Using multi socket extension cable?

[dickiefunk]

Hi,

I have two mains sockets in my room and I have been using two extension cables over the past 10 years or so. One of them has four sockets and one has six sockets.
I am looking to replace them as they are quite old now and I’m wondering if it would be ok to use a single 10 socket extension cable? The cable length will be 2 meters.
These are the options I’m considering :-

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Extension-Pro ... 9hdGY&th=1

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Extension-Out ... 940&sr=8-3

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tower-Extensi ... tdGY&psc=1

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Protected-Ver ... =8-21&th=1

I will be plugging the following pieces of equipment into this :-

Desktop PC
Neumann KH120’s
Dell 34” computer monitor
MOTU 828es interface
Cranborne EC2 preamp
Klark Teknik KT-2a compressor
Klark Teknik KT-76 compressor
Yamaha DTX 562k electronic drum kit

I may also potentially want to plug in an Eve TS108 or Neumann KH750 sub and I would like a spare socket if I need it.

Would it be okay to use one of the extension cables I suggested for this? If these are fine to use, which of these would be the best option? If they are not suitable, what should I get instead?

Thanks

[Wonks]

Yes; no problem power-wise and you’ve got a good common ground point.

[dickiefunk]

Yes; no problem power-wise and you’ve got a good common ground point.

Ok great. Would any of those extension cables be better than the others?

[Wonks]

I’d just consider the space taken up by any wall-warts you may have and whether they’d foul any other sockets on those units. Some arrangements are better than others.

You’ll also want the wall-warts down at the bottom to keep the centre of gravity low.

I’d prefer a standard strip than a tower myself.

[James Perrett]

I wouldn't bother with any surge or spike protection - it isn't normally needed in the UK and any protection in one of these sockets isn't going to be enough to protect from a serious surge. If you are worried about the quality of your mains supply then a UPS could be a better investment.

I have high current devices like the monitor amplifier on a decent Olson mains distribution board plugged directly into the wall and everything else on cheap CPC multiway sockets running from the Olson.

[FrankF]

As others have said, I would go for a flat horizontal single-lane strip to avoid cable and adapter issues.
That toblerone-shaped one might give you problems with stiff mains cables, but it's difficult to see how much clearance there is from the video.

[Lostgallifreyan]

I don't need to add much to advice already here, but a couple of things can help.. Look for a strong casing to the adapter because after a few repluggings, there may be a weakness in some contacts. The longer you can leave it undisturbed, the better.

I use a 5mA residual current breaker for my main rack. That's a low trip value, but it's MUCH safer than the standard 30mA, and if your grounding and mains supply connectors are good, this will not trip and mess up your working time. The more likely you are to daisy-chain mains connections, the more important this RCD breaker will be. Be in the habit of testing it occasionaly too..

[dickiefunk]

Thanks everyone for your advice.

[DGL.]

Ideally you also want to make sure that they are using 1.25mm² cable as a minimum, some cheapo short extensions use thinner cable and it doesn't sit right with me. All of my long extensions I've made are 1.5mm².

[Martin Walker]

Ideally you also want to make sure that they are using 1.25mm² cable as a minimum, some cheapo short extensions use thinner cable and it doesn't sit right with me. All of my long extensions I've made are 1.5mm².

Agreed - a typical IEC mains cable can be just 1.0mm² (around 8 amp rating), but my DIY studio distribution boards tend to use cables that are 2.0mm² (which is closer to the diameter you find in ring main sockets).

[ef37a]

I had a situation in a workshop where a test electrician deemed an extension strip plugged into another strip was unsafe and not allowed.

I could see no logic to that? The cables were very generously rate and the strips Marked "13A" . I can see that if one was to put a 2-3kW heater at the remote end AND stick the cable under a carpet it might be hazard but these strips were just feeding test equipment and guitar amps under test. Plus they were all at bench level.

So, a ten way single strip looks to be "safer" by that Spark's lights than two but I cannot see it myself!

Dave.

[pk.roberts]

I don't think I'd be that happy with any of the items from Amazon and I'd particularly avoid the second item linked.
Go to a better supplier and shell out a little more for a better built product from a known source.
Here's an example ...

https://cpc.farnell.com/lms-data/pdu-10 ... stribution

[ef37a]

I have built and rigged out a few data comms cabinets in my time and they came with several socket strips of very high quality indeed. I shall try to find the source of same.

https://www.cablemonkey.co.uk/uk-socket ... horizontal
They have a good range both surge protected or not.

Dave.

[DGL.]

Ideally you also want to make sure that they are using 1.25mm² cable as a minimum, some cheapo short extensions use thinner cable and it doesn't sit right with me. All of my long extensions I've made are 1.5mm².

Agreed - a typical IEC mains cable can be just 1.0mm² (around 8 amp rating), but my DIY studio distribution boards tend to use cables that are 2.0mm² (which is closer to the diameter you find in ring main sockets).

Interestingly the IEC leads Thomann supplied as a freebee with a recent order are 1.5mm² yet the German/French ones supplied with the item are only 0.75mm².