westom
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Smoke Detectors & Power Strips
in Odds and Ends
Posted
Some of the more dangerous power strips contain protector parts. These are typically near zero (hundreds of) joules. So undersized that its MOVs must disconnect as fast as possible during a potentially destructive transient. Sometimes those MOVs do not disconnect fast enough resulting in a power strip or house fire.
A power strip must always have a 15 amp circuit breaker so that it will protect from fire when a resident makes a serious mistake (ie daisy chain them, connect to an air conditioner, connect a heater). A user is expected to sum amperage from each device using numbers already on each appliance label. Then a strip is not overloaded. And further protected by the emergency backup protection - the circuit breaker.
But the other reason for fire (protector parts not disconnecting fast enough) is a fire threat that no one can protect from.
If using a real Christmas tree, then better is to use a (or replace the existing) circuit breaker with an arc fault type. Not GFCI; are fault. Because a Christmas tree fire can take out an entire house in only five minutes.