I have seen many dangerous uses of extension chords and outlet multipliers. The multiplying of outlets from just one outlet is not in itself dangerous if all components using those outlets are small, but this could be dangerous if there are many large appliances on the circuit. But how is one to tell how many amps are being drawn from each appliance? Vacuum cleaners are a little easy, many say "12 amps" right on the front of them, but what of the others? Blenders, drills, TV's? An outlet should be created that has a cheap LED that displays the amount of amps from that plug. If the outlet is multiplied and more appliances are added, the user will know how many amps he as drawn, and safely limit them to the wire rating and the breaker rating. I believe that this would reduce electrical fires.
Also, not an invention, but something that could be cheaply inplemented is the power rating be listed on each appliance, clearly, on the chord so when they go to the plug, they can see the other plugs with their ratings and safely make an estimation on whether to plug in or not.-- twitch, Dec 23 2006 Kill A Watt http://scientificso....asp_Q_pn_E_3054222Measure energy consumption rates [csea, Dec 24 2006] Buns but no annos? Boring or just no objections...-- twitch, Dec 24 2006 In the US at least I think this is already required. All appliances list voltage and amperage required. Although this is not listed on the cord.-- jhomrighaus, Dec 24 2006 It being on the cord, it would then be easy to mentally tally up the amps drawn, and make for a safer electrical situation.-- twitch, Dec 24 2006 Too sensible, [twitch] [+]-- pertinax, Dec 24 2006 Maybe I discount the intelligence of the common person, but I don't believe this will change anything. To this day, three prong plugs somehow become two prong plugs. I don't think many will take the time to do the amp adding, or even care. What's more, it is often difficult to tell which recepticles are on the same circuit. Now you have to add all the amperages from all the recep's on the same circuit to find the circuit's total draw. I think the best solution to the problems you have described is properly rated and installed circuit breakers, both in dist. panels and power strips. Homeowners don't have to do any addition, or any thinking really. If they turn on too many things at once, the circuit's conductors are protected from overheating. Also, appliance ratings are baked as per [jhom...] you just have to look at the manufacturer's nameplate.-- wittyhoosier, Dec 24 2006 See [link] for a useful gadget that will actually measure wattage including phase, so the "volt-amps" ratings are more meaningful.-- csea, Dec 24 2006 random, halfbakery