Glossary
Extension lead (regleta, power strip)
A multi-socket adaptor with cable and plug that turns one wall socket into several. It suits low-power appliances, never daisy-chaining or running heaters, ovens or water heaters that add up to more than its rating. In US English, a power strip.
What a regleta is
A regleta is a portable multi-socket adaptor: a cable with a plug at one end and several sockets at the other. British readers call it an extension lead or multi-plug; Americans, a power strip. It is handy behind the TV or on a desk, but it does not replace a properly sized installation.
How much load it takes
Each regleta states its maximum current and power on the label, usually 10 or 16 A, which at 230 V is about 2,300 or 3,680 W. That figure is for everything plugged in together, not for each socket. An oil-filled radiator and a fan heater together can already exceed it.
Dangerous mistakes
- Daisy-chaining strips or plugging one adaptor into another.
- Plugging in heat appliances: heaters, ovens, fryers, irons or water heaters.
- Covering it with rugs or furniture, or leaving the cable coiled while in use.
- Using strips without CE marking or with damaged plastic.
- Leaving one permanently for the fridge or the washing machine.
An overloaded strip heats up, melts and is a frequent cause of house fires. If you see scorch marks or smell burning, unplug it and have the socket checked.
Strips with protection
Some have a switch, transient surge protection and USB ports. That helps, but it does not replace the surge protector in the consumer unit.
The real fix
If you have a strip in every room, you are short of sockets. Adding sockets where you need them, with their own line and protection, is safer and tidier. See handyman electrician in Seville, Spain.
Related services
Extra sockets and lights
We install extra sockets in your apartment in Seville, Spain where you now use power strips, new light points, two-way switches, USB, data and TV sockets, and new lines for appliances that need them. It is one of the jobs most requested when moving into a new-build home or rearranging the furniture.
Burning smell
A burning smell from a socket, smoke from a box or a melted cable are warnings of a possible electrical fire. Switch off the power at the main switch and call an electrician: we find the source, replace the damaged cables and switches and check that your installation is safe again.
Need an electrician in Seville, Spain?
Call us or send a WhatsApp message with a photo of the job. You get a fixed quote before any work starts.