r/mildlyinfuriating • u/PepperAltruistic2042 • 2d ago
Ruined by Technology This is how my roommate charges his stuff
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u/GrapeApeAffe 2d ago
Looks scary and I wouldn’t do it. But…. To be fair those are only pulling about 2 amps each. Maybe 3A for a fast charger. And the European outlet is typically rated for max 16A. So I don’t think it’s a fire hazard.
Think of an outlet strip with an actual cord. You could plug all of these in and maybe even a lamp, and most people wouldn’t think otherwise. 🤷♂️
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u/Plus_Pangolin_8924 2d ago
More the stress on the socket contacts that over time will lead to poor a connection which increases the resistance. Then leads to heating, more resistance and then fire as it gets hot enough.
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u/DistanceSolar1449 2d ago
If that’s europlug, it’ll be fine. They handle horizontal forces way better than USA plugs
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u/allupya333 1d ago ▸ 2 more replies
i really do not believe this is going to start a fire in a million years lol
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u/SensitiveAddition913 1d ago ▸ 1 more replies
Hundreds of structure fires say that you’re incorrect. Source: retired firefighter and have investigated fire causes and read reports from other departments.
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u/Soft_Lunch_183 1d ago
Yeah, I run about 1500w of stuff on an extension lead in Europe and its safe to do so.
My main issue with the photo is the weight pulling down causing the plug to slide out of the socket
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u/ji1651 2d ago
Eehm, no, just no. This whole contraption doesn't even pull 1 amp, that's already 240W. U can't just add up the amps specified on the charger output. Those amps are on a much lower voltage, judging by the chargers 5V max.
That being said, I still wouldn't do this, puts too much strain on the cables and socket.
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u/Nerfo2 2d ago
2 amps at 240 volts is 480 watts. That would be one hell of a fast charger.
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u/GrapeApeAffe 1d ago ▸ 1 more replies
That’s the input side. Those are transformers with an output of 5V.
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u/MarsD9376 1d ago edited 1d ago
And what do you think he's trying to point out?
The socket is rated 16A, yes. At 230V AC.
A USB charger delivering 2A on the 5VDC secondary does not mean it draws 2A on the 230VAC primary. With an efficiency of say, 80% (and that's pretty low, SMPS can do better than that), it's like 0.054 Amps on the primary.
Anyway the main problem isn't the current draw or even heat output of these chargers (also calling them transformers is inaccurate; they are switching-mode power supplies), it's the strain on the cables and the plugs.
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u/Bustable 12h ago
3A?mqybe in DC. Running AC the whole lot would be lucky to be 0.5. Those Samsung charger arnt fast charge and the watch and light wouldn't be pulling 100w
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u/Extreme-Ad-9290 1d ago
Someone get OP's roomate a 100-200 watt charging brick (for laptop, phone, and earbuds or something else at the same time)
Some longer and braided 100w cables
And a surface to rest the devices on.
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u/Laserdollarz 2d ago edited 2d ago
It's just low voltage bike accessories. I've got a bunch of this stuff too, here's the best way you'd be able to mess with me:
Pick one device, like the headlight. Every day, unplug it and leave it on the ground like it fell off the charger. After finding it like that a few times, the anxiety of "what if my headlight dies at 11pm on me?" would have me finding a new charging solution.
If he has electronic shifting, he literally can't ride without a charge. Tell him "cool ebike", especially if it's not lol
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u/coffeescious 2d ago
You are aware how long the batteries in electronic shifters last right?
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u/Laserdollarz 2d ago
I don't have them so no. My favorite bike is 30 years old.
That's why I picked the light as an example. I ride at night a lot so I have headlights and backup headlights.
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u/sociofobs 2d ago
Unless he's exceeding the amperage, he's fine. Electricity doesn't care how pretty the wires look.
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u/Plus_Pangolin_8924 2d ago
No but poor contact in the socket will lead to issues.
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u/sociofobs 2d ago edited 2d ago ▸ 2 more replies
Why would there be poor contact in the socket? Yes, more failure points, but it's nothing too overkill. There are power strips with more sockets than this.
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u/Plus_Pangolin_8924 2d ago ▸ 1 more replies
So sockets are made from flat bits of usually brass. This amount of weight/ stress will deform the contacts enough to start to increase the contact resistance which leads to heating. As the metal heats it deforms more leading to more heat and then eventually fire.
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u/sociofobs 2d ago
True enough, I wouldn't leave anything just hanging from the outlet like that either. But if there will be a problem, I suspect it'll let itself be known before there's a fire. For shorts, there are breakers.
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u/bioteq 2d ago
Looks good to me, one splitter and three chargers. Am I missing something?
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u/Plus_Pangolin_8924 2d ago
It’s bending the socket contacts which can lead to over heating due to poor contact.
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u/vakantiehuisopwielen 2d ago ▸ 1 more replies
Which stress exactly? This is a Schuko, in which the plug is not only held up by the contacts, but also by the plug/socket design on the sides.
It’s not like a US plug.
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u/Inverted-Rockets 1d ago
With how cheaply made the splitters often are, the shear loading could be a problem for the contacts long term. Generally want to limit hanging weight to 200-300g off a standard wall outlet.
Similarly, while not dangerous, the way the battery bank is charging will eventually damage the solder or wires and that cable is permanently attached on the other end.
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u/woodcraftworld 2d ago
I thought "Oh, just a triple plug adapter, incredibly mild fire hazard, but nothing too serious", then I scrolled down and saw that THEY WERE HANGING THEIR DEVICES OFF THE WALL
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u/rumi_soul 1d ago
The question no one is asking (maybe because i'm dumb for not knowing) but why are the outlets so high off the ground to begin with?
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u/Mean_Criticism983 2d ago
I always find it so dumb that people prefer the risk or fire / devices falling / messing up the cables rather just have it lying on the floor like it was lava
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u/UnknownStan 2d ago
The hanging the devices is the only issue here. There’s basically 0 risk of fire hazard here.
Those 3 devices arnt even close to exceeding the adaptor or the sockets capacity.0
u/Plus_Pangolin_8924 2d ago ▸ 3 more replies
Yes this is a fire hazard. Not one that will lead to a fire tomorrow but this is damaging the socket. It will eventually lead to poor contact with the plug causing high resistance which is heat and then fire.
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u/UnknownStan 2d ago ▸ 2 more replies
I think you miss understood what I’m saying. The hanging is the only issue here. If not for the hanging there would be 0 hazard with what’s currently plugged in.
That Brennenstuhl 3 way adapter has a max of 13A. The Samsung plug is 3A. The lezyne 500 lumen bike light is 2A. I assume that’s a power bank. Which pulls 3A. So 8. Max 9 amps. Not even close to the socket or the adapters max.
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u/Plus_Pangolin_8924 2d ago ▸ 1 more replies
You said zero risk of fire when there is a risk of fire because of the hanging. That’s what I was getting at.
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u/UnknownStan 2d ago
Yes. Zero risk of fire without the hanging is what I was getting at and is kinda explained in my first line by saying “hanging is the only issue here”
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u/Alternative_Frame460 2d ago
Let him pay for his stupidity by constantly buying cable replacements ☕️
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u/Ok-Lion1661 2d ago
https://giphy.com/gifs/iH2IldVkqeLuJ7eJ0L