There are several safety related issues concerning plugging appliances either into double adapters, modern multiple extension sockets, or long extension leads. There are multi socket extension cables with room for up to 6 different appliances so it’s very easy to overload.
As long as their combined usage doesn’t exceed 13 Amps you can safely plug in and use up to 6 electrical products. However, it is very easy to overload these devices and many people don’t realise how easy. Overheating and eventually a risk of fire can be caused by as few as just 2 appliances if they use a lot of electricity – eg. washing machine and a kettle.
Using appliances with plug adaptors or multiple socket extension cables
A radio, phone charger, two lamps and a wireless router for example would potentially only add up to less than 3 amps. But you can dangerously overload an extension with just a washing machine and a microwave.
Extension cables with just one socket at the end
An extension cable with just one socket is preferable to a multi socket one. But it’s not ideal to plug a washing machine, dryer or dishwasher permanently into any extension cable because it introduces an extra risk of electrical overheating as well as extra potential bad connections.
Do not connect via an extension lead. Extension leads do not guarantee the required safety of the appliance (e.g. danger of overheating) ”
Many white goods appliances are plugged into extension cables. Anyone deciding to do so should at least use the right type of extension cable. You cannot use a 2 core extension cable which has no earth. If you do, although your machine will work, it is in a potentially lethal condition because it isn’t earthed – see I get electric shocks from the machine.
You must also ensure the cable is rated for 13 Amps. Many extensions have thinner cable than that of the washing machine.
This is an indication that the cable is meant for lawn mowers, lamps etc and not large white goods. If the cable is just as thick or thicker than that of your appliance then it should be 13 Amp and 3 core (with an earth lead).
Don’t assume anything though, check. Using a 5 or 10 Amp rated cable can cause overheating and is dangerous. Using cable that has no earth can kill if your appliance develops an insulation fault.
Wind up extension cables
Finally, note that extension cables that wind up must be fully unwound when in use. This type of extension cable will have two ratings written on it in amps. You will see that when wound up, or not fully unwound, the unit cannot take as many amps as when it is fully unwound.
For washing machines, dishwashers and tumble dryers (that can draw close to 11 amps) they need to be fully unwound or they can get hot and overheat. In fact many of these wind up extension reels are only rated for 10 Amps so avoid.
Try to avoid extensions and adaptors
There is a dilemma regarding extension leads and adaptors. Firstly, they exist, and are sold in their millions. Therefore they must be safe. Yet it’s likely that any appliance user manual will advise that they are not to be used. This is a puzzling contradiction. If they are dangerous, they couldn’t be legally sold in the UK.
However, manufacturers know that an extension lead is a third party component added to their appliance which can develop faults which they have no control over. Many extension sockets are very cheap, and don’t seem to be made of high quality materials. Some extension cables can also be very long. Extending the length of an appliances mains cable is not ideal.
Do not connect the appliance by an extension lead, multi socket adaptor or similar. These can overheat and are a fire hazard ”
So there we have it. However, as I said, if they are genuinely a fire hazard – how come they are happily sold in their millions – and in virtually every house in the country? The truth is they are an extra potential for something to overheat in high current appliances. If you can, always plug a washing machine, dishwasher, tumble dryer (or any appliance with a heating element inside) directly into a wall socket.
If this is impossible, and you have to use an adaptor or extension cable then use a good quality one. Use one as short as possible. Regularly check the plug where it plugs into the wall socket. Regularly check the individual sockets on the extension lead as well as the appliance’s plug. Look out for discolouring where it’s might be overheating and melting the plastic. Do not ignore anything like that.
Strange fishy smell near washing machine or when appliance is running?
Beware of a strange fishy smell coming from the kitchen or laundry room (unless you have some real fish in there of course).
We experienced such a puzzling smell for several days in our kitchen before I eventually tracked it down to electrical overheating in a plastic 13 amp plug.
A bad connection was causing sparking and burning and the plastic gave off this weird smell. I’m currently getting exactly the same smell when I turn a light on in a room at the back of my garage and I know it’s caused by melting plastic used in plugs, sockets, adaptors and light fittings.
If you get such a strange fishy smell near any of your appliances check the plugs and sockets for dangerous overheating.
Check if you are overloading a socket with this tool
The overload Socket Calculator is brought to you by Electrical Safety First.
How to work out how many amps your appliances use
If the Electrical Safety First tool above doesn’t help, or you want to make more accurate calculations you can work it out for yourself. It’s easy enough. You need to work out how many amps each appliance uses and make sure the combined total does not exceed 13 amps.
The amps an appliance uses can be worked out by dividing the wattage by the voltage (Amps = watts divided by voltage). In the UK the voltage is officially 230 volts (but in practice can be up to 240 volts). So a 1000 watt appliance divided by 240 (volts) is 4.16 amps. Do not go on what fuse the appliance takes, that is not how many amps it uses.
Electrical appliances have a rating plate showing how many watts it uses (see list below for help finding it). The photo above shows the rating plate of my toaster. It says it uses 780 – 930W. It’s unusual to show a range, but clearly we need to use the highest so we start with 930W (Watts). If we divide 930 by 240 (volts) we get 3.875. So the toaster uses 3.87 Amps.
My dishwasher’s rating plate (on the inside of the door) says it uses 1930W. So 1930 divided by 240 is 8.04. The dishwasher uses 8.04 Amps. The toaster and dishwasher running from the same socket would use 11.91 Amps. This is below the 13 Amp maximum.
Help finding appliance rating plates
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Hello Wendy. A 10 amp extension lead? Yes a fridge freezer shouldn’t use anywhere near 10 Amps. I wouldn’t use a washing machine, dishwasher or tumble dryer from it though.
Hi Can I plug a freezer into an extension lead?
Yes Dennis.
Hi Andy,
I am looking at connecting my tumble dryer, which is several inches short of the socket, via a single socket extension. The extension cable length I am looking at will either be 20 or 50cm so quite short. I will ensure it is 13 A and 3 core. Is this correct and adequate? Further, the extension will connect to a twin socket on the wall. Do I need to refrain from using the other wall socket at the same time the dryer is on, as that shouldn’t be a problem?
Many thanks – this is an excellent site that will hopefully help resolve my issue!
Kind regards
Hello Francis. Yes that’s correct. Ideally the extension lead should be as short as possible. You could cut the extension cable down so it’s not overly long and fit a good quality plug to it. Especially if it’s really long. If you wanted to be fastidious about it you could make your own extension cable by cutting it to length as just described and replacing the block extension sockets with a single extension socket. In fact I’ve just found a pretty good single socket extension cable here
https://www.amazon.co.uk/SMJ-Electrical-B1W2MP-Trailing-Polybag/dp/B0076V71TY/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_107_bs_t_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=AVZTEDBBNEWQH6FT91CQ
With an appliance drawing so much current the ideal is no extension socket. But if one is required the shorter the better and preferably a single socket instead of those multiple sockets.
Regarding using both sockets at the same time there seems to be conflicting advice and opinion about it. To be totally safe ensure nothing else is plugged in that also draws a lot of current such as a fire, dishwasher or washing machine. According to one source twin sockets can endure only 13 Amps but other sources say they can take much more. You may find this thread of interest
26 amps from twin 13 amp socket
If necessary, you could plug 2 appliances in if you could ensure they didn’t run at the same time.
Hello again,
Does 3 way and 3 core mean the same thing? And also what’s a 4 way strip? Is that ok to use in an extension?
F
Hello Francis. Three way usually refers to 1 of those square adapters that you plug into a socket. They commonly have three sockets. Three core means that the cable has got three cores running through it, live, neutral, and earth. It is vital that any extension cable that is to be used for a white goods appliance is not only three core, but 13 amp. I 13 amp cable is usually fairly thick. A four-way strip is presumably just an extension cable with four sockets at the end.
Hi Andy, your Website is very helpful:) thanks for sharing your knowledge.
I’ve just moved to a flat and there’s no designated space for the fridge in the kitchen, hovewer I moved to the kitchen anyway but there’s no sockets on that wall so I wanted to run an extension cord along the wall and above the door. The extension si 5meters. Do you think that will be OK? Thank you :)
Thanks Justyna. Yes that should be fine as long as it’s good quality and in good condition. Fridges don’t use much electricity so the risk of overheating is far less than on something like a tumble dryer or washing machine. At the end of the day, no matter what manufacturers say about avoiding using extension cables, extension cables exist. They are sold, sanctioned by the government, and they exist solely so that we can extend the length of wall sockets. So as long as they are used sensibly, not overloaded and ideally kept as short as possible there should be perfectly fine.