No, we wouldn’t recommend it. Connecting two or more extension leads together, sometimes referred to as ‘daisy chaining’, is benign on its own but the problem lies in the likelihood that you will be plugging in too many devices that use too much power all at once. This overloading, as described above, increases the electrical resistance in the chain and is often the root cause of fires. A further word of warning: the maximum power handling of longer extension cables, such as cable reels designed for indoor or outdoor use, depends on the cable being completely unwound. If you’re planning on using high powered electric garden tools, then the cable must be unwound to prevent excessive heat build up in the cable reel. Where a wound cable reel might only handle 1,000 watts (1KW), the same reel may be rated at around 3,300 watts (3.3KW) when the cable is unwound to its full length. And similarly, don’t be tempted to tightly wind up a standard extension cable in the name of neatness if you’re going to be using it with power hungry appliances – items with a high power draw can cause the cable to heat up dramatically and create a fire hazard. The lead is hot to touch: This suggests that you are overloading your extension cord beyond its capacity and marks a real safety hazard, as noted above. We also offer adapters for use with shavers or electric toothbrushes and for travel abroad, as well as handy remote control or timer accessories and items with USB ports. While products of this kind can easily get costly, B&M will always provide electrical equipment at the best possible price to help you ensure that your setup is practical without forcing you to go over budget.

Electrical Safety First has devised a calculator so you can estimate the power consumption of the appliances, devices or tools that you’re planning to connect to your extension lead. For general household use, you probably won’t need to worry too much as items like lamps or laptop or mobile phone chargers are very low in wattage, less than 100W in general, and even TVs and Hi-Fi components tend to draw hundreds rather than thousands of watts. That said, it pays to be vigilant: seemingly innocuous small household items such as hairdryers, irons and kettles can consume the best part of 3KW each – and if you’re thinking about electric lawnmowers and power tools, these too can demand kilowatts of power. Whatever electrical extension products you require, take a look in-store at B&M to find them for a great price. With high quality extension leads and plenty of related products from top manufacturers such as Eveready and Energizer, you can feel confident that each of our items will be safe, durable and ideal for the job at hand. Multiple plug outlets must be plugged directly into mounted electrical receptacles; they cannot be chained together. Make sure the extension cord or temporary power strip you use is rated for the products to be plugged in, and is marked for either indoor or outdoor use. 4. Do extension cords have a power limit? To keep your devices on full power all day, why not browse our selection of budget friendly Phone Chargers? Recycle your old Electricals with us!