Many accessories off one power outlet

[Denno]

Hi all, this is my first post here, so please be nice . I'm from Australia too, so I'm well aware that things are different between here and in the UK, but I'm hoping I can still receive some general help..

Ok, my problem is this:
In my bedroom, I have only one power outlet. Now off this power outlet I have a 6 way power board with these connected; pedastal fan, TV, DVD player, Playstation, Mini Hi-Fi, 1500W Radiant heater, and an extension cord to another power board. (the extensive cord has a double adater type connection, allowing me to piggy back another electrical product into the same point.

Now the next power board has this; an alarm clock, a lamp, and then another power board.

On the last power board I have another lamp, phone charger, 2 laptop power cables, and a Mini Hi-Fi.

So my count gets 13 appliances connected to the one power outlet. Obviously I dont have the fan going when the heater is going, and I'll usually only have one lamp and only one Hi-Fi going at any one time, so the most that would be on at any one point would be around 5 or 6.
This wasn't so much of a problem until I got a heater, and I realized I have an issue. I had the heater connected to the 2nd power board, and I decided to turn it to high. Turns out, after about 5 mins of that, some safety thing on the first power board tripped, and cut power to everything else. I guess the heater was pulling too much power..

So, finally, here is my question: How can I run so many appliances from one power outlet safely?
We're renting so I'm pretty sure that adding another power outlet is out of the question.

Thanks
Denno

 

[Mac]

Hi Denno and welcome to the forum, don't know much about the Aussie electrical system,but it seems you are overloading the system with all the stuff connected.By the way what is a powerboard.Maybe you should speak to your landlord

 

[Spudnik]

A power board is a multi way extension.

I think you may need to talk to your landlord as it sounds like you dont have enough outlets in the rooms and you are on the edge of overload and possible causing a fire, especially if you are also plugging in a heating appliance in on top of what you already have!

 

[Denno]

Yeah I thought it might be a bit much. I've got the heater going now, and the only other thing that would be using power is my laptop, and I guess my alarm clock. Everything else is switched off (although in standby mode, which I'm not sure how much less power it will be using as opposed to when it's turned on?). So I'm trying to minimize the things on while the heater is..

A power board is like what Jason.S said, well what it sounds like anyway :S

I didn't realize there were so many lingo differences..

Thanks for the help anyway, I'll talk to dad and see if he can ask the landlord. Oh, I guess something that would be fairly universal, how hard is it to put another power outlet in? Does it take a while? Therefore meaning expensive?

Thanks
Denno

 

[pushrod]

extensions are fused - probs at 13A - you will get away with most of what you have listed except the heater. If you add up the watts of each appliance and as long as it is below 3000W you should be ok. Ideally as mentioned above you need more outlets

single sockets can easily be converted to doubles with no work. Putting another double in will require some work and will depend on the consumer unit to some extent as to whether it is (easily and cheaply) possible.

 

[Denno]

Ok thanks for the replies guys . I wil see if I can get a double put in, that way I can have one for all my appliances, and the other for the heater haha .

Thanks again

 

[boatnik1]

Denno. Bear in mind that changeing a single socket to a double one on the same circuit doesn't increase the power handling capacity of the circuit, only a check on the wiring and breaker will establish what you can safely plug in to a circuit.
Dunno what happens in Roo land but here the landlords of student type accomodation frequently install lower capacity breakers than the circuit will carry, presumably as a safety measure.
Best to get a spark to check it for you and see if the circuit can be uprated.

 

[Mac]

A power board is a multi way extension.

I think you may need to talk to your landlord as it sounds like you dont have enough outlets in the rooms and you are on the edge of overload and possible causing a fire, especially if you are also plugging in a heating appliance in on top of what you already have!

A glorified extension lead,seen them in Germany but not in the UK

 

[Denno]

Do you guys not have power boards then? Surely you have something similar?

Power Board: 4 Way 240V Mains Power Board - Jaycar Electronics

 

[Spudnik]

We do

 

[Denno]

Oh ok, what do you call it then? Multi Way Extension?

 

[pushrod]

Oh ok, what do you call it then? Multi Way Extension?

There are quite a few language differences between here and Oz - we call them "rogerings" - just go into your local hardware shop, smile and say "I would like a good rogering, please"
(only joking )

Yeah we would call it a 4 or 5 way extension lead. Here is a link to a single to double outlet converter, you can also get them that convert to 3 outlets.
1 to 2 Gang Conversion Double Socket Converter Convertor