Why do some power strips heat up or even catch fire?

Power strips can be seen everywhere in our daily life, providing convenient power connection for our electronic devices. However, some power strips will heat up or even catch fire, posing a serious threat to our life and property safety.
First of all, overload is one of the main reasons for power strips to heat up and catch fire. When the power of the electronic device connected to the power strip exceeds its rated power, overload will occur. Overload will cause the wires inside the power strip to heat up, and in severe cases, it may cause a fire. Therefore, when using power strips, be careful not to connect too many high-power devices to avoid exceeding its rated power.
Secondly, short circuit is also a common cause of power strips to heat up and catch fire. Short circuit refers to the phenomenon that the current in the circuit forms a loop directly without passing through the load. When a short circuit occurs inside the power strip, the current will increase sharply, causing the wires to heat up or even catch fire. Short circuits may be caused by aging, damage, poor contact, etc. of the wires. Therefore, it is necessary to regularly check whether the wires of the Power Strips are intact to avoid short circuits.
In addition, quality issues are also an important factor that causes Power Strips to heat up and catch fire. Some inferior Power Strips may use unqualified wires, plugs, and sockets, or have process defects during the production process, which may cause the Power Strips to heat up and catch fire during use. Therefore, when purchasing Power Strips, choose products of regular brands and reliable quality.
In order to avoid Power Strips from heating up and catching fire, we can also take some preventive measures. For example, do not cover the Power Strips with objects to avoid affecting heat dissipation; do not place the Power Strips near flammable materials; regularly clean the dust and debris on the Power Strips to keep them clean and dry.