stupid question about electricity!!!

[hippy-chick]

now excuse me but I have had a glass of wine (or two) with my tea, but I was just plugging my laptop into the plug that has that extention plug that holds 3.

and, I was wondering, as it has 3 possible outlets on the one plug, does it use the same amount of electricity regardless of how many plugs are in? (gawd, I've probably really embarrassed myself here!).

also,(is their no end to my questions) if you leave a plug thingy on the wall empty -as in NO plug actually in it, but it is switched on, does it use electricity.

think I need a top up!

thank you very much, I'm here all night, try the fish!

 

[loubylou]

PMSL i dont think wine agrees with you hun :hug:
i have no idea as to the answers :lol:

 

[Ruth Mills]

It should make virtually no difference at all which socket you plug your laptop into in your extension, and no electricity will be used if you switch a socket on but with nothing plugged in...

 

[hippy-chick]

ahhhh SOCKET! thats the word I was looking for.

So I have one of those 3-way plugs that go into the socket, but only have 2 permanently plugged into it, the third one is for my laptop, but I don't have it plugged in permanently.

So if I have 3 plugs in at the same time, does it use the same or more electricity as if I had the 2 plugged in?

 

[melissaq]

I'm no electronic wiz here but .....asked hubby ....
He says this....(whatever your plugging in will have watts )whatever the watts are is what it will use....most will take up to 12,000 watts...... if you have nothing plugged into the the outlets...no it does no use any electricity ......
He said the only thing that you DON'T want to plug into things like that are generators....big heaters...saws...that sort of thing....


hair dryers 500w...lap tops.... ect....everyday household stuff you are ok.....HTH's

 

[Ruth Mills]

ahhhh SOCKET! thats the word I was looking for.

So I have one of those 3-way plugs that go into the socket, but only have 2 permanently plugged into it, the third one is for my laptop, but I don't have it plugged in permanently.

So if I have 3 plugs in at the same time, does it use the same or more electricity as if I had the 2 plugged in?

Ahh, I see!

Right, that will depend on how much power each thing plugged in needs.

But if you have 2 things plugged in and they are both switched on, and you plug something else in and that is switched on as well, then the total amount of electricity used will be more.

 

[Ruth Mills]

I'm no electronic wiz here but .....asked hubby ....
He says this....(whatever your plugging in will have watts )whatever the watts are is what it will use....most will take up to 12,000 watts...... if you have nothing plugged into the the outlets...no it does no use any electricity ......
He said the only thing that you DON'T want to plug into things like that are generators....big heaters...saws...that sort of thing....


hair dryers 500w...lap tops.... ect....everyday household stuff you are ok.....HTH's

12,000 watts? Nope, you should only be able to get a maximum of 3,250W out of a single 13 amp socket, assuming that your mains is 250 volts.

Things like kettles and electric heaters are among the most power-hungry things you can plug in... some can be as many as 3 kW (3,000W) each...

 

[Blue Rose]

I think you need to take more water with it, he he

 

[hippy-chick]

tee hee

think I got it now!

slurp, on 3rd glass now!

 

[Ruth Mills]

tee hee

think I got it now!

slurp, on 3rd glass now!

Ha ha, sounds like good wine!

 

[melissaq]

12,000 watts? Nope, you should only be able to get a maximum of 3,250W out of a single 13 amp socket, assuming that your mains is 250 volts.

Things like kettles and electric heaters are among the most power-hungry things you can plug in... some can be as many as 3 kW (3,000W) each...

ooooh ..I should have made myself more clear...I was talking about the watts on a 120volt system....not a 250 ....
I was trying to at leased have her get the "idea" of what I was saying....my bad....lol

 

[Ruth Mills]

ooooh ..I should have made myself more clear...I was talking about the watts on a 120volt system....not a 250 ....
I was trying to at leased have her get the "idea" of what I was saying....my bad....lol

Ah, my fault - I should have checked and seen that you were over in Canada!

But like, wow - 12,000 watts on a 120 volt system would mean a current of 100 amps! That would need a pretty hefty cable to carry that!

 

[amirose]

My other half is an electrician and I just showed him this thread do you know what he said " WOMEN!" . I mean come on how bloody unhelpful is that?! :lol:

Amy :hug:

 

[adelekeegan1]

What I want to know is why, when you take a plug out of the socket, the electricity doesn't run out on to the floor:lol:

 

[Ruth Mills]

What I want to know is why, when you take a plug out of the socket, the electricity doesn't run out on to the floor:lol:

Probably because electrons flow well through copper wires, but not so well through air...