable.


Each extra connection on the way increases the chance of problems (such
as overheating if dirty or badly fitting) so it is a good idea to
"de-rate" as you add more fittings.

My rule of thumb is to remove a couple of amps of rating for each
fitting (from the lowest rated item in the chain). So, if I have two
extension leads, one plugged into the other, with a 3-way adaptor at
the end (all rated at 13A), I would not feel safe drawing more than 7A
in total from the adaptor. If I one of the extension leads were rated
less than 13A it would be lower. For example if one lead were rated at
only 10A (or 2400W), then I would only feel safe with 4A. This may seem
a bit over the top, but I would rather do this than be trying to figure
out why my house burned down when everything was "within rating".

A few things to consider:
* Extension cable reels are generally rated much lower when reeled up
than when totally unwound (if it doesn't say this then be very careful
as it may have been written in small print on the original box, or at
the back of the instruction sheet).
* Make sure you count everything on the entire run.
* Work out what the total load is going to be and consider if this
could be overloading the ring main (you can't take 13A out of every
socket, and in fact you can't take 13A out of each of a double socket!)
- also take account of washing machine, dryer, dish-washer, kettle etc.
* Will your house supply take the increased load safely? I have seen
some displays that I doubt could be powered safely from a normal
domestic supply!