Power strips simplify our lives by allowing multiple appliances to be connected to a single power board, and controlling them from a single power strip is far more convenient. But, due to some mistakes and accidents, your power strip would be turned off.
The main reasons why a power strip keeps turning off are overload in the power strip, electric surges, and low voltage. Other factors also contribute to it. But most of them are somehow linked to these three factors.
In this article, I’ll find out the reasons why a power strip keeps turning off and hopefully find a solution for each problem too.
Top 10 Reasons Why Your Power Strip Keeps Turning Off
As I’ve mentioned earlier, there can be multiple reasons for turning it off. The problems can be associated with the wiring, any defect in the component, in the connections, or your selection of appliances that are plugged into the power strip.
Below are 10 reasons and find out which one is causing your power strip to turn off.
1) Overloading
Power strips have an electrical capacity that they can manage. So, unlike your home, which has a limited number of outlets and unlimited electricity, power strips aren’t limitless. Overload of power strips can occur in three cases:
Some appliances or devices use more energy than others. For example, you might have several lamps on one power strip that are being used at night while you sleep. And there are some appliances that use a lot of electricity and can exceed the capacity of your power strip.
When your power strip becomes overloaded, this is when your power strip turns off.
How to solve it?
To avoid this from happening, you can use a power strip that has an on-and-off switch to control the power. It’s also very important to check the label of your power strip before buying. Do not exceed the capacity of your power strip.
Make sure that you understand how much load can a power strip take/handle in terms of watts, volts, and amps.
2) Low Voltage
Although, when your power strip turns off, it is normally due to running out of electricity, which is quite a hassle in itself. But, low voltage and power strips shutting off might be part of the same issue.
Low voltage can also shut the power strip off. This happens when you use several appliances or devices that require different electricity sources.
For example, if you have some lamps plugged into one outlet and an air conditioning unit plugged into another outlet, you run the risk of one device drawing more electricity than the others.
How to solve it?
Make sure that all your appliances and devices are compatible with each other before plugging them in together. If you have problems, try using a power strip that has two or more prongs (i.e., 3 or more).
3) Malfunctioning
This might not be a serious problem for your power strip to the extent that it is unusable. But, most of the time, you will notice that your power strip keeps turning off because it is indicating a problem somewhere.
Just like any other electrical device, if your power strip has malfunctioned, its lights will blink on and off randomly or turn itself off completely to indicate it’s not working properly.
How to solve it?
Most of the time, it is not fixable. But, you can try changing the fuse in your power strip. But, if this doesn’t work, you might need to get a replacement or buy a new power strip.
4) Power Surge
A sudden increase in electricity causes your electrical devices and appliances to short-circuit or break down. This is also known as a power surge and is one of the most common reasons your power strip keeps turning off.
However, it’s not all that common for a power surge to occur. Power surges are usually caused by lightning or some large appliance that causes an overload.
How to solve it?
The best way to avoid this problem is to use a voltage stabilizer or power surge protector in your main electrical panel that regulates the current. You can also choose to buy a power strip with a warranty that includes protection from power surges.
5) Fault Wiring
If your power strip keeps turning off, you might not only have a faulty power strip but also faulty wiring. Wiring faults won’t be able to sustain any electricity in the long run and will weaken over time. Eventually, this will cause your appliances and devices to no longer function properly.
How to solve it?
If you think that your wiring is faulty, you should consider getting it checked by an electrician. If there’s any problem with an outlet, don’t use that. Also, replace your wall electrical socket if necessary.
6) Power Strip Timer
Not all power strips have timers, but some do. If your power strip has a timer, it will automatically shut off after a period of time. This is great if you want to stop your appliances and devices from running when you are not using them. So your strip can turn off due to timer fault.
How to solve it?
If your power strip keeps turning off because of a timer, you should consider switching the time on the power strip.
7) Incompatible Power Strip
If there are too many appliances or devices plugged into your power strip, the power strip has a greater chance of turning off. Likewise, if you use too many appliances and devices that are incompatible with each other (i.e., they require different electricity sources), this also makes your power strip more likely to shut off.
How to solve it?
Always use compatible appliances and devices together with your power strip. If you want to buy more appliances and devices for your power strip, make sure they aren’t incompatible with each other.
8) Heavy-Duty Appliances
If you have an air conditioner or some other heavy-duty appliance like a microwave, or a space heater plugged into your power strip, this will cause the power strip to turn off after a long period of time. Heavy-duty appliances require a lot of energy and will usually be the reason why your power strip keeps turning off.
How to solve it?
If you plug heavy-duty devices into your power strip, you should consider buying a higher joules rating protector that guarantees protection for heavy-duty appliances. But the best solution is to not plug in heavy-duty appliances, especially those with a 15+ Amp rating, including:
- Microwave
- Refrigerator
- coffee maker
- Air conditioner
If you have to use these appliances, you must buy a heavy-duty power strip with a 16–20 amp rating.
9) Excessive Current Flowing
Power strips will turn off if they cannot handle the amount of electricity being consumed by your appliances or devices.
How to solve it?
Always make sure that you aren’t using too many appliances and devices at once. You can also get a larger strip that has more space to handle more devices.
10) Low-Quality Components
If your power strip has a low-quality build, it’s more likely to break down after a long period of time. When this starts to happen, you will experience frequent power outages and your appliances will begin to malfunction as well.
How to solve it?
Always make sure that you are using a high-quality one when powering multiple devices. If you use your power strip for a long time, it most likely will not use faulty components.
How To Know If Your Power Strip Is Bad?
Power strips do not use high-quality components to keep the price low. That’s why it can break or stop working overtime. Here are some signs you should notice to diagnose if your power strip is about to stop serving you.
How Long Does A Power Strip Last?
Power strips are not meant to last forever. A regular power strip will last somewhere between three to five years. But it depends on some important factors like the frequency of electric surges, whether the electric grid in your area is stable or not, how frequently you use the power strip, or if you’re plugging any heavy-duty appliances into it.
Conclusion
There are many reasons why your power strip keeps turning off. The major reasons include overload, using heavy-duty appliances, power surges, faulty wiring, etc. Always follow the safety measures before using your power strip. A surge protector power strip can help you a lot in this case.
Remember that power strips are not meant for permanent, heavy-duty usage. If you think yours isn’t working properly, it’s wise to get a new and better one.
If you are finding it difficult to unplug because there are so many appliances and devices plugged in, you can always buy a new one. However, keep in mind that your devices are expensive, so it’s not a good decision to buy a cheaper one.
