Portable heaters, refrigerators or large electrical draw appliances should never be plugged into the power strip, but rather a dedicated electrical wall outlet.
DON'T plug high-capacity appliances into a power strip.
High-capacity appliances need to draw a lot of power through an electrical circuit to work. Keep in mind that an appliance does not need to be large in size to draw large amounts of power.
Rule two: never plug high power capacity appliances, like space heaters, refrigerators, or microwave and toaster ovens into power strips or extension cords. These appliances have higher power capacity and need to be plugged into a wall outlet directly.
Generally power strips provide a maximum of six to eight outlets, yet when multiple strips are connected to one another the primary strip connected to the wall unit or building outlet has to supply more energy than it is rated for.
The devices and appliances you want to make sure you plug in, are the expensive ones with microprocessors into your surge protector. This includes TVs, refrigerators, dishwashers, ranges, AC units, PCs, laptops, game systems, and phones.
The power strip will have a maximum Amp (or watt) rating. As long as the fridge and anything else on the power strip is within that rating, it's not a problem. You can do it.
You cannot use an extension cable, overvoltage protector, or a multiple output adapter with a humidifier. Humidifiers should be connected directly to a properly mounted 3-turn wall socket.
Do not use an extension cord or power strip, which could overheat and result in a fire.
A power strip can safely handle AV equipment or low-power household items like smartphones, tablets, laptops, or lamps. However, if you plug in a device or appliance that needs a lot of electricity to function, you run the risk of overloading the powerstrip and starting an electrical fire.
The biggest concern with using an extension cord to power a refrigerator is using the wrong cord, which can lead to overheating of the cord, damage to the appliance and increased risk of fire or electric shock. Never try to plug a three-pronged appliance into an un-grounded extension cord.
Extension cords are only for temporary use and are not to be left plugged into wall outlets when not being actively used. This plugs into a wall outlet and is considered a power strip even though it doesn't have a cord. Do not plug an extension cord or power strip into it.
We do not recommend connecting a refrigerator or freezer to a surge protector. The reason we do not recommend this is explained below: The compressor is sensitive to temperature and current overloads and will shut itself down with a power surge.
Refrigerators don't need special outlets. They can be plugged into a standard 110-120 volt outlet so long as the socket is three-pronged. However, it's best if your refrigerator is on its own dedicated circuit. It may even be required by the code in your area.
The spike in voltage that causes power surges has the potential to damage electrical devices and appliances. When voltage increases above normal capacity, it can cause an arc of electrical current, with associated heat also posing a risk to electronic components.
But bigger or more important items, as well as appliances that require constant power, such as computers, printers, televisions, and refrigerators, should all use surge protectors. Any device that you don't want to lose in the event of a power surge, or that would be expensive to replace, should be protected.
The surge arrestor is installed at the point where the power comes into your house, and protects you against surges in power, usually up to around 6000 volts.
Refrigerator and freezer.
These appliances pull too much current for a power strip because they are continuously cycling on and off. That will quickly overload a power strip. These items need to be plugged directly into a wall outlet dedicated solely to that appliance.
When there is an increase in voltage from a power surge, it causes an inrush of electrical current within the refrigerator. This surge generates an excessive amount of heat, which can damage multiple parts of the refrigerator.
According to the 2020 version of the NEC, you can't power a microwave and refrigerator on the same circuit because each of these appliances requires a dedicated circuit, which is one shared by no other appliances or lights.
Using the Right Gauge
The extra current overheats smaller 16- and 18-gauge extension cords, which are intended for lamps and small appliances, and you should never use one for a refrigerator or freezer.
Typically, power strips are cheap, multi-outlet products that are merely an expansion of a wall outlet. They're usually small and thin, sometimes fitting directly into the outlet itself. They usually have a circuit breaker (on/off switch) of some sort, but most don't offer any real "protection" from electrical issues.
Looad shedding isn't just an inconvenience, but surges when power is switched back on can damage appliances and devices, such as fridges and washing machines, as well as your battery powered devices' batteries.
How can you tell the difference? Surge protectors will have a rating in Joules of energy showing the maximum voltage it can handle from a power spike. You can find those numbers on the box or strip itself. If there are no numbers listed, it is just a power strip.