Smart plugs have become a staple of the modern smart home, offering convenient voice control, scheduling, and energy monitoring for lamps, fans, coffee makers, and other household electronics. But as you expand your setup, you might be tempted to plug a power strip into a smart plug to control multiple devices at once. According to safety experts and manufacturers alike, that’s a risky move that’s better left avoided.
Here’s why you shouldn’t plug a power strip into a smart plug — and what to do instead.
The Amperage Problem
The core issue comes down to electrical load. Most standard smart plugs are rated for a maximum of 15 amps — the same as a typical household circuit. A power strip itself doesn’t consume much power, but every device you plug into it does. When you daisy-chain a power strip onto a smart plug, you can easily exceed that 15-amp limit without realizing it.
For example, Govee’s Smart Plug Pro with Energy Monitoring is rated for up to 15A. Plug in a power strip with six or eight outlets and fill them with a computer monitor, desk lamp, phone charger, printer, speaker system, and a space heater, and you could quickly surpass that threshold. The cumulative current draw becomes invisible — hidden behind the single plug interface.
Fire Risk Is Real
This isn’t a theoretical concern. TP-Link, one of the largest smart plug manufacturers, explicitly warns users not to plug a power strip into a smart plug. According to their official support documentation, “A smart plug has a lower maximum load capacity than a power strip. Connecting a power strip — or plugging a smart plug into an extension cord or surge protector — creates the risk of overloading the smart plug without realizing it, which can cause product damage.”
And product damage isn’t the worst outcome. An overloaded smart plug can overheat, melt, or even start an electrical fire, especially when the load exceeds the plug’s rating over a sustained period.
What About Smart Power Strips?
You might think switching to a smart power strip solves the problem, but the same limitations apply. Most smart power strips are also rated for 15A or less, meaning you can still exceed the maximum load capacity by plugging in too many high-draw devices. Always check the amperage rating printed on the device itself or listed in its manual.
The Safer Approach
The best practice is straightforward: plug your power strip directly into the wall outlet, and use smart plugs for individual devices only. Smart plugs are typically sold in multi-packs at affordable prices, so there’s no need to daisy-chain. A single smart plug per device gives you granular control — you can schedule your lamp separately from your fan, monitor their energy usage independently, and never worry about pushing the electrical limit.
If you absolutely need to control a group of devices together, invest in a properly rated smart power strip with built-in overload protection — but still confirm its amp rating and keep your total draw well under the limit. When in doubt, consult an electrician rather than taking risks with your home’s electrical safety.
The Bottom Line
Smart plugs are a fantastic tool for home automation — but only when used as intended. Plugging a power strip into a smart plug creates an unnecessary fire hazard by making it too easy to exceed the device’s rated load. Keep your smart home both intelligent and safe by using each smart plug for one device, and leave power strips connected directly to the wall.