Fire Risks Lurking in Old Power Strips | Life Protection Measures to Consider After 10 Years of Use
Fire risks lurking in old power strips
I think every home has
power strips
Around the TV
Around the computer
In the bedroom
In the kitchen
Where you charge your smartphone
Before you know it,
you are using them all over the house
So,
how long have you been using
that power strip?
I have
not just one or two power strips
that I have been using for over 10 years
I assumed they were safe because they still worked. But considering the fire risk, this might have been a gap in my life protection measures that I should have re-evaluated.
It works somehow, so
I just keep using it
It is not broken, so
I have not replaced it
That was my situation
But
when I think about it again,
this might be a bit scary
The risk lurking in old power strips
The risk lurking in old power strips
It is fire
Since power strips and extension cords
are used daily,
you might not see them as very dangerous
But
according to NITE,
accidents involving wiring equipment such as table taps and extension cords occur every year
In the five years from fiscal 2014 to 2018,
there were 309 accidents involving wiring equipment,
191 of which were fire accidents.
In other words,
the possibility that a familiar power strip
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This is a figure that should be taken quite seriously.
You cannot see inside the cord.
Power cords are[[phN_open]]covered on the outside.[[phN_close]]
Therefore,
it is difficult to know what is happening inside.
After many years of use,
the inside of the cord may be damaged.
It may have been trapped under furniture.
It may have been bent forcibly.
It may have been pulled.
It may have been stepped on.
Even if it looks fine from the outside,
deterioration or broken wires may be progressing inside.
NITE also
warns about accidents involving power plugs, power cords, and outlets,stating that many accidents are caused by damage to power plugs and cords due to stress such as pulling.
It works normally, so it must be safe.
This might be a somewhat dangerous way of thinking.
The tracking phenomenon is also scary.Another scary thing isthe tracking phenomenon.Dust and moisture accumulate around the plug inserted into the outlet.In that state,current flows between the blades of the plug.Spark discharges are repeated.
Eventually it carbonizes and
becomes conductive, leading to a fire
This is the tracking phenomenon
Especially
behind furniture
near water sources
places that are hard to clean
places with high humidity
Caution is required in these locations
The places you don't usually see are where
dust tends to accumulate
And
by the time you notice, the risk has already grown
This is quite scary
If you've used it for 10 years, it has served you well
Power strips
even expensive ones
can be purchased for around 5,000 yen
Of course
prices vary depending on the product
But
if you think of it as a cost to protect your home
it is not that expensive
If you have been using it for over 10 years
isn't it fair to say it has done its job well enough?
That is what I thought
It still works
It's a waste
I have those feelings too
But
considering the fire risk
I feel it is dangerous
to decide to keep using it just because it still works
Before growing your assets through investment
protect the foundation of your daily life
This is important
Many new power strips are very convenient
This time
I decided to buy a few new power strips
When I looked into it
today's power strips are quite convenient
Those with thin plugs that are easy to use
between furniture and outlets
Those that help prevent mischief by children or pets
Those equipped with dust-prevention shutters
Those with lightning surge protection
Those with USB ports
Those with outlet configurations that prevent
large AC adapters from interfering with each other
Compared to old power strips
there are more options that reduce small daily inconveniences
Not only can you reduce fire risks
but you can also reduce daily frustrations
When you think about it that way
there are significant benefits to replacing them
I also want to solve the adapter problem
Recently
adapters for home appliances and gadgets are large
Even if the outlets are lined up
if you plug in a large adapter
the adjacent outlet may become unusable
This is quietly stressful
Those with wide spacing between outlets
Those with cleverly designed orientations
Models equipped with USB-C or USB-A ports
Choosing power strips like these
will significantly organize your desk area and charging setup
Reducing small daily stresses
is also a form of life defense
The risk remains until it arrives
I have purchased the product
I am looking forward to its arrival
However
until it arrives
the old power strip remains in place
The fire risk
does not disappear until the new product arrives
Therefore
unplug it when not in use
Check for dust
Do not bend the cord excessively
Check if it is being crushed under furniture
Check if it is being overloaded with too many devices
These are
measures you can take immediately
In particular
it is safer to unplug items you do not use while sleeping or away from home
Life defense is also part of investing
When people say investing
they think of buying stocks
Accumulating investment trusts
Earning dividends
Increasing assets
That is the image people have.
However,
protecting your daily life is also
a form of investment in a broad sense.
Preventing fires.
Preventing accidents.
Reducing unnecessary stress.
Creating an environment where you can live with peace of mind.
These things
form the foundation of asset building.
No matter how much you increase your wealth through investment,
it is meaningless if your house burns down.
Therefore,
reviewing old power strips is,
I believe, a very practical way to protect your life.
Summary
The power strips in your home.
How long
have you been using them?
I also had
a power strip in my house that I had been using for over 10 years.
Because it still worked,
I just kept using it without thinking.
But,
fire accidents actually occur
with wiring equipment like power strips and extension cords.
Tracking phenomenon
Cord deterioration
Internal wire breakage
Overloading outlets
Dust
Humidity
When these things pile up,
everyday tools become a fire risk.
Even high-end power strips
can be purchased for around 5,000 yen.
If you have used one for 10 years,
I think it is safe to assume it has served its purpose,
and it is fine to replace it.
Reduce fire risks
and reduce daily frustrations.
Before increasing your assets,
protect the foundation of your life.
I thought this, too,
was an important action
for a choking investor.
Next time,
The Choking Investor
Behind the walls,
dust accumulates.
Inside the cords,
damage is invisible.
Fire
does not come from flashy places,
but from the gaps in daily life.
Those who survive
protect their homes
before their assets.