4 Things to Know About Plugging a Surge Protector Into an Extension Cord

Use a heavy-duty extension cord Only use a 12 or 14 gauge extension cord meant for power tools. Thin light-duty cords from the dollar store can overheat and start fires.

Avoid daisy-chaining power strips The real risk is plugging multiple power strips into each other, not the surge protector itself. Keep the setup simple and temporary.

Expect reduced surge protection A surge protector works best plugged directly into a wall outlet. Adding an extension cord reduces its ability to clamp a surge, so this is only for temporary setups.

Match the cord to your total wattage Make sure the extension cord is rated for the total wattage of everything plugged into the surge protector. Unplug the setup when not in use.