Electrical Accessories & Power

Generally, yes, as long as the lead's in good condition and isn't carrying more than it should, though unplugging it when it's not in use is still the better habit. Anything that runs round the clock, like a fridge, is better off going straight into a wall socket rather than through a lead. If a lead ever feels hot, smells of burning or looks damaged in any way, it's time to unplug it and swap it out.

Most UK extension leads max out at 13 amps across the whole lead, not per socket, which comes to around 3,000 watts in total. That figure covers everything plugged in at once, so something like a kettle can eat up most of that allowance on its own, which is why it's worth glancing at the rating printed on the lead rather than guessing.

That comes down to the adaptor's own rating and the appliance in question, since an adaptor only changes the shape of the plug rather than the voltage running through it. Most UK to EU adaptors work fine with dual voltage devices up to their stated wattage limit, but a single voltage appliance, or a trip somewhere running on a different voltage entirely, usually calls for a proper converter instead of just an adaptor.

IP stands for Ingress Protection, and the two digits say how well a socket keeps out dust and water. The first number, somewhere between 0 and 6, covers solids, while the second, 0 to 9, covers liquids, so the higher the numbers, the better it's sealed against the weather. Anything involving outdoor wiring or a new outdoor socket is best left to a qualified electrician rather than going on the rating alone.