Are power boards and double adaptors safe?

Power boards and double adaptors are only safe when the combined load stays within what the power point, the board and the cords are rated for. Overloading makes cords and plugs heat up, which is a fire risk. Heaters and kettles are the usual culprits. If you simply need more outlets, a licensed electrician can add them.

What does overloading a power point actually mean?

Every power point, cord and plug can only carry so much electrical current before it starts to heat up. A power board or double adaptor does not add capacity. It just lets you plug more things into the same single outlet, so the current from all of them flows through that one point.

When the total is too high, plugs and cords can warm up, the plastic can soften or melt, and in the worst case a fire can start. The protection in your switchboard is mainly there to protect the wiring in the walls, so it should not be relied on to catch a board or cord that is running hot.

Which appliances cause the most trouble?

Appliances that make heat draw a lot of current. Heaters, kettles and similar items are the ones most often named in electrical safety and insurer guidance as unsuitable for sharing an outlet through a board or adaptor.

The simplest guide is the manufacturer’s manual. It will say how the appliance is meant to be connected and whether it should go straight into a wall outlet. If the manual is silent or unclear, ask the manufacturer or a licensed electrician rather than guessing.

Are power boards and double adaptors the same thing?

No. A double adaptor simply splits one outlet into two and generally has no protective features. Some power boards include built-in protection, such as overload protection, but not all do, and a cheap or unlabelled board may offer none.

Queensland’s Electricity in the home booklet from the Electrical Safety Office covers boards and adaptors. Stacking one board or adaptor into another multiplies the problem, because it sends even more current through the same outlet and the first cord.

What if I do not have enough power points?

Needing a board in every room is usually a sign the home has too few outlets for how you live. The safe fix is more power points, not more boards.

In Queensland, electrical work has to be done by a licensed electrician, and the Electrical Safety Office Queensland is the regulator. An electrician can look at how many outlets you need, where they should go, and whether the circuit behind them can handle the extra load. That is not a job to attempt yourself.

When should I be extra careful?

• Where several high-heat appliances are used at once, such as in a kitchen or on a cold evening.
• Where a board is hidden behind furniture or under bedding and heat cannot escape.
• Where a plug does not sit firmly in the outlet, which can cause local heating.
• Where cords are old, frayed or have been repaired with tape.