Best options for more temporary power sockets for office?

tasj96 · Feb 15, 2021

I'm in need or around 20-30 power sockets for small electrical devices, less than 1amp each.
At the moment I have a bunch of extension leads all running to the same 2 or 3 plug sockets, is this safe or should this be avoided?

I have seen this cabinet type set up, which has 10 sockets inside the cabinet and the cabinet plugs in to 1 mains socket, but I have been quoted several hundred for this.

Is it ok to use a lot of extension leads in a commercial property or should this be avoided? Is there an alternative to getting additional sockets installed as this is only for a short period.

Thanks for any help

pc1966 · Feb 15, 2021

If it is all low power stuff then you don't have any overload to worry about, and in any case decent makes of extension lead are rated for the supplied fuse (typically 13A), though for long leads they are often rated when fully uncoiled.

The bigger risk in that case it someone tripping on the cable lying around, or computer going down due to someone kicking a block by accident and it comping loose.

You can get blocks with 8 or more 13A sockets on them for this sort of thing fairly cheaply from the likes of CPC, so having fewer blocks might lead to less risk of stuff getting in the way. If you were looking at a lot of socket like this longer-term then I would suggest you look to some of the professional suppliers such as Olson:

Home - Olson Direct - Power Distribution Units

We are an innovative UK manufacturer of Power Distribution Units, based in Stanmore, London. Since our startup in 1961, we have grown to become the market’s leading specialised power distribution unit (PDU) manufacturer. We design and manufacture all our products on site; this assures the...

olsondirect.co.uk

pc1966 · Feb 15, 2021

Just to add - you might find that you end up with any supply RCD tripping if the total leakage current gets too high, long before you run in to a total current/power limit.

If the devices are mostly double-insulated power supplies (the wall-wart things with a plastic "earth pin" that power small items) that might not be an issue, but desktop PCs and things like laser printers do add up.