It is extremely difficult for a modern person to imagine his life without electricity. If a couple of decades ago, one or two sockets in the room was the norm, then today with the advent of a huge number of gadgets and household appliances, such short-sightedness of developers can seriously complicate our lives.
This connection method, in addition to the inconvenience and low aesthetics of this entire web of wires, is very unsafe, as it can cause overloading and fire of the wiring.
To solve the problem of the lack of access points to the power grid, socket pads, which are a cassette element with several sockets, are used. They are used for the manufacture of extension cords of any size or overhead outlet block in residential and industrial premises.
There are many varieties of such products that differ in a number of ways.
The number of outlet pairs
The number of sockets is selected based on the needs of the number of devices connected to the electric extension cord. Moreover, their total power consumption should be slightly lower than the limit indicated on the marking of the electrical block. From this principle it follows that if there are 3 sockets on the socket, this does not mean that you can or must connect three devices to it. Electrical appliances that use a heating element in their work, such as a hair dryer, a toaster, an electric kettle, as a rule, consume a lot of power and must have an independent connection, this is especially important for devices that work constantly (electric heater, air conditioning).
Grounding is an important element of safe operation.
The presence of an earthing circuit at the outlet block is a prerequisite in the EU countries, although in the post-Soviet expanses this extremely important element of the safe operation of electrical equipment is most often ignored.
Extension cords with overload protection and LED switch
A very important and practical element in the design of the pads for extension cords is the presence of a protective LED switch, which allows one-touch disconnect the power supply to the socket unit, and the backlight informs the user about the current state of the device. In addition, an overvoltage protection is integrated inside it, which avoids damage to electrical appliances in the event of an accident in the network or exceeding the permissible load. When overheating, such a socket block will turn off automatically, protecting you from unnecessary troubles and costs.
Material of manufacture and form of cassette blocks of sockets
Depending on operating conditions, in the manufacture of outlet pads, polymers, rubber, carbolite, rubber, metal are used, protecting the internal elements of the device from water and dust, providing adequate protection against mechanical damage, chemical and temperature effects. Accidental contact with live parts is limited by the design features of the block. Electric extension cords of various shapes and colors are available, allowing you to organically fit into any interior.
Types and types of electrical connectors
It is worth considering that in different countries the types and types of electrical connectors have their own configuration, because a gadget brought, say, from the USA, cannot be connected to a standard outlet for us, you will need an appropriate adapter or an electric block with a similar connector. It should be borne in mind that when installing the adapter, an additional connection increases the load on the outlet, reducing its maximum power. In this case, it is advisable if you are not afraid of losing the warranty from the manufacturer, simply replace the connection with a European-style plug in this device. It differs from classical Soviet only in the thickness of the current-carrying part and the presence of grounding.
The above list of design features of socket pads reflects the main, but not all, possible options. Based on specific needs, manufacturers offer devices with increased resistance to external influences, additional protection against access to electrical contacts, equip them with off timers and other useful attributes.