Is it safe to plug a power strip into a voltage converter?

Is it safe to plug a power strip into a voltage converter? - Opened power sockets on white wall

My voltage converter has only one 110V outlet. Is it safe to plug a 3-outlet 110V power strip to the voltage converter?

  • The voltage converter is a 1100W step down 220V to 110V converter:

  • 2020 Professional DOACE 2200W Voltage Converter, All-in-One Travel Converter Step Down 220v to 110v with Power 10A Dual Adapter 4-Port USB UK/US/AU/EU International Plug Converter

[UPDATE]: Thank you for the advice thus far. To improve the question:

  • I want to deliver power to an HP EliteBook 8460p and peripherals (mouse, keyboard).
  • The intended location is Manila, PH.
  • All peripherals plug into the laptop (NOT into the converter).
  • NO printers.
  • A 65 Watt external AC adapter is also included.

Thanks again for your kind assistance.



Best Answer

Broadly speaking, there are three types of device that can be used to "convert voltage". I am listing them from worst to best.

The worst are thyristor-based phase-cutters: these reduce the RMS voltage, but they do not reduce the peak voltage, using them with anything other than a resistive heating load is a BAD idea.

In the middle are autotransformers. These provide a proper waveform, but there are two problems with them. Firstly, if a wire breaks inside the unit while under light load they can expose the load to full input voltage. Secondly, if the supply is connected with reverse polarity (many countries do not have polarised sockets, so this is not uncommon) then the live to neutral voltage will be reduced, but the "neutral" terminal of the output will be at the input voltage relative to ground.

The best, but unfortunately the bulkiest and most expensive, are isolating transformers.

Unfortunately, many power strips contain "surge protection" between the live/neutral and the earth which is set to activate at just over the normal operating voltage. If such a power strip is plugged into an autotransformer that is connected to a reverse-polarity supply or plugged into a thyrister based converter then smoke is likely to result.

So if you are going to use a power strip with an autotransformer, then you need to make sure it either doesn't have surge protection between L/N and earth or that the surge protection between live and earth is suitable for 230V usage. With a thyrister based converter things are even worse, you need to either ensure there is no surge protection at all or all the surge protection is suitable for 230V use.

Assuming your device is https://www.amazon.com/Professional-Converter-International-Converters-Countries/dp/B07MZQ8DQV there is no way that device is large enough to contain a 2.2KW transformer. So either it's a crappy thyristor based converter or the 2.2KW rating refers only to the adapter part of the product and the voltage converter part has a much lower rating. Unfortunately the information printed in the unit is too small for me to read in the Amazon photo.




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Can you plug a power strip into a voltage converter?

No, simple wall adapters are for plug configurations, not voltage conversion. Although your devices can handle the higher voltage, the standard North American power strip isn't rated for higher voltage. To use such a power strip, you should also use a voltage converter in addition to a plug adapter.

Can I plug a power strip into an extender?

Extension cords and power strips are not to be used together. Power strips are also commonly called Surge Protectors or Relocatable Power Taps (RPT's) although there are some differences in their capabilities. For connection purposes they are treated the same regardless of their capabilities.

Are voltage converters safe?

In general, they're a bad idea. If you plug any sensitive electronics: charger, power supply, monolight, etc. into one, it will instantly fry. A low current 220-110 or 110-220 converter that uses a transformer.



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More answers regarding is it safe to plug a power strip into a voltage converter?

Answer 2

There are several possible failure points in this stack. Provided these are resolved in a manner satisfactory to you, using these two devices together will be OK:

  • The power converter's specifications are accurate. Not all spec claims are valid and true.
  • The power converter's plug and socket are of standard design, and internally wired correctly.
  • The power strip's plug, cord, and sockets are of standard design, and internally wired correctly.
  • The plugs to be plugged into the power strip are likewise of standard design and internally wired correctly.
  • The current to be drawn from the power converter - i.e., the total consumption of the power strip (which may have some internal circuitry) and whatever other power-consumers are plugged into the power strip - must be less than the amount of power the power converter can deliver.
  • The power converter can deliver its rated power for whatever time the loads will be connected to it.
  • The converter and power strip are (as Weather Vane correctly observes in a Comment) in a stable physical arrangement.

The answers to some or all of these matters might be unclear. If that's the case, you'll choose to proceed (or not) depending upon your judgment regarding the apparent quality of the devices, their reviews by other users, the brand name under which they are sold, and the possible consequences to these two devices and anything plugged into them if something goes wrong.

EDIT: @Peter Green has posted an answer as well, which provides excellent additional information about assessing the voltage converter. I upvoted his answer.

Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Images: Ksenia Chernaya, Nothing Ahead, Karolina Grabowska, Pixabay